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Jim saw the reins, still attached to the horse, fall to the ground before his face in an unmistakable gesture of surrender. |
| Photograph by Graham Cooper |
In a scene from the movie entitled "Return to Snowy River" (a sequel to "The Man From Snowy River"), the central figure is a young man named Jim who is a master at capturing and training wild horses. His herd had been stolen and he had taken off after them on his very best mount. During the chase, the horse thieves shot and killed the horse on which he was riding. It looked as if recapturing his horses was hopeless, but then suddenly, Jim looked up and was surprised to see standing before him the magnificent stallion who covered the whole herd. Because of his beauty and strength and tremendous speed, many had desired to capture him, but the great horse would never allow anyone near him. The horse Jim had been riding was the stallion's favorite mare.
The stallion gazed at the dead mare and he appeared stunned and oblivious to everything else surrounding him as Jim approached him ever so slowly. Amazingly, Jim was allowed to touch and then to stroke the beautiful horse's head. Then gently, he put the bridle and the saddle on him. Almost miraculously the stallion was allowing the encroachment of this gentle man as he had no other. The moment of truth came however, when Jim put his foot into the stirrup and threw his leg over the back of the great horse. With all his strength the horse reared back, throwing the intruder into the dust and galloped off, taking the saddle and gear with him.
In the next scene, discouraged and dejected, Jim bedded down for the night beside the campfire. Then, as morning was dawning, he was awakened with a start by the sounds of cracking twigs and heavy footsteps approaching his pallet. With one eye opened he lay very still, pretending not to be awake. The powerful stallion cautiously came near and then stood directly beside him. His grand head lowered and then bowed directly over Jim's. With both eyes now open and with a smile of joy, Jim saw the reins, still attached to the horse, fall to the ground before his face in an unmistakable gesture of surrender. This was the one horse most fit for the task of overtaking and recapturing the herd.
What would have been impossible with horses of lesser strength and endurance was not only a possibility, but became a reality as Jim reached out and took hold of the surrendered reins and accomplished his objective on the strong back of the magnificent stallion.
It was the loving touch and the gentleness of the talented trainer that brought the horse back to bow his head and drop the reigns before him. The mission of the young master in the movie was accomplished. The Master of our souls has a great purpose in mind for us too. Perhaps there was a time in the past when you felt His touch. You were tempted then, by the gentleness of His touch and the love that you felt, to surrender to Him, but you resisted and kept on going your own way.
Today Jesus, the Master, comes to you again, asking you to come and lay the reigns of your life at His feet. The life He offers has a greater purpose than you can imagine, and that purpose is not just temporal, but it is eternal. It is a purpose of love. Though it is not the easy or popular way, it is a purpose of great joy and victory, both for you and for others in need. He is waiting for you to come today for He not only wants to heal you and give you a new life, but He wants to train you and prepare you, and then use you in a specific role of serving Him to help a hurting and needy world.
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls" Matthew 11:28-29.
Copyright Daphne Harrington 1998