Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer
Thought it was scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good folks," he cried.
"Who’ll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar – now two, only two-
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three?" BUT NO!
From a room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow.
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet low,
Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand – and who will make it two?
Two thousand- and who’ll make it three?
Three thousand once and three thousand twice "
And going and gone!" said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not understand.
What changed its worth?" The man replied:
THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND.
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and torn with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
A game -- and he travels on,
He’s going once, and going twice,
He’s going -- and almost gone!
But the MASTER COMES,
and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul,
And the change that’s wrought
BY THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND!
What does this poem say to you? Maybe it's just a neat little poem but doesn't have a personal meaning.
When I first read it, I thought how we are never fulfilled in life. Sometimes we try to convince others that we're fulfilled, that we have everything we want, and need.
If we feel we have everything we want -- we probably have too much -- and aren't reall fulfilled at all! But if we feel we have everything we need, only then have we been blessed by the Master's touch.
The old violin represents me and maybe you also.
"I once was lost -- but now I'm found -- was blind -- but now I see." Because the Master touched me and opened my eyes to what he expected of me.....and not what I wanted out of life. Through his amazing grace he takes us off the shelf, knocks the dust from us, tightens our strings, and rejuvenates us.
I had sat around and collected dust long enough until the Master reached out and knocked the dust off me and renewed my spirit.
"Was lost -- but now I'm found." Yes, these words from the song were written about me. They were written about each and every sinner that God has found and tightened up our strings. Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and with grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.
You see, that old violin sat for years, useless and wearing old. But when the Master tuned it and played it, he put life into it and relieved the fears it had of being auctioned off for two or three dollars and sitting on a shelf somewhere else.
"Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. Tis grace hath brought me safe this far, and grace will lead me home."
How many times was the old violin nearly destroyed by things being thrown on it, or being pushed aside? But the Master's touch gave it rebirth and led it home. Home to where someone who bought it realized its true value and would restore it and put it to it's Master's use.
"When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise, than when we'd first begun."
These words tell me that no matter how long we live or how long we've passed through this life, that we can always move on to sing God's praise and do his work....that time in God's eyes is irrelevant.
How long did the fiddle lay dormant before its Master returned?
What about you....have you missed the Master's touch or his calling? Have you ignored his call?
Well....I did.
Do you even care that he calls you to be an instrument of his peace?
Well....I didn't.
When the Master reaches out for you....will you realize it might be the last chance he gives you? Thank God....I finally did! No....I've never been perfect and I never will be. Nor will you be. But when the Master comes will you be a member of the foolish crowd that never can quite understand the worth of a soul? And the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand???
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