One Fish,
Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish…
Would
you believe me if I told you that you had everything you needed to become a millionaire at the age of 3?
In 1960
Dr. Seuss scribed one of the most profound statements ever recorded, and here 52 years into the
future his words still can be heard echoing through our schools, our fishing piers, our everyday lives.
He
simply and rhythmically said, “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”
What 3
year old in America has not heard that famous, simple rhyme? In the calendar year of 2011, a total of 464,016 copies of the book were sold. (http://www.publishersweekly.com) Each book being worth anywhere from four to
eight dollars according to Amazon.com, could equal up to a total of $1,856,064 in just one year.
Such
simple words made a huge future for Dr. Seuss. Words that even a three year old
can say. In a sense, a 3 year old has just as much talent as the multi-million
dollar book writer Dr. Suess.
In 8
words we are fully equipped for success. “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue
Fish”
In
Romans, Paul seemingly prepares us for success in just three words. It’s like
“5 Minute Abs” instead of “6 Minute Abs”. Who needs eight words for success
when we can do it in three?
Romans
10:9, “If you confess with your
mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved.”
We are fully equipped. It is so simple,
confess it and believe it. Just as a 3 year old can say that simple rhyme, so
we too can say “Jesus is Lord”. It might not rhyme so much, or be nearly as
catchy, but it is just as simple…
I heard a great pastor once say, “Being a
Christian is simple, but it aint easy.” It is simple to say a rhyme, or even
just 3 little words, but Dr. Suess spent countless hours dreaming up the
perfect way to present his book, from words to pictures, to rhyme schemes, and
even looking into the perfect presentation of the fonts.
In the same way, “believing in our heart and
confessing with our mouth” truly is a simple thing, but it’s not all that easy.
Truth be told, when we actually believe in something, we act on it. For
example, “I believe that the old wooden chair can hold my weight” Great, I
believe in a chair, but all the words in the world about how great a chair is
will mean nothing if I am never to sit down.
In the same way, the 3 words Paul writes for
us mean nothing if there is not a true change of the heart accompanied with a
decision to believe “and follow” all that God has for us. To believe that His
way is better than our way and actually walk that way.
I may never make millions with a children’s
book or a simple rhyme like, “One
Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”,
but I surely will not miss the abundant life that is mine through Christ in those
3 little words. Hope you won’t miss out on all that you have been equipped for… “Jesus is Lord”
