Henry K. Ripplinger
March, 2013
“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Matthew 6:21
“No one can be a slave to two masters: he will hate one and love the other; he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Matthew 6:24
“The eyes are like a lamp for the body: if your eyes are clear, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eyes are bad, your body will be in the darkness. So if the light in you turns out to be darkness, how terribly dark it will be.
Matthew 6:22-23
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
Matthew 6:19-20
“What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing! So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us.”
1 Timothy 6:7-8
“But those who want to get rich fall into the temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull men down to ruin and destruction.”
1 Timothy 6:9
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6;10
“It is much harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”
Luke 18:25
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul.”
Mark 8:36
“Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not have the love for the Father in you. Everything that belongs to the world—what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of—none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world. The world and everything in it that men desire is passing away; but he who does what God wants lives for ever.”
1 John 2: 15-17
Prologue
A thoughtful man once said that where a man’s treasure is, there his heart will be also. I contemplate the truth of these words as I watch the dawning of a new day begin in the valley. I am sitting on the deck just outside of my closest friend’s prayer house. For several years I have come here to renew my spirit and draw closer to God. It is a retreat I highly recommend to each and every one of you. It is as the Lord promises in Psalm 23:2,3: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.”
Ever since I returned from my stint on the other side I have thought much about what I had heard and seen. In less than a blink of the eye my dear friend and protector, Zachariah, permitted me to see so many powerful visions and glimpses not only of my own life and those of my close friends, but also of all mankind.
From that heavenly perspective, it was easy to see in the preoccupations of man’s thinking and the major thrust of his efforts and energy, what treasures lay in his heart. Even a cursory glance showed that for all too many people their heart was in the wrong place. So many of mankind have been duped into believing that the accumulation of wealth and material possessions will bring peace and happiness. We have come to believe that our worth is equal to our wealth, our bank account, the size of our home, the number of cars we own or which particular model. The list is endless.
For all too many, riches, recognition, honour, glory, the ingredients of bolstering our pride is the food that Satan wants to continuously feed us. He tries to hide the fact from our awareness that what we are so in love with is nothing more than a fleeting illusion that has no lasting value. It’s temporal, fleeting, and each new item we work so hard to buy begins to rot, decay and rust out no sooner than we take it out of the store or drive it off the lot. What we thought would give us peace and joy and fulfillment is here today and gone tomorrow and of absolutely no value in the eyes of the kingdom of God.
Sadly, my friends, at times many even seek personal gain at the expense of dignity and integrity, forsaking honesty, stealing, taking advantage of others, manipulating situations and wrongfully placing work over and above family and friends. It’s little wonder at the end of the day we feel emptiness and lack of fulfillment. Never before in the history of mankind has man lost his way, his freedom, his purpose and meaning of life.
When wealth and materialism are seen for what they are and put into proper context, they become good and necessary, like anything the Lord provides. It is when we make these earthly possessions our gods and the treasures of our heart, that they are no longer good for our soul. Man cannot live by bread alone. Neither can he serve two masters. He will either love the one or hate the other. As long as that happens, man’s love of the Lord will always be secondary, if at all.
As I envisioned these things when I was on the other side, my dear friend and protector, Zachariah, not only read my thoughts but summed them up so wisely: “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his soul in the process?”
I nodded sadly in return, “Yes, Zachariah, all that man works for so stringently has no eternal reward. It’s also easy to see from this heavenly perspective the underlying motive that drives man’s heart in such pursuit of wealth and possessions. We are in a constant state of discontent, never satisfied with what we have.”
And before my wise protector could reply, I rambled on. “The propaganda toward that end is endless. Televisions are blasting away at us daily with a constant stream of advertising, so too are newspapers and promotional flyers in our mailboxes all are bent on constantly revving up our minds to buy. We are continuously moving, distracted, our minds thinking endlessly how to make more money so we can buy more. It’s like we are caught up in a wheel of fortune, ceaselessly going around in circles, moving us so fast in this secular world that the centrifugal force of our busy lives and preoccupations upon us hurtles us constantly away from the true source of life and what really matters.”
“That is all very true,” Zachariah said, acknowledging my insight. Then he continued, “The apostle Timothy warned man of his insatiable desire for more and advised him to be content and appreciative of what he has. It has been easier for you to see and do because you have always been satisfied with little and your main focus has always been the Lord. But look closer and you will see a dangerous oversight in man’s thinking.”
“Ah, yes, Zachariah.” I could see what it was that sustained man’s drive for ever more wealth and materialism, and his eyes brightened at my further understanding. I suddenly saw what my angel saw daily in the lives of men.
“All too many people think that life will go on forever. So many live under the illusion of the permanence of life thus staying trapped in the values of the world. We do not stop long enough to see that one day, sooner or later, we will die and be caught unprepared for the Lord’s judgment and our acceptance into His kingdom. Our false sense of dependence on the bounties of the world have puffed up our pride to the point that we have no need of God!”
As I recall our discussion on that memorable day, a restlessness begins to stir within me, drawing me back to the moment. I get up and walk to the edge of the deck which touches the water. In the twilight of a new day the soft glow of light began to illuminate the valley.
Across from me the tall grass, bulrushes and lush green hills and trees reflect so soothingly on the still waters of the pond. I marvel at how accurately a bird zips to the surface of the water for an insect or two for its morning breakfast. In the distance I hear a Whippoorwill, and coming out of the brush to my left is a doe with her little fawn at her side. I am filled with peace as I drink in the stillness and beauty before me.
Not only does the beauty of nature speak to us, but the One who created it does, too. I felt an e
xpectancy of something the Lord wants to share…
The sun is rising higher now, burning into the edge of one of the hilltops in the east. As the first warm rays strike my face I am reminded once again of perhaps the most illuminating vision while I was on the doorstep of heaven; a glimpse into the unseen workings of the angels.
The light was staggering. Heavenly angels were aglow and filled through and through with light. They were saturated with God’s love. They had yielded their will to their Creator and in return it was easy to see what treasure lay in their hearts. They were filled with the power and joy of God’s love. With my own eyes I saw how they live in the brilliance and purity of a light that words cannot even begin to describe. They are filled with a reflection of what they constantly see and adore: the face of God.
And now, watching the sun rise above the valley, I know what it is that God wants me to further comprehend. The words of the apostle John in 3:19 shine before me with full understanding: “The Light has come into the world but men love the darkness rather than the Light.”
Yes, yes, my friends, although we live in the sunlight, our hearts live in the dark. It was so poignant to see the angels helping to lift mankind daily from the darkness in their hearts to the Light. Can you not see the wisdom of it all? Are you not beginning to see the truth of the Light? It is all about the Light my friends! The Light of Jesus Christ who came into the world to save us!
No sooner had this exhilarating thought entered my mind then a glow of intense light hovered over the still pond. And there before me He appeared in all His resplendent glory standing on the mirror like surface of the shimmering water: the son of God. He came to show me what treasures lay in His heart. One would expect to see all the honours and all the glitter of gold and gems befitting a king to shine magnificently therein. But no! The treasures of our Lord’s heart was filled with love for mankind. And He did the ultimate for us to show the depth of His love.
There he stood with open arms His hands revealing the wounds and suffering he endured when he was crucified for our sins; His heart radiating love, forgiveness and a sea of mercy. The sight was staggering, overwhelming, breathtaking, my heart filled to overflowing with so much praise and gratitude.
Instantly, alongside the heavenly angels I praised our God. The Holy Spirit filled my spirit to overflowing with pure love and I fell prostrate before my Lord and saviour and redeemer.
My dear, dear friends, the mercy and love of our Lord’s heart is boundless. If only we could trust what awaits us if we choose to live for Him; to replace the earthy treasures of our hearts with treasures that have eternal value in heaven; to take the time to shed what binds us and that which keeps us captive in the dark, we would all be rich beyond our limited imaginings.
As I lay upon the deck feeling the love and mercy of my Lord and Saviour, it comes to me the reason behind all of our failings…We have forgotten who we are; we are children of God. We have forgotten that we were put on this earth out of His love for us and to develop a relationship with Him, our Father, and to Jesus, His son and to the Holy Spirit. He so desires that we come to Him. That we love Him above all else; that we are here to serve Him and our neighbour, to yield our will to Him so we can be used for His purpose to save all mankind and spend an eternity of happiness with Him in heaven.
The depth of my understanding overwhelms me. If we were to fully realize the reason for our existence and our purpose, all else would fall into its proper perspective in our lives. The scripture summarizes it perfectly:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ” Matthew 6:33
I slowly get up as if lifted by my heavenly protector. I can feel the warmth of Zachariah’s presence and I picture him so clearly: his warm, brown, twinkling eyes filled with joy at my understanding.
As I gaze out again across the pond and watch the rays of the sun shimmer on the gentle ripples, it comes to me that just as the grass and flowers need sunshine and water to grow and flourish, giving beauty to the world, so too do we need the light of Jesus in our hearts to make our faith grow. If we water our hearts daily with His Word, others will see the beauty in us just like the breathtaking beauty of God’s creation.
As the shimmering water before me sparkles like diamonds under the rising sun, I proclaim to the whole world,
“Yes, yes oh my Lord! Let us see that each and every Word you speak are like diamonds, too, jewels that we place in our heart each day. These are the treasures we must seek. The light and truth we gain from Your Word will make us sparkle, too, and has far more worth and lasting value than all the gold and silver of the world.”
So much passion and love for the Lord floods me that tears of erupting joy blur the glorious, sunlit valley before me. I can feel the gentle touch of my guardian angel’s hand on my shoulder and the warm, morning breeze moving across the pond toward me, carrying the sweet voice of my protector.
Lovingly, soothingly I hear Zachariah whisper…
“For to the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom,
and knowledge and joy!” Eccl. 2:26
Chapter One
What an amazing career you’ve had, Mr. Pederson. Or, should I say careers? You seem to be successful at almost anything you do. You’re a carpenter, a teacher, a guidance counselor, an entrepreneur, a curator of an art gallery, a professional artist and a very successful businessman. This may seem like an odd question to ask, but who are you really? Will the real Henry Pederson please stand up?”
Henry leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table, his fingers intertwined. Henry knew how he answered would reflect his character both in terms of the interview and in terms of the feature the Regina Sun planned to print in one of their Sunday magazine issues. Brenda Oakley was right. It did appear to everyone that he was successful at many things – otherwise he likely wouldn’t be doing this interview. But did any one of those things truly reflect his heart?
“Well, Brenda, I guess I am all the things you just mentioned. I have never been able to do just one thing. I am always looking for a new challenge and will use all the expertise I have acquired to date to meet it. If I’m lacking in a certain area then I will learn the skill or knowledge needed for the situation. I may not be one hundred percent successful at the start, but I know within a short time I will have the necessary skills to meet the challenge. That’s just the nature of the beast. I am a very hands-on type of person.
“Unfortunately, doing so much does sometimes distract me from doing just my art, or carrying on just my business or spending the time I’d like to with my family and grandchildren. I do have a tendency to spread myself too thin at times. But once I get an idea how to improve something – whether it’s a business strategy, a painting or renovation – I’m driven to make it a reality.”
“Yes,” Brenda replied, “it’s difficult to slot you into an easily identifiable, one-dimensional role. It’s like trying to put a round peg in a square hole. It just can’t be done!”
Henry laughed.
“That’s an interesting way of summing up my character, but I guess what I do and the way I operate is what has helped me to become successful. For example, in establishing the art gallery, I blended several skills I had acquired over the years; my carpentry abilities, my pursuit of art and love for dealing with people are all skills needed in business.
“I mentioned to you yesterday about how Mr. Engelmann and I worked together to turn a failing business into a successful one in a very short time. I combined what I had learned from that four years of experience with my other skills and have made our gallery a very successful business that just keeps expanding. We went from being just an art gallery, to include a café, a card shop, a ladies boutique on the second level, as well as several other boutiques.”
“Whew! Just listening to what you have accomplished makes me tired. How on earth do you manage to get
it all done?”
“Well, there is a trick,” Henry said, with a smile and tongue in cheek. “You have to be disciplined, committed, and prepared to work hard and long hours. There are no short cuts to being successful. You have to pay your dues.”
“Well, you certainly have, Mr. Pederson. It’s very impressive what you have created for the city.”
Brenda flipped through her notes. Her eyes brightened as she reread a note she had made earlier.
“So, tell me a little bit more about Mr. Engelmann and how he fits into this picture? You mentioned him several times during our last two meetings and then again, just now.”
“The good Lord gives each and every one of us certain aptitudes and abilities. These inherent tendencies, however, must be worked at and developed to realize them.”
“Like your skill as an artist.”
“Yes, that’s right. I love to work with my hands and I love to create, but to paint landscapes and beautiful paintings, I had to work long hours to develop the inherent skills I was gifted with. If I hadn’t taken classes and painted hundreds of paintings to come up with really good ones, it would never have happened. The gift the good Lord gave me would simply have laid dormant or died with me, never to be realized.”
“What has this all to do with Mr. Engelmann?”
“Well, it is to him I attribute the discovery of many of my aptitudes and skills, such as relating to people, my business skills, my wanting to be a teacher and then a counselor, and even an artist.”
Brenda wrinkled her forehead as she studied him for a long moment. “How can one person trigger so many interests and skills?”
Henry sat back in his chair, sipped his cooled herbal tea and allowed his mind to drift back almost 29 years to July 7, 1956 when he started working for Mr. Engelmann. Henry was about to share that day with Brenda, when his mind somehow drew him into the day before. That memorable, unforgettable day when Jenny, his very first love, moved into the neighbourhood, three doors down from his house. His mind pictured it vividly, as if it were yesterday.
The Angelic Occurrence Page 2
