At the corner of Terrill Road and South Avenue used to be a grocery store
called FINAST an acronym for First National Stores. My mother would shop there
occasionally, and as a kid we got to know where the toy aisle was, how to look
pathetic and get a free donut at the bakery, and where the gumball machine was,
so when leaving you bought a penny gumball as dessert and a reward for being so
good while your mother was shopping. Or more realistic, to shut you up until
you got home, because you hadn’t wanted to go in the first place, and made sure
everyone knew it. Guilty as charged. But as we got older, and were given an
allowance, we got to be as wise as our mothers when it came to making
purchases, we knew where the best candy was, where it was freshest, The Sweet
Shoppe, not Crestwood Cupboard, and also where kids were tolerated, at least
until our 15 cents ran out. And since kids sans mothers were forbidden in
grocery stores, we rarely frequented them on our own, but still were always
scouting the aisles for bargains so that we would inform our mothers that we
couldn’t, and she shouldn’t pass up such a great deal.
We were about 10 years old, when my best friends, brothers named Bruce and
Barry, made the big trip along South Avenue, via the railroad tracks we were
told to stay away from. We got to see the back side of many businesses,
including some small industrial factories along the way. After being
systematically chased from most, we stumbled upon one where we found a pile of
scrap, metal circles punched out in the size of a penny, a lot of money as a
kid. So grabbing a handful, we headed to FINAST, and the penny candy machines.
One wouldn’t work, although the diameter was right, but when inserted three
deep, the machine took them for a real penny-a we were in gumball heaven. So
going back we filled our pockets, returned to FINAST, planning to raid the
machine of free gumballs. And it worked for a while, until some mother must
have ratted us out, and soon the manager, confronted us, and wasn’t as impressed
with our plan as we were. and we were thrown out, told never to come back, and
they took our names, the same as being arrested when you’re a kid. But to us we
had pulled off he crime of the century, even our friends were impressed when we
supplied these free contraband gum balls to them. We were heroes, at least
until the next Friday night, when Bruce and Barry’s parents went shopping, at
FINAST. In a small town, people know each other, and when the manager saw their
parents, informed them of their crime. Now Mr. Van Doren was never one for
words, he was a hitter, and when I went by Saturday morning was told they
couldn’t come out, and I couldn’t come in. We were busted, they were bruised,
and I was scared. My Dad was, also a hitter, after the threats wouldn’t work,
but this went beyond words. And it was months before my mother ever shopped
there again, even longer for us to go with her. But after a few days, all was
forgotten, but not forgiven, and we were out again, looking for things to do.
But never did we ever pull that trick again, for we were assured our names and
photos, along with our parents-a bigger no-no, were on every grocer store hot
sheet in the Metro area. We even swore off gum for a while until we felt the
situation had cooled down. A life of crime, nipped in the bud at age 10, before
any further damage could be done. And I still try to avoid those gumball
machines to this day, just in case the statute of limitations hasn’t expired
from some 50 years ago.
Counterfeiting is not a new thing, almost from Day 1 in the Garden of Eden
Satan tried to counterfeit the truth. And still does today, when reading your
Bible note how much is devoted to counterfeits, false doctrines, and even false
messiahs. Just because the coin works in the machine, doesn’t make it right, or
even correct. And we are always looking for the easy way, or less expensive
way, and our society today is out to blame every one except ourselves. Must be
your fault, my kids would never do that. Yeah, but their parents would, and
have, and may be today. Sometimes unaware, but sometimes using the old kid
excuse, everyone does it. Which of course led to more spankings as a kid,
because we did all do it, and our fathers did all spank us. But yet when faced
with choice, knowing it may involve punishment, we still choose the wrong one,
hoping today is the day God isn’t looking, or looking at someone else. But He
better be there when I call!
When Eve had succumbed to the serpent’s wiles, and tasted of the tree, she
would readily admit it later when God asked her. But when she offered it to
Adam, his choice was different. He had to choose between God and Eve, between
the creator and the creation. And when he chose to go with his wife, sinned
against God, and the rest is history. Setting the precedent we still follow
today, choosing the creation over our Creator. “Hey Adam, want a piece of
gum?” See how close we can come. Born into it, we often choose the wrong way,
as opposed to God, and suffer the consequences. But not all decisions are easy,
I know of a woman who suffers from a disease for which there is no cure, but
medicines are available to ease the pain. Yet she chooses to refuse them,
waiting on God for a miracle. When I suggested the drug can be the miracle, she
denied it. My thought being if I had a headache, would I deny an aspirin? And
when it took away my headache, isn’t that a miracle? Particularly if I had
never heard of them? Tough decisions we have to make every day. Yet we have an
advocate in Jesus, to guide us by His spirit into ALL truth, so we don’t have to
guess. But sometimes those counterfeits look so good, just ask Eve, or
Adam.
It was our choice to enter the criminal world by using counterfeit
coins-slugs. And we paid the price. Today you have been warned, what will your
choice be? Choose Jesus, and when problems come fall back on God, or limp
through life without Him. When an angel of the Lord touched Jacob’s hip,
causing him to limp, who did he lean on? Who do we lean on? Some limping is
more noticeable than others, some can be cured. Some are just the symptom of a
larger problem. Today you may be wrestling with a decision, waiting for a touch
from God. So was Jacob, in fact he demanded it. But not quite the answer he
was looking for. Make sure you know of whom you are asking, the fakes are
everywhere, and hard to determine. Only in Jesus do all things work out for
good for you. Make the right choice today...for only a few cents I was willing
to buy into a life of crime, limping through life I find it easier to lean on
Jesus.
Jesus Christ guilty as charged, so we won’t be. Anyone for a piece of
gum? Wait a minute, didn’t the Adams Company used to make gum? Should have
seen that one coming.
love with compassion,
Mike
mathew25biker.blogspot.com