God's Will & Your Life

By Matt Hofeld

Perhaps you remember the Rainbow Man? If you are a sports fan like me (I think sports nut is a better term for me) then you remember Rollen Stewart’s rainbow colored wig and his ever-present John 3:16 sign during the mid 80’s. It was the wig that got him the nickname Rainbow Man.

A self-ordained minister, it was Stewart’s mission to advance the Gospel through gaining air time at major sporting events and hoisting his John 3:16 sign. However, as Rainbow man’s popularity grew so did disgust from television producers. "He's a pest, " an NBC executive once snorted. "We try to take him out of a shot whenever we can." "He got to be a terrific distraction," seconded ABC sports producer Chet Forte. "He would station himself behind home plate and our camera would view over the pitcher's shoulder and it was very annoying seeing this guy waving the signs and all."

Stewart began to be ejected from sporting events and TV time was greatly reduced by the early 90’s. Facing failure in his mission Stewart took matters in his own hands and attempted to kidnap two day laborers before holding a maid hostage for almost ten hours in a L.A. high rise hotel.

Rollen Stewart’s Rainbow Man became bigger than his message to him and his fame became so important to him that he became addicted. He is now serving three life sentences in federal prison for the attempted kidnapping and the hostage situation.

At some pointing time your life and God’s will intersect. At that point in time you have to make a choice as to what you will do with God’s will. He does not force His will upon you rather He allows you to make a choice about your life. Many people say that they desire to follow God but fail because they don’t understand the concept of abiding. Listen to the words of Jesus in John 15:5;

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

The key word here is “remain”. It means to live or to dwell or to abide. Jesus is the source of life. He has a plan for your life and desires that you follow it. The key is choosing to abide.

When it comes to your relationship with Christ, do you abide in Him? Have you chosen to live in Christ or are you just staying for a while. There is night and day difference between staying for a while and dwelling. That was the problem with Rollen Stewart. I believe he really had a desire to advance the Gospel, but I also believe that he did not dwell or live in a relationship with Christ.

Remember, you will never be more that God’s desire for your life, but you can always be less. The deciding factor is choosing to abide instead of stay for a while. What will you do when your life and God’s will intersect?