The town’s folk cursed the sun as it shone hot upon the dry parched earth. There was not a cloud in the sky—hadn’t been for months.
Foremost in every mind in Meadville was the drought and their desperate need for rain.
On every lip was the murmur, "I’ve never seen it so dry."
Then, one day, a stranger rode into town. Every eye turned to look at this impressive man. He rode a beautiful Black Stallion. He had a black suit, black boots, black hat, and his pristinely white shirt was accented with a stately black bow-tie.
"Hello, good citizens of Meadville!" He called in a friendly but deep boomy voice. The town’s folk somehow felt good about this man as his powerful voice vibrated their tired, parched bodies.
"I bring glad tidings of great joy. The Lord has given me an anointing to bring rain. Wherever I go, I pray for rain and the rain comes in proportion to the town’s faith. Why I just came from Lac Oregon. There I prayed for rain and that night it rained so hard that I thought my horse wouldn’t be able to traverse the muddy roads. But Here I am and God will send rain to you too. The message I have is, ‘Give and it will be given to you. God will send rain in proportion to your giving.’"
A joyful murmur rumbled through the crowd of listeners as the Rain Hero continued to tell stories of villages he’s visited and how the towns who had given a lot had received an abundance of rain. Those who gave a little got a little rain and those who didn’t believe and gave nothing received the wrath of God and what little water they had was dried up.
The Rain Hero finished by saying, "tonight, Good people of Meadville, tonight as the sun goes down we will meet here in the Town Square. Spread the word everyone should be present. Bring your gifts for the Lord and I will pray for rain. The windows of Heaven will open up and the rain will come. Remember the rain will come in proportion to your giving. So long"
And with that he was off. The villagers watched him disappear into the dust cloud kicked up by the hooves of His horse.
Then the town began to buzz. Men told their work associates. Women spread the news to everyone who they saw. Kids ran to tell their playmates about the meeting that evening everyone was telling everyone how this Impressive Rain Hero was going to save their town by bringing rain.
The city counsel levied a tax to assure that enough money would be given. But that was not necessary for men and women were gathering their money by the bag full. Those who didn’t have much money sold valuable possessions so that they could get in on the blessing as well. Even the children gathered their money out of their banks.
As the sun began to slip over the horizon everyone in town was in the square. They waited breathlessly. "Where’s the Rain Hero?" people began to question.
Then someone shouted, "There he is!"
Sure enough, it was the Rain Hero. His horse came galloping in just as the sun disappeared behind the horizon.
"Good Citizens of Meadville, I have returned as I promised. Now present your gift to me and I will pray for rain."
The towns folk eagerly gave their money to the Rain Hero, who placed it in his rather large saddle bags. Everyone in town had something to give, even the children gave.
Once everyone had given, the Rain Hero praised them for their generosity then prayed.
As he prayed, his booming voice gave them confidence that rain would surely come.
The prayer ended, he announced "You folks better head for home before you can’t on account of the rain. Clouds will roll in tonight and in the morning you will have much rain. I must be off. So long."
And off the Rain Hero rode.
The town’s folk dispersed rather quickly and headed to their homes. But none could sleep. They all kept looking into the sky. Waiting, watching. But by morning light not one cloud had come. And not one drop of rain had fallen from the sky. The only thing they got was defrauded.
The Rain Hero was no Hero at all. The town’s folk stopped calling him the "Rain Hero" and renamed him the "Rain swindler"
Now this story is a parable. It didn’t really happen.
But there are many people who ride into this world claiming to be something great—a hero—who aren’t what they say they are.
Just like the people of Meadville we are in desperate need of a Hero to save us.
But I’m not talking about someone to bring rain, but someone to save us from impending death.
Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
This comes as no surprise to most of us. We can all probably come up with quite a list of sins that we have been involved in our lifetime.
In fact, we know this fact so well that often it ceases to bother us.
But in reality that fact puts us in a very desperate position.
Throughout the Bible we find evidence that sin brings death.
And Paul sums it up nicely in
Romans 6:23 when he tells us that the wages of sin is death.
We need someone to rescue us from the death penalty.
Many men have come to this earth, claimed to be something great and started their own religion. But none have actually succeeded in rescuing us from death.
That’s where God the Son, Jesus, comes into this equation.
Jesus came to this earth as a man and died in our place—to pay the penalty. And as a result He offers us forgiveness and eternal life.
And one thing that is totally unique to Jesus is that after He died for us He also rose again and lives forever more.
But is Jesus really the right hero?
Can He really save the day or is He just a swindler like the Rain Hero who takes your tithes and offerings, makes a bunch of promises and leaves without making good on His promises?
Let’s take a quick look.
We need to know who we put our trust in.
John 8:58, 59 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."
Matthew 26:62-66
"This song is not entirely accurate. We can pay the debt. We just can’t pay it and live with God.
But it does nicely sum up what Jesus did. He paid the debt that He didn’t owe and now He offers us a full pardon.
