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Hunger Pains

By Guy K. Henry

www.GuyHenry.com

I opened the door of the restaurant and was quickly met by a smiling man.

“Will that be a table for one?” asked the greeter.

“Yes, I will be eating alone this evening,” I replied.

“Follow me,” he said as he sped off.

We wound around a sea of tables until we came to mine. The greeter pulled my chair out and allowed me to sit down. “Your waiter shall be with you soon,” he said as he left me.

I looked around the restaurant for my waiter. I realized that I was very hungry when my stomach loudly gurgled.

“Here is your menu, sir,” the waiter said as he handed me a large folded menu. “What can I get you to drink?” he asked.

I started to ask for a boring old diet cola when my eyes fell upon a drink that looked fabulous. “I think I’d like the Strawberry-Banana Smoothie,” I said looking forward to tasting it.

“I will be right back sir,” he said.

I looked all over the menu and had a hard time choosing what to have for dinner. All the while my stomach kept gurgling.

Ten minutes went by. “Where is my Smoothie?” I wondered.

The waiter snuck up behind me. I jumped when he said, “Here is your Strawberry-Banana Smoothie, sir.” He laid a plate on the table in front of me. On it was a piece of paper. It read, “RAINCHECK.”

“What is this?” I asked in shock.

“That is your Smoothie,” he answered.

“No it isn’t!” I said getting aggravated.

“Oh, that is just as good as a Smoothie,” the waiter explained. “The next time you visit us, just present your raincheck and we will bring you a Smoothie.”

My stomach gurgled. I did not wish to continue this ridiculous argument. “Fine,” I said gruffly. “I am ready to order my dinner.”

“Very good, sir,” The waiter said as he gathered his pen and order pad.

“I would like the Hungry Boy Steak Platter cooked medium-rare,” I started. “And I would also like to have a large baked potato with butter and mountains of sour cream.”

“That is a very good choice,” he said with a smile. “I will bring your meal to you shortly.”

I sat at my lonely table and studied my raincheck. I lost track of time, but my stomach gurgling was getting embarrassingly loud.

The waiter snuck up behind me again. He startled me, “Sir, your baked potato.”

He placed a plate on the table and quickly left saying, “Your steak will be ready in just a few more minutes.” Then he disappeared.

I stared at the plate that he had just left. It was certainly not a baked potato. On my plate was a piece of paper. It read, “CERTIFICATE. This Certificate Entitles The Bearer To One Baked Potato With Butter And Mountains Of Sour Cream.”

I considered for a moment eating my certificate. Instead I looked around for the waiter so that I could tell him what I thought of my baked potato. My gurgling stomach wanted to complain too.

Soon the doors of the kitchen flew open. My waiter breezed through them pushing a cart. My eyes were fixed upon the large tray that it carried. I rubbed my hands together and thought, “My dinner!” I had suddenly forgotten about all the previous disappointments.

“I do apologize for the delay,” the waiter said when he arrived at my table. He then unfurled a large napkin and allowed it to float across my lap. Then he carefully laid out a sharp knife, fork and spoon. In the middle of my silverware he set my plate, covered by a large shiny lid.

“Enjoy,” the waiter said as he scampered away.

My arms felt weak from hunger as I reached for the lid. I closed my eyes and took hold of the handle. As I lifted the lid I slowly opened my eyes. I could not wait to sink my teeth into my juicy steak.

Something was wrong. I blinked my eyes, hoping that would solve the problem. When that didn’t I dropped the lid to the floor with a loud, “CLANGGGGGGGGG”

My mouth was hanging open. On my plate was a piece of paper. It read, “I.O.U. One Hungry Boy Steak Platter.”

Tears started to form at the corners of my eye. The paper continued, “We are very sorry, but we have run out of steak. You can bring this I.O.U. back sometime next week, when the delivery truck comes, and we will give you a nice steak.”

I tossed the I.O.U. into the pile of other papers. Then I buried my face into my hands. My stomach grumbled.

I didn’t see the waiter poke his head out of the kitchen doors. All I heard was, “You get a free scoop of ice cream with your meal. Shall I bring it to you?”

I couldn’t speak. I just nodded my head. It wasn’t steak, but perhaps some ice cream would give me enough energy to walk back to my car.

A few minutes later, my waiter ran through the kitchen door. He zoomed past my table so quickly that I didn’t see him drop something in front of me. Within seconds he was back in the kitchen.

I let my hands slide down my face. I looked down hoping to see a bowl of ice cream. There was a bowl, but inside of it was a plastic disk that read, “This token is good for one scoop of ice cream.”

Even though I was light headed, I gathered my coat and walked to the door. The man who had greeted me asked, “Did you enjoy your meal?”

I looked at him. I thought of all kinds of angry things to say to him. In the end, all I could say was, “For some reason, I am still very hungry.”

My stomach gurgled a hurried ‘good-bye’.

Some would say that there is a contradiction in the Bible.

It says in Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” This clearly states that our salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, and not through any actions of our own.

Then the Bible says in James 2:21-26, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?(22)  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?(23)  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.(24)  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.(25)  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?(26)  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Taken at face value, this would seem to be the opposite of what Galatians 2:16 says.

Of course God would never contradict Himself. Consider this, that once the saving faith of Jesus enters our lives, we are radically changed people. Not only does that faith change our eternal destiny, it has to change the way we act in this world. As that faith grows within us, it is inevitable that it will show up in our loving, kind works towards one another.

And yet there have been times in my life where I have served up rainchecks, I.O.U.’s and other worthless tokens and excuses to God instead of taking up the opportunity to express the impact of Christ’s life changing gift to those around me.

I spend countless Sundays studying how to do those good works. I learn about those good works. But why does it often stay on the church pew instead of translating into DOING those good works.

Am I alone?

Let us not leave our communities hungry for God’s touch in their lives. Let us serve up a veritable feast of God’s goodness to those around us.

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