Float of Life
Timothy Tin
The famous Rose Parade in Southern California is held on January 1st of every year. Business groups and organizations from all over the world created more than 60 beautiful flower-covered parade floats every year, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists.
This event was first held in 1890 by the members of the Valley Hunt Club. In 1893 the Club set a rule that if January 1st falls on a Sunday, the parade would be held on January 2nd. Therefore, the Rose Parade has never been held on Sunday. According to local legend, “This parade has an agreement with God; they will never hold a parade on Sunday, and God will never let the rain fall during the parade.” (See “Wikipedia”: Rose Parade) However, this year’s Rose Parade has to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade was only canceled three times in the past during World War II in 1942, 1943, and 1945.
Since there is no Rose Parade this year, the parades of previous years are even more memorable. In fact, our life is like a float. Each float has its own theme. They are carefully arranged by designers and countless volunteers. They only appear in public on January 1st of each year. After they have completed that day’s route, they will receive the final evaluations and awards from the judges.
Nowadays we are able to watch the parade on the big screen at any time. Although the floats only exist in real life for one day, their images and videos last a long time online! Dear friends, our life is as short as a float, and we were cultivated and taught by many people. Each of us has a unique character and goal to pursue in life. After we completed our life journey, we will also face the final judgment. It all depends on the ultimate judge to evaluate whether our hard work can last till eternity. Who is this ultimate judge?
Jesus said, “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30) “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (Matthew 6:24-25)
The human body is indeed more precious than clothing. Life is also more precious than wealth. If one died from COVID-19, he cannot take any clothing or money with him! But the human soul is more precious than the physical body and life in this world, because the value of the soul is eternal, and the body and wealth are short-lived!
Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) God is the ultimate Judge of our soul, if weeds and floats only last for one day, then how can our souls be eternal in the eyes of God’s holiness and perfection? Therefore, we must realize what God view as precious and eternal as soon as possible.
The Bible says, ” For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”’(1 Peter 1:24-25) What is this eternal gospel? Why is it more precious than flowers and human lives? This is the gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Imagine that the Lord sacrificed His only Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for all sinners in the world, and rose from the dead on the third day; in order to redeem our souls and make all the people who were touched by His sacrifice to stay with Him forever. Just like a great director and writer, they will never abandon their favorite works. Their fans are even more willing to pay a higher price for their works. Dear friends, you are God’s masterpiece, more precious than weeds and floats, but you must entrust your soul in God’s hands and let His wisdom guide your life. He will mold us into His image. This is how you should pursue eternal life!
(Author: Christian Alliance Bible Church in Los Angeles, CA)
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