Going...Going...Almost Gone...

From My Perspective - - -

Auctioneers were known to use the phrase: “Going…Going…Gone!” to indicate the close of bidding and final sale of an item for which a bid or bids had been received. Many have some recollection of the Poem: The Touch Of The Master's Hand by Myra B. Welch - - -

‘Twas battered and scarred,
and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin, But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar, then, two! Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice; Going for three . . ."
But no, from the room, far back, a grey-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low, said:
"What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
"Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
"Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice; And going and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand, what changed its worth?"
Swift came the reply: "The Touch Of The Master's Hand."

As people face the struggles of life today, in a time of deep recession, foreclosures, unemployment, surging national debt, loss of investments – they can sense the impact and import of going…going…almost gone! There are always questions as people try to maneuver and adjust in these times - - -

• What can I do when I don’t know what to do?
• Where can I go when I don’t know where to go?
• How can I stay motivated when everything I’ve worked for seems to be draining away?
• When I have the sense that my life is ebbing away – going…going…almost gone… - What can I do? Where can I go?

Such is the plight of many as they lose their homes; as debts have exceeded any income or means to pay them; when bankruptcy appears to be the only escape – Life has become so difficult and there is nothing I can think of to do! Is there anything salvageable – anything of worth left of me and for me? The Poem goes on with these words:

And many a man with life out of tune, And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, Much like the old violin.
A 'mess of potage,' a glass of wine; A game - and he travels on.
He is 'going' once, and 'going' twice, He's 'going' and almost 'gone'.
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's Hand.

In a similar way, a righteous man had suffered great loss. In Job 23:8-9, Job expresses his despair and frustration as he seeks God – “I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him…” However, he comes quickly to this point of remembrance and resolve in Job 23:10-12 – “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.” When you are in the grasp of The Master’s Hand, there is light at the end of your tunnel; the rough places will be made smooth; He will make a way where there seems to be no way! If you are in The Master’s Hand, you are in the place of refuge, peace and provision. Don’t waver – let The Master have His way with you. Consider these things with me!