Yvonne was the daughter all parents desired, but none deserved. She had a
beautiful New Mexico charisma about her, she was the head cheerleader, and
valedictorian of her high school graduating class. Yet in one night learning
about love in the back of a Dodge, her whole life changed. She was pregnant,
and no cheers for her new appearance. She would still graduate as
valedictorian, her robe hiding her large belly, but the damage went deeper.
Raised in a very religious family, these things didn’t happen to good girls, and
she was put out by her family. Spending the last semester of high school living
in an apartment, and working part time while with child to pay for it. All her
religious training, her church’s pride in her, and all she held valuable left
her in one fleeting moment. Except for her relationship with God. Jesus never
left her even though her own family did. She hung tough with him, and had a
baby boy, who today would be 40. I lost touch with her and her family long ago,
but I wonder how she ended up. An early lesson to me in how Jesus loves us,
even when we are an embarrassment to our family and church.
Debbie had been married to a 1%er until she was saved. There was no room
in this outlaw home for God, so her husband divorced her. Leaving her with two
kids both under five. But her church family took her in, and helped her to get
her life together, and spending time with her sometimes revealed how tough it
had been, and why she left. When Amy, her five year old would tell us that
“Daddy was going to cut Mommy’s ears off,” we winced and turned away, but
turned to Jesus. As did Debbie and her kids. An early example to a young
Christian of the church family loving each other through the tough times, under
the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Amy would be over 45 today, I wonder how
Debbie and her kids ever turned out.
I’ll call her Josie, for I remember her, but forget her name. A young
girl, after too much Tijuana, decided to drive home, and in a single car
accident was left paralyzed from the neck down. No memory of what a great time
would ever heal the tragedy, but it drew her closer to Christ. And her family
also. I met her and would visit her, just reading the Bible to her, but it was
the spirit who did the healing, and would have to forever. Three lives that
never turned out as they had initially planned, and if not for Jesus would have
ended in ruin. But God’s spirit was with them....
She was only a teenager, betrothed to her husband, but the wedding not yet
consummated. And yet, at a time when they should be celebrating their marriage
and honeymoon, she was pregnant. But not from her husband. And both knew her
to be a virgin, yet had trouble understanding how and why this had happened to
her. Joe and Mary, were chosen by God to raise his son Jesus, and Mary had been
made pregnant by the holy spirit. In a verse I refer to often, “and Mary
pondered these things in her heart,” I can only imagine how the spirit
ministered to her, how precious those times and conversations were. How many
may have started out in fear and confusion, but ended in joy. She named her son
Emanuel, God is with us, and he had truly been with her before, during, and
after the baby was born. Imagine the stories she could have told, but had no
one to listen to except for Joe. No parenting class would have had her.
Joe struggled on his own, as it was his responsibility to present her as
pure to the world, and could have had her stoned or divorced her because of her
condition. But the same spirit that had comforted Mary comforted him, and he
would not abandon her, and raise the son as his own. Teaching him the trade of
a finished carpenter, historians believe they made yokes, a specialty. Which
scripture would later tell us “to take his yoke, for it is easy.” Maybe for
Jesus, but not for Mary, not for Yvonne, Debbie, or Josie. The intrigue of
glamorous women had yet to reveal itself until in the spirit. At which point
they became beautiful. Beyond any glam or glamor the world could supply. And
not for us either. Without the spirit, we are left to our own interpretation of
scripture, we are left at the mercy of religion, at the cure all of studying to
be approved. But none of the above had time to study for their life changing
situations, they needed immediate help, first aid, and then care for the rest of
their lives. Friends, family, and the church may provide the physical needs,
but the spiritual needs that went deeper they could not. Scripture tells us
there is an earthly and a heavenly life, all covered by a spiritual world,
something as real as anything we can taste or touch, and it is that spiritual
world that brings us joy, peace, patience, and into the presence of a loving
God. It is these spiritual qualities that make life worth the living, we would
be mere animals without it. A gift God only gave to those created in his image,
and for his glory.
Sad stories until we see the truth in them, how in each case God allowed
them to bring the individual closer to him, to repentance. To make us wonder
where do these things come from, and draw us to the only one who can answer in
truth. Jesus Christ. A love that is offered to us while we are yet sinners, and
made perfect in our lives via his spirit everyday we remain here on earth. On
earth as it is in heaven, something to ponder. And the same spirit that
comforted a young Joe and Mary is available to us today, as we are. With
blessings increasing for those who say yes to Christ, but vanishing to those who
choose to neglect him or reject him. It is the spiritual abundance that makes
the difference...
So there is earthly life and heavenly life, and we get to choose. We are
all born into sin and fall short of the glory of God, but we don’t need to
remain that way. Today we can embrace the hope, the joy, and peace given via
the spirit freely. We can find a way through our situations, and grow closer to
God and be saved. Not a bad day’s work. Today experience the joy and the
ability to share in a loving relationship with God, and with others. When
church, family, society, and friends fail, Jesus never does, nor ever will. It
is his spirit calling to you today, to bring you out of darkness into light. In
all the above case they could have remained victims, only in Jesus did they
become victors. On earth as it will be in heaven, designed to teach us there is
an afterlife worth waiting for. And that you can have that same life right
now...for we can only see dimly, but the spirit sees all. Ponder that, Mary
did....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com