The King Is With Us
I’ve been known to impersonate Elvis Presley from time to time. I’ve portrayed the young “King of Rock N Roll” at Stony Point church of Christ in Florence, Alabama and other venues. I’ve attempted in not so “formal” settings like this morning when entering the school building where I work while “Blue Christmas” welcomed our students. I gave it my best in a YouTube video I created a few years back sporting a pink brush as a microphone. I’ve never been bad enough for someone to ask me to stop. Maybe they were too kind or oddly entertained by my curled lip and awkward gyrations. There is one place however I was sternly told to stop. That place is known as Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Apparently there is a strict “no impersonations” policy at the home of Elvis. My disappointment was great. I’ve always operated under the assumption that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. The young employee at Graceland seemed as though she had never heard the phrase or maybe my best effort did not qualify as imitation. Either way she was none too pleased and let me know in no uncertain terms that the best part of my act was “the end”.
Now as much as I love Elvis, the King he is not. To me a king who is secure in his authority is not intimidated by a little effort or a copy cat. In fact, the one true sovereign King invites us to mimic his every move. He wants us to be his disciples so much that he was willing to come to this earth and be mistreated just to show us how to conduct ourselves under pressure. When his mission on earth was nearing completion, he encouraged his disciples that the Spirit of truth would be in them (John 14:17). What an encouragement that our best effort aligned with the will of God is powerful. We are not the King but the power of the Spirit can magnify his presence to the world. In spite of our shortcomings and by confessing them, “we walk in the light, as he is the light” (1 John 1:5-10 ESV).
For the next 15 minutes think about people who have mimicked the one true King in your life. Give them a call and thank them.