Ever done anything wrong?
Ever got caught doing anything wrong?
My uncles owned a hardware store in a small North Carolina town. They had a shelf full of candy, tootsie rolls and bubble gum just under the cash register so all the kids could get to it.
Go figure….
Right at a child’s reach!
I was four years old. My father and I had been in the store visiting family and were ready to leave. I just stood by the door of the car.
My Father asked why I didn’t open the door. I told him my hands were full. He checked my hands to find them full of bubble gum!!
Of course, he marched me right back into the store to return the stolen goods.
I was old enough to know that I had done wrong. My gentle, but firm, Father’s discipline helped to create a desire in my heart to never steal again.
My parents were establishing boundaries for my life to teach me right and wrong. I was learning life had boundaries whether I liked them or not. I was making choices even at a four year old.
When I was seven years old, I realized I was afraid of the dark.
The fact was: I was afraid of the dark. I didn’t like being left alone. Night lights helped but they didn’t take care of the pit in my stomach. My parents told me there was only one answer to not being alone in the dark. They shared the Word with me: ”I have come into the world as light so that no one who believes in Me will live (stay) in darkness.” (John 12:46) and “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Jesus was the answer. Yes, Jesus!
He promised He would never leave me if I would just asked Him to come into my life. My parents had told me about Jesus all my life.
I had to make the choice. I wanted Light in my life. Again, I had to make the choice. I could ask Jesus into my heart.
He’d come in. I’d never have to be alone again.
I would not need to fear the dark.
I’d have Someone with me all time.
Someone would be there to help me make life’s choices.
It was so simple and yet so profound to just stop and tell Him I wanted Him to come into my life, into my heart, my mind, my soul and live daily with me.
Some days would be harder than others. Circumstances in this world are not always easy to understand. There would be rules to follow and boundaries to keep, but God promised He’d be with me if I welcomed Him thru Jesus into my life. My father, along with a pastor friend who came to my home, shared truth with me from God’s Word.
A - B- C . . . .
A: All have done wrong. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
B: “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:31
C: Confess “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.” Roman 10:9-10
No matter what direction life was going to take me, if I chose Jesus, believed,
trusted, and asked Jesus to come into my heart, He’d be with me.
I did choose Jesus to come into my heart and change me so He could be the Light of my life all the time!
He did change me.
He did come into my life.
He does guide my steps.
He helps me make good choices whenever I ask.
He chose me and I chose Him.
In His Faithfulness is where I choose to live. You can choose Faithfulness, too.
