Dromedary (John 7:46)

In the summer before my 7th grade, I took a class that, to this day, remains the most useful class that I have ever taken. I learned to type. This was in the days before personal computers and the internet. We learned on a typewriter, and not on an electric one, it was a classic manual typewriter. Both of these are relics and I have not seen one in an office for many years.

As useful a skill as learning to type, the class also gave me a bonus lesson. The teacher would test our speed and accuracy by giving us a list of vocabulary words, and not ordinary everyday words. Although I have forgotten most, one word remains vividly clear in my memory-dromedary. This is a one-hump camel. I didn’t know it at that time but I have never forgotten it since. We had weekly tests and the spellings and the meanings were drilled into me. Years later, as amusing as it sounds, I cannot help but think of this teacher whenever I see or read about a camel! I don’t know if he would be flattered if he knew that fact!

So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
John 7:43-46 (ESV)

Even if the interaction was brief, certain people in our life may evoke strong memories. Words or phrases that they said or actions they did resonate within our soul and never leave it. As I ponder this passage from John, I wonder how many of the officers remembered what Jesus said after the recorded incident? I wonder if Jesus’ words ever brought them to a saving grace by accepting Him as their Lord and Savior? Perhaps someday, in Heaven, I will meet some of them. What a grand reunion that will be as we reflect upon that brief episode in their lives!

Like my typing teacher and the words and actions that I will always associate with him, Jesus’ words and actions remind us that our lives on this earth are for one purpose, to glorify God who is in Heaven. And we can only do this by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Our initial interaction with Jesus may be brief-a random passage from the Bible, a street preacher holding up a sign, or a moment of reflection upon what life really means. But no matter the brevity of the interaction, if you confess your sins, repent and call upon Jesus to save you, He will keep His promise and grant you eternal salvation.

The briefest of interactions for an eternity of blessings!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.