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One day, I woke early in the
morning to watch the sunrise. Ah, the beauty of God's creation is beyond
description. As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there,
I felt the Lord's presence with me. He asked me, "Do you love me?" I answered,
"Of course, God! You are my Lord and Savior!"
Then He asked, "If you were
physically handicapped, would you still love me?" I was perplexed. I looked down
upon my arms, legs, and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I
wouldn't be able to do, the things that I took for granted. And I answered, "It
would be tough Lord, but I would still love You."
Then the Lord said, "If you were
blind, would you still love my creation?" How could I love something without
being able to see it? Than I thought of all the blind people in the world and
how many of them still loved God and His creation. So I answered, "Its hard to
think about it, but I would still love you."
The Lord than asked me, "If you
were deaf, would you still listen to my word?" How could I listen to anything
being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God's Word is not merely using our
ears, but our hearts. I answered, "It would be tough, but I would still listen
to Your word."
The Lord than asked, "If you were
mute, would you still praise My Name?" How could I praise without a voice? Than
it occured to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never
matters what we sound like and praising God is not always with a song, but when
we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered,
"Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your
Name."
And the Lord asked, "Do you really
love Me?" With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, "Yes Lord! I
love You because You are the one and true God!" I thought I had answered well,
but God asked, "THAN WHY DO YOU SIN?" I answered, "Because I am only human, I am
not perfect." "THAN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN
TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?" No answers. Only tears. The Lord
continued: "Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times
of worship? Why ask for things so selfishly? Why ask things so
unfaithfully?"
The tears continued to roll down my
cheeks.
"Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are
you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others
when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you
opportunities to serve in My Name?"
I tried to answer, but there was no
answer to give.
"You are blessed with life. I made
you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me,
but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not
gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown
My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants,
but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I
have answered them all."
"DO YOU TRULY LOVE
ME?"
I could not answer. How could I? I
was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When
I, my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, "Please forgive me,
Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child."
The Lord answered, "That is My
Grace, My child."
I asked, "Than why do you continue
to forgive me? Why do you love me so?"
The Lord answered, "Because you are
My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will
have compassion and cry with you. When you shout for joy, I will laugh with you.
When you are down, I will encourage you. When you fall, I will raise you up.
When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you til the end of days,
and I will love you forever."
Never had I cried so hard before.
How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked
God, "How much do You love me?"
The Lord stretched out His arms,
and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior.
And for the first time, I truly prayed.
Author
unknown. Greg Hopper
"Why is it that our children can't
read a Bible in school, but they can
in
prison?" |
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