Shadrach
Member
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2012
- Messages
- 86
John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”
Titus 3:5, “He saved us through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit”
__________
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please! Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face. A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time, you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday’s only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere–Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, do you love me? Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you.
Then give me your pearls.
Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess–the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my favorite. That’s okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night. And he brushed her cheek with a kiss. About a week later, after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, do you love me? Daddy, you know I love you.
Then give me your pearls.
Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper. That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you. And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. What is it, Jenny? What’s the matter?
Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, Here, Daddy. It’s for you. With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.
He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine pearl neckklace.
- Author Unknown –
__________
Further thoughts:
The above story reminded me of how many people view the way of getting into heaven! They hold on so tightly to the many man-made ways, just like (the dime store pearls that Jenny held), to justified going to heaven regardless of what God’s Eternal Word says is the genuine and only way as stated in John 14:6). My beloved, when we put our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are not only forgiven but also transformed from the inside through with the renewing activity of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
It may sound appealing to believe that we can have our own way of making things right with God. We may like the concept of an individualized faith that is tailor-made to get us into heaven, because it fits right in with this day of tolerance for everyone’s personal choices. However, there is one problem: The Bible makes it quite clear that there’s only one way of salvation, faith in Jesus Christ.
There is only one true faith (Ephesians 4:5). There aren’t multiple paths to heaven, but only one way. Our trust in Christ makes us part of a body of believers with a common faith that centers squarely in Him. Of course, that common faith is also an individual matter. We must personally trust in Christ as our Savior from sin because no one can do it for you. Everyone must come to Him the same way, the only way, by faith in Jesus, God’s Son.
__________
Only one road leads to heaven; Jesus Christ is the way.
Titus 3:5, “He saved us through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit”
__________
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please! Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face. A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time, you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday’s only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere–Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, do you love me? Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you.
Then give me your pearls.
Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess–the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my favorite. That’s okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night. And he brushed her cheek with a kiss. About a week later, after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, do you love me? Daddy, you know I love you.
Then give me your pearls.
Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper. That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you. And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. What is it, Jenny? What’s the matter?
Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, Here, Daddy. It’s for you. With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.
He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine pearl neckklace.
- Author Unknown –
__________
Further thoughts:
The above story reminded me of how many people view the way of getting into heaven! They hold on so tightly to the many man-made ways, just like (the dime store pearls that Jenny held), to justified going to heaven regardless of what God’s Eternal Word says is the genuine and only way as stated in John 14:6). My beloved, when we put our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are not only forgiven but also transformed from the inside through with the renewing activity of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
It may sound appealing to believe that we can have our own way of making things right with God. We may like the concept of an individualized faith that is tailor-made to get us into heaven, because it fits right in with this day of tolerance for everyone’s personal choices. However, there is one problem: The Bible makes it quite clear that there’s only one way of salvation, faith in Jesus Christ.
There is only one true faith (Ephesians 4:5). There aren’t multiple paths to heaven, but only one way. Our trust in Christ makes us part of a body of believers with a common faith that centers squarely in Him. Of course, that common faith is also an individual matter. We must personally trust in Christ as our Savior from sin because no one can do it for you. Everyone must come to Him the same way, the only way, by faith in Jesus, God’s Son.
__________
Only one road leads to heaven; Jesus Christ is the way.
