April 1, 2008
As a
writer, I sometimes struggle to avoid the use of clichés. You know, those
expressions or ideas that have lost their originality or impact through overuse.
Awesome
has been used so much that anything can be awesome. I had an awesome pizza the
other night or that song is really awesome. The party was awesome.
But
when I look up the word awe in the dictionary, most things are highly unlikely
to inspire awe. Here are a couple definitions at random from www.dictionary.com
To
strike with fear and reverence; to inspire with awe; to control by inspiring
dread.
The
emotion inspired by something dreadful and sublime; an undefined sense of the
dreadful and the sublime; reverential fear, or solemn wonder; profound
reverence.
Another
cliché that I’ve often heard and said is "over my dead body."
We’ve probably all said it or heard it:
"That
will happen over my dead body."
It’s
usually used to express anger, resolution or defiance and means that we’re
prepared to put up a fight over something, although it’s highly unlikely
we’re actually prepared to battle to the death over it.
Perhaps
it is time we restored the use of this cliché, but in perspective.
I
know my own heart and past, I know the holiness of God and I know they don’t
match. On judgement day, I’ll stand before God and a long list of my sins will
be read. I’ll plead for mercy and Jesus will say:
"You’ll
get into heaven over my dead body."
What
blessed words those will be for those of us who heard and accepted Him. He loved
us enough to die for our sins and we will literally be given admission to heaven
over His dead body.
Two
Bible verses have become almost cliché, but they are truly awesome (in the real
sense of the word)
Jesus
answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me. John 14:6 NIV
For
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes
in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV
Have
these verses become cliché or do you still remember the gratefulness you first
felt when He promised you eternal life and forgiveness over His own dead body?
Until
next time, may those cliché verses fill you with thankfulness and joy.
God
bless.
Darrel
Mason