There is an old saying that goes, “I know the light is on but nobody is home”. The meaning of this is even though you’re alive and breathing, your brain is disengaged.
As I was watching some young people the other day the thought crossed my mind, “I know the light is on but it appears that nobody is at home.” That being the case it doesn’t exactly make one feel secure knowing they will one day be our leaders. The thought that usually follows that is…my generation was never that way. However, after spending a few minutes reminiscing about the good old days I began to remember how imperfect my generation really was. You talk about the light being on and nobody at home, just wait until you hear this story.
When I was fifteen years old I decided I wanted to be a movie star. That was back in the days when all movie stars were discovered rather than going through acting schools as they do today. To be discovered you had to be in the right place at the right time. After giving this some serious thought I figured Hollywood was the place to be, so I spent the next few minutes coming up with a foolproof strategy. I talked a friend into going to Hollywood with me. We pooled our money which added up to about $30.00—and off we went. Since I was the smartest one and the one with all the acting talent I convinced my friend that he could get rich picking oranges.
Our plan was to hitchhike from our little East Texas town (where a lot of other smart people lived) to Hollywood where I would be discovered in a couple of days and by week’s end would be rolling in money.
You talk about the lights being on and nobody at home… Looking back I’m not sure that I even had a light bulb to turn on.
After a few days of not being discovered and believing that Hollywood missed an opportunity of a lifetime, I came up with another brilliant idea. Let’s go home and get something to eat lest we die.
After a couple of days of hitchhiking and not eating, my belly felt as though it had shriveled up against my backbone. While walking through a small town in New Mexico and passing a country store, all of a sudden I came up with another brilliant idea. Since I was the team leader as well as the brains of the outfit, I felt responsible to shoulder all the heavier matters myself while giving my friend the lesser responsibilities. The reason for this is because I didn’t want him to do something stupid. My plan was to sit out by the road and figure out which fork in the road to take while I sent him into the store to beg for bread. Oh, he whined a little bit at first but after I explained the benefits of the job, he got into the spirit of the thing and gladly went in with a cheerful heart and started begging.
I can almost guarantee there was nobody home in his house.
After giving the butcher the speech that I had carefully prepared for him, the butcher gave him some bologna and stale bread. He came back across the highway baring these precious gifts for which praise was awaiting him. I told him how impressed I was with his performance and that I was even considering letting him do it again. After that I gobbled down my bologna sandwich.
Our victory was short lived because the butcher had given him spoiled bologna. We spent the next few minutes throwing up everything except our toenails while the butcher enjoyed himself immensely watching us out the store window. We wobbled a little but went on down the road.
There are several points about this story worth developing, but I only want to address two. The first point is to never under estimate the youth of the next generation because they will usually turn out fine even if it appears that “the lights are on and nobody is at home.” You never know what God is developing in those who look absolutely hopeless.
The most important point in this story is—the best the world has to offer is nothing more than spoiled bologna. It will not only make you sick, but it will eventually kill you. Therefore I can say with David,
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
It’s been almost sixty years since my stale bread and spoiled bologna days. Now my bread is from heaven and it grows sweeter and sweeter each day.
I’m sure over the years there have been times when others thought in regards to me that the lights are on and nobody is at home, but I’ve never begged for bread since meeting my Lord.
Father,
I thank you that there is no end to the good things that you have prepared for those who love you. Thank you Lord for showing me how to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the other things will be added to me. Lord, help me to have more faith in the young ones you are birthing today because you have plans for them as you had for me.
Amen!
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalms 37:25)
Apostle John Dean Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved
Alliance International Ministries