Heghlu’meH QaQ jajvam
Indulge me please. I need to focus on something other than the crazy world we live in that has completely lost its mind.
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There has always been a few things that have helped to keep my sanity functioning within working parameters.
First, and foremost, is music. Music, since about the age of 8, has been the one constant that has meant more to me than just about anything else. For me, there has always been something sort of magical about music. I love how it affects me and transports me into the very essence of what has been created by means of voice and instrumentation. It’s really been exciting to experience the journey my pursuits into music have taken me. If you love music you understand what I’m saying.
Second, and way above all else, has been the Bible. I didn’t get saved until age 19. And I didn’t know a thing about the Bible. But since my salvation in 1973 the Bible alone has been my best Friend. I don’t even know how to begin to describe the life altering affect it has had on me. The Bible literally changed the course direction of my life from Hell to Heaven. It was the Bible that confirmed to me I was to go to Bible college. It was because I went to Bible college that I met my wife and now have our family. I owe EVERYTHING to the Bible, the Word of God, Yeshua.
Third has been books. I didn’t start reading books until shortly after we had Coy and Luke. My pastor in New Orleans was the one that created an interest within me to read. He read various Christian books and helped to point me in a good direction. I then developed an interest in reading about WW II, the Civil War, the Vietnam War, and the Holocaust. But that sort of reading can become heavy. So I branched out into lighter reading.
I started to read about some of the musicians whose music I enjoyed. I’ve read books about Elvis, Rock artists, Jazz artists. As I got into classical music I was drawn to the works of Mozart and have read several books about him.
Now to get to the title of this blog.
One day (back before our girls were born) I was in the local library of the town where I pastored my church. While looking around for something to read, I noticed a Star Trek Next Generation book. So on a whim I took it out, read it … and got hooked. Star Trek Next Generation with Patrick Stewart is where I came to learn about Klingons. Most of you reading this may have little knowledge about Klingons and Star Trek. That’s OK.
Heghlu’meH QaQ jajvam is the Klingon phrase which means: Today Is A Good Day To Die.
Now I know that Klingons and Star Trek aren’t real … or, are they?? I am, however, intrigued with the (though fictional) Klingon warrior mindset. Klingons believe that to die in battle, to die loyal to who and what you are while engaged in fighting your opponent, is to die a good death.
The “Klingon” mindset, that heartfelt bent towards an honorable life unto the death ideal, has a familiar ring to it. It sort of sounds like the mindset our salvation in Yeshua has obligated us to. A life of total submission to the cause of Yeshua is what we are saved for and what we are to strive towards with consuming passion.
Let me refresh our recollection with some verses I’ve shared before. We’ve all read these and probably know them by heart. But somehow, it appears, they don’t seem to take enduring root.
Yeshua no sooner got started in His ministry when He dropped on His followers some heavy reality. He wanted them (and us) to know what they had signed on for when they yielded their allegiance to Him.
Matthew 5:10-12 — 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
And then in Luke 9:23 — And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Paul chimes in as well. He lets us know, by way of example, that we need to die daily. When it came time for him to die he could say, in effect, that it was a good day to die.
I Corinthians 15:31 - I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. — I can still recall the impact this verse had on me the very first time I read it. It convicted me then and it beats me to death still.
I Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
II Timothy 4:6-8 — 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
And finally John in Revelation 12:11 — And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
I’ve learned something from reading over the years. A lot of fiction has solid grounding in the facts and reality of life. Some author (or a creative team of writers) had to acquire enough life experience to be able to create and convey, even through fiction, lessons that can inspire and instruct.
If someone could “create” the Klingons to be valiant warriors for their Kingdom, ancestry and culture then … I have to believe that new creatures/creations in Messiah should, and can, surpass the fictional creations of man. (II Corinthians 5:17)
At least that’s what I want to think.
We who are saved by faith in Yeshua Messiah, have been made new creatures after the Divine “blueprint” of Yeshua Himself. Yeshua lived a life worthy of a warrior’s death. And when it came to the day of His death it was indeed Heghlu’meH QaQ jajvam — a good day to die.
Notice …
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father into they hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 23:46
So I’m thinking, if nothing else, we who claim the Name of Yeshua should at least be as noble and honorable as the fictional Klingons, right?
I trow so.