“If the wine is sour, throw it out!”

Pastor Randy Corbin, Transitional Lead Past

Initially, Michelangelo was coerced into painting the Sistine Chapel.  He was a sculptor and wanted only to sculpt.  His masterful works of David and Moses – all done while still a young man – were proof of his unusual giftedness.

Yet, Pope Julius had a different plan.  He ordered Michelangelo to leave his sculpting projects and to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  Pope Julius had himself designed the blueprint and Michelangelo needed only to paint it.

So, out of respectful obedience to his spiritual authority, Michelangelo took up the brush and the blueprint and began the task of painting the ceiling as the Pope had designed.  While his assistants and his observers were enthusiastic about the project, Michelangelo was apathetic.

Worn and weary, after days of forcing himself to the top of the scaffolding and lying flat to follow the Pope’s plan, he headed to the local tavern for some refreshment.  But, when the wine was placed before him, it was clearly sour.  Upon his complaint, the owner tried it too and in a fit of frustration, the owner repeatedly shouted, “If the wine is sour, throw it out.”  And, with his shouting he began emptying the wine casks.

“That’s it!” Michelangelo mused, “The wine is sour in the Chapel too and it must be thrown out.”  With that he dashed to the Chapel, climbed the scaffolding and destroyed all the work he had done, crying out, “If the wine is sour, throw it out.”  When he finished the destruction, he fled the city and went into hiding so the Pope would not force him to pick it up again.

In order to keep himself hidden, he went to work in a stone quarry and while there, as he reflected on what he had run from, God gave him a vision of what was to be painted on the Chapel ceiling.  It was much different than what Pope Julius had ordered but it was a God-given mission.  Michelangelo was electrified by this vision so much so that it drove him back to the Pope to ask forgiveness for his abrupt departure and now to announce that he was ready to take up the task – not out of duty but out of a vision driven call.  He begged Pope Julius to allow him to paint the vision God had given him.  Fortunately, the Pope agreed.

Now Michelangelo painted with a divine energy and verve and with a passion engendered by the Spirit.  When asked why he agreed to yield to Michelangelo’s plan in place of his own, the Pope replied, “It was clear – I saw only a ceiling while Michelangelo saw a vision.”

Great works are accomplished never out of duty but always out of a vision-driven passion.  When we take up our ministry as a job or in response to an assignment, we hardly ever accomplish eternal impact.  We see only ceilings, lessons, sessions, or committee chores.

But, oh what a difference a God-given vision makes!  Passion grips us and now we see community impact, families renovated, children excited for their faith, lives rescued, life patterns changed, marriages healed, and addictions broken.  We see a movement of redeemed people, young and old, who will take up short and long term missions and community development for Kingdom impact.

Serving out of duty?  Functioning like a merry-go-round – simply duplicating circles week after week?  Take some quiet time and reflect on your ministry responsibility.  Insist on a fresh encounter with God.  Plead for a ministry-changing vision that will impassion you with a driving resolve to make much of God where you serve.

“When the wine is sour, throw it out!”  Beseech God for the new driving vision for His work!