Yvonne was my friend Debbie's little sister. She was a pretty as Debbie,
an A student, head cheerleader, and everyone just knew she would have a great
life. As a high school senior she had a choice of colleges, but would lean
towards UNM so she could still live at home, and be near her church. She was an
encouragement to many, until one night she made a bad decision that altered her
life. She was too intimate with her boyfriend, and now was pregnant. Turning
to her parents for help, she found none, in fact she was told to leave the
house. Forced to find a place to live, she quit school, took a job, and found
an apartment. Finally graduating, but not with her class. One bad night would
change her life forever, and her perfect dream was over. Abandoned by her
family, she stuck close to the only one she could trust, Jesus. She had the
child, despite her friend's best advice to abort-one night shouldn't ruin her
life, and was a single mother. She chose life, the right choice, and chose
God-an even better choice.
Marcie was a young junior in high school when she thought she loved a young
boy. Looking for love she didn't get at home, a one night fling ended in
pregnancy. She was then forbidden to come home-oh the shame of it all to her
family, and sought help from the church. A couple there, took her in, and she
suddenly had a church full of family. I was head of the youth group at the
time, and we always joked "you better not have the baby on Wednesday, that's no
excuse for missing church." So when she called me on that Wednesday afternoon,
I was not surprised, God has a sense of irony. "Mike, I can't be there, I'm in
labor..."she cried, and we prayed. I put the word out to the group, and we all
met at the hospital in her room that night. She couldn't come to church, we
took church to her. Where we weren't alone, for all the ladies in the church
were already there, a church full of new grandmas for Marcie's child, and love
filled the room. The youth group all wanted to hold the baby, and had many
questions. And would help her along as she needed help being a single mom.
What the devil had meant for evil, God worked out for good. Again, and like
Yvonne, these two single mom's kept focused on Jesus, when the world told them
different. Trusting a God they hoped would help them, when their parents
wouldn't.
But don't become bitter to these girl's parents, for they too made bad
choices. When they were most needed, they abandoned their daughters, leaving
them at the world's mercy. Fortunately both girls knew Jesus, and knew he would
never leave them, and He didn't and hasn't. Love still covers a multitude of
sin.
We all know the story of the woman caught in adultery, and how the men
gathered and wanted to stone her. It was the law, and although it took two, the
man was conveniently absent. Which made no difference to the crowd, until Jesus
arrived, and things changed. As He knelt down, and wrote in the dirt,
theologians debate what was written, for scripture doesn't tell us. But as the
crowd left, leaving only the accused woman, Jesus told her to go and sin no
more. Love covered her sin, she had come face to face with love-in the person
of Jesus. But what of her accusers? Why did they leave?
Just an opinion, but one to consider. Jewish law had a provision in it
that if the accused was found innocent of the charge, the accuser would suffer
the same punishment. Think what effect that would have on our judicial system
today. Maybe when Jesus wrote personal notes in the dirt, others had had time
with her, or with another woman. Maybe they fled in fear of being found out,
and suffering themselves. Maybe they had just gone along with the crowd, and
realized that they wanted no part of the consequences. What if their wives saw
their picture in the paper and they were associated with her? How could they
explain that? Maybe it was fear of their sin being revealed and the retribution
that went with it that made them drop their stones and leave. But whatever the
reason, when sin stood in the face of love, it had to flee-it cannot stand in
the light. For when it is exposed, it causes us to make a decision, to turn to
it in repentance, or run away in fear. Our choice.
We all have made mistakes we wish we hadn't, and some will affect us for a
long time. Yvonne and Marcie both made a bad judgment call one night, but made
the right one in turning to God. They found the love they needed, and the
people who they needed to be there in their church. Jesus showed them mercy,
sadly we must screw up to get it. But they now know a side of Jesus that few
do, their great redeemer. And their heavenly father who never deserted them,
although their earthly fathers did. So turn to Jesus today, put down your
stone. For some it is the hidden sin that is revealed, for some more obvious.
But your sin will find you out, better to find Jesus before it does.
Go and sin no more-great advice from a man who knew no sin. Who offered
forgiveness, mercy, and grace. So put down your stone. Open your hand and
heart to Jesus. Who takes us by the hand when we extend it, and holds it in His
own. And example we all need to follow. Who looks past our sin, and only
wishes to lovingly guide us. "Where are your accusers?" Jesus asked. What is
your answer? Where are yours?
love with compassion,
Mike
mattthew25biker.blogspot.com