3 in 1

For centuries, the concept of the Trinity has caused headaches amongst the Church.  It is not an easy concept to grasp nor explain and so I'm not going to even attempt to explain it.  There are, however, a few things I believe we can learn from the Trinity.  As I sit at my desk right now, there are less than five days before we go to the voting stations to cast our votes. 

There's only 1 you in the whole universe.

You only have 1 life to live, no dress rehearsals and definitely no undo button.

Within the Trinity there is Unity and perfect communion.  Put otherwise, there is agreement.  South Africa has a horrible history of division.  Division not simply of point of views, beliefs and culture but racial, class and even geographical. 

I always find it amazing that when Jesus was about to die on the cross, and endure the most excruciating and humiliating deaths, He didn't pray that the pain might be lessened nor for an easier death.  No; instead He prayed for His Disciples to be one.  He then continued to pray for you and I; the Church (His Bride) to be one and to be united.  Surely we must see that unity is a most powerful asset in any community.

The Trinity represents perfect unity.  It is a perfect model of oneness. 

Whether you know everything about the Trinity or not, just imagine with me.  Imagine a South Africa that is one.  A country that is united and not scarred by the past but hopeful for the future.  A country where the alien is welcomed and not beaten.  Imagine our South Africa as a place where none go without but love compels all to act and compassion moves us to see Christ in each other.  United against poverty, HIV/Aids, Unemployment, Corruption, Racism and the lack of the knowledge of Christ.  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are our example. 

Secondly, God is totally sold on having a relationship with Him.  He is sold on our salvation.  I can never get over the fact that the Creator of the ends of the universe loves me...  Romans 8:38 - 39.

How marvellous, how wonderful and my song shall ever be
How marvellous, how wonderful is my Saviours' love for me

It saddens me to say our country is not a country of love.  It saddens me not simply because it's not happening rather because we all have it within us but for some reason we do not show it nor act on what we feel burning within us.  We have love within but it's caged and must be released into action.  There are some who's hearts break every single time they pull up at a traffic light and there is a beggar, act on it.  Some of us cannot read the newspaper and not feel burning compassion for those who are suffering, act on it.  I could continue counting but I'm sure we get the picture.  I love Tim Hughes' song, God of justice:

We must go, live to feed the hungry, stand beside the broken, we must go.
Stepping forward, keep us from just singing move us into action, we must go.

God does not and never has loved by sitting twiddling His thumbs.  His love is active.  When you and I were so filthy with sin, His love and grace said, ‘No ways are they gonna die, rather Me than them!'  We have the capacity to love beyond measure.  In actual fact we do love but for some reason, we've resorted to hide behind high walls, send e-mails and letters of complaints to newspapers.  Is that going to change our country?  I doubt it.  It's time to love by action.  Pull up your sleeves and be Christs' hands and feet, pierced at Calvary for no other reason than the fact that He loves us.  Love within the Trinity and love from the Trinity for us is our Great example. 

Thirdly and finally, all is done for the glory of God.  Looking at this at face value, it seems egotistic of God but I like to think that it is more a case of God saying that in all we do we must remember that He is God and He is the One most supreme; not us.  Philippians 2 displays this beautifully in that though Jesus was God, He didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped but made Himself a servant and in doing so, God glorified Him.  Jesus roamed the earth for the glory of the Father. 

In all He did, and said, He continually said in and through it, ‘for the glory of the Father.'  The Father's response is to say that every knee shall bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and guess what?  When that happens, it happens to the glory of the Father.  The Holy Spirit, alive in us continually prompts us to worship and praise the Father and the Son.  Now here is the connection.  These three by being selfless and exalting one another, they know that when that happens they too get exalted.  The Father knows that if the Son is exalted so is He and so is the Spirit.  Read Phil 2:1 - 18 a couple of times and you'll begin to get the picture.

For me this is a reminder that all I do is for the glory of God.  It is not I who must be lifted up and seen but all my deeds must be seen by men that the Father who is in Heaven might be glorified. Matt 5:16

Imagine our country as a beacon shining for all nations to see and glorify our Father in Heaven.  A place where greed and power-hunger do not have a home.  A royal palace of selflessness and integrity.  A place where corruption and poverty are a thing of the past.  Our country, our South Africa.  Possible?  Most definitely!!!   God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are our example. 

There's only 1 you in the whole universe.

You only have 1 life to live, no dress rehearsals and definitely no undo button.

You first have to be the change you want to see in this country.  Look to the three in one as your great example.  When He wanted to teach us how to love, He loved first.  When He wanted us to forgive, He forgave first.  When He wanted us to live for the glory of God, He glorified first.  May your One life be a life that will leave testimonies behind, for the glory of our Father who is in Heaven.