I
was reading a Christian magazine[i]
that I enjoy when a letter to the editor (not really the part I subscribe to
read) said something that caught my attention. The letter cited a quote from
the legendary, fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. The quote is taken from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, and the
particular story is entitled, The Adventure
of the Naval Treaty.
There is a scene in which Holmes, who is usually completely
concrete and interested only in the hard facts, picks up a rose and says
something worthy of the finest preacher or theologian. As he admires the red
and green of the rose, Holmes points out that the flowers give us the “highest assurance
of the goodness of Providence.” He goes on to explain that statement, and this is the quote that got my attention.
He said:
“All other things, our powers, our desires, our food,
are all really necessary for our existence in the first instance. But the rose
is an extra. Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a
condition of it. It is only goodness which gives extras and so I say again that
we have much to hope from the flowers.”
When the rigid Sherlock Holmes smelled the rose, crisp
and sweet, and looked at the deep, velvet red of the petals, he knew all of
that was just dressing. It was just “bling”, if you’ll allow that silly word.
The flower could function without being red and without smelling sweet. Yet,
its Creator chose to add something extra, the wonderful ornaments of color and
scent. Why? Because He is good.
In Zechariah 9:17, the prophet declares, “For how great is his goodness, and how
great is his beauty!” There are evidences of His goodness all over our
lives, if we will take the time to see them. There are “extras” everywhere – places
where God has done more than necessary, adding color and fragrance to our
lives. My children don’t have to giggle, and smile, and hug my neck in order
for procreation to be accomplished and me to be their dad. But they do, and I
love it when they do!
On a higher level, my redemption was accomplished when
Jesus died for my sins on the cross and rose from the dead for my
justification. “It is finished,” He cried; and it is, thank God! Technically,
the Lord did not have to show up in my living room this morning and give me a
sense of His presence, warm my heart, and make me smile. Had he not, I would
still be saved, and He would still have be my Savior. But He did. He gave me
extra. He is good.
