“Hi Gladys!” shouted
Joanna. “How are you?”
There was excitement, happiness and contentment in
her voice. She was a happy and cheerful person today. She was not like this
before. I remember the days when we used to share our sorrow and look at each
other helplessly. Why even last time I saw her, about two days back, she had so
many mental tensions. But today... Today it was a different person coming
towards me.
“Hey Gladys, you know I
found some one”
So that was it. Joanna was going to
get married. That explains her happiness I thought as she continued.
“I’m so happy today. He
took away all my pains and sufferings”
Pains and sufferings!
Did she go to a doctor? What was her sickness?
“He has filled me with
joy and happiness. No more sorrow, No more mourning”.
What is all this
nonsense she is talking? I was unable to understand as she went on and on until
I could take it no more “STOP IT” I yelled!
From what
she was saying I could figure out that a ‘person’ was responsible for the
change in her life. I controlled my self and asked her calmly. “Who is he? Or
what is he? And what does he look like?”
Joanna replied “He is
the most handsome person, the fairest of ten thousand, fairer than the lily of
the valley”.
“Has he won the Mr.
Universe Pageant?” I asked.
“Oh no, He is the
creator of the Universe! He created you and me! He is the omnipotent,
omnipresent God. He is Jesus Christ.” Joanna answered calmly.
“Oh! Jesus Christ. I
know him” I said “I’ve seen him in the paintings in the books. I do not find
him appealing at all. He has blood and bruises all over his body. More over He
is dead and gone. How can you claim that he gave to the joy and happiness” I
asked utterly confused.
“No my friend you do
not know the person of Jesus Christ. He is the loveliest person. He loves you
and me and that in why he died for our sins. He came into the world to redeem
us. For he sins we committed He was bruised and to cleanse our sins, his blood
was shed. He did die but He rose from the dead and is alive now. You do not
find him appealing because you are not cleansed by his blood and saved from
your sins.”
“Saved from my sins!
I’m not a sinner! I’ve not done any crime. I do not need to be saved.”
“Oh no! Gladys you
certainly have to be saved by the blood of Jesus to live eternally in his
kingdom. He is the way, the truth and the life. If you want to be in heaven,
you have to seek him and find him. Please for friendship sake come with to the
church. I’ll show you who Jesus is “He will make you also happy”.
“OK” said I
reluctantly. It was the old Pentecostal church round the corner. The
Hallelujah’ sound was audible even before we entered the street. As we entered
the church, a strange feeling engulfed me. Something or some one surrounded me.
It was all over me. I was afraid and happy. Mixed emotions - a new kind of
experience! A chilly and electrifying feeling! No words to explain that kind of
experience. I sat on the chair near the entrance itself so that I could slip
out without being noticed.
As the people in the
church stood up to worship, I stood up too. That person or thing was still all
over me. I could feel it. I looked here and there. I looked at the faces of the
people who were worshiping; bright and smiling. I too closed my eyes.
As I closed, there he
was so bright and beautiful, fairer than the lily of valley; his hands and legs
with nail marks stretching out towards me. I began to cry. I looked at myself.
Oh God! I’m so dirty. The miry clay was all over me. I was stinking and
completely soiled with dirt. Yet He called me. I went near him and He began
cleaning me with his blood. His red blood made me clean and white as snow. Part
by part the cleansing was done. First my head was cleansed. My God how much
dirt in my head, all filthy thoughts, pride, haughtiness, jealousy, unforgiveness
and much more. I was unable to bear the sight of all those filth, where did all
these store up in my head?
Then my eyes were being
cleansed, another load of filth. All that I should not have seen Oh God
stinking filth! The words of my mouth stank. How many people have been hurt by
the words of my mouth! How many times I’ve spoken against God! Jesus was
patiently cleaning my mouth. The words that came out now smelled nice and
fragrant. It was a sweet smelling savour to Jesus. He liked it. I repented and
cried more. He soothed me and comforted me. I cried all the more.
He cleansed my hands
and legs for all the cleansed my hands and in my past. I began to feet light.
All the heaviness from my body had gone. All guilt and sin had been cleansed
from me. My heart was being poured out and these was cleansing in my heart too.
My heart was full with the
unwanted and unnecessary things. Jesus didn’t like the uncleanness but the
helped me to throw it all out. As I began pouring myself out. He cleaned my
heart and prepared it for his to stay. I was much happier. Jesus is going to
stay in my heart. How fortunate I’m! I’m clean now. I’m happy now. As the
worship ended I emerged as a new person.
I have the joy and
happiness that Joanna has. I now know the man she was talking about. I know him
as I should know him: in my heart not as in the paintings of some book.
Do you know Jesus?
Would you like to receive the happiness and Joy I have?
Accept Jesus Christ as
your personal Savior and surrender yourself unto him completely. He will fill
you with joy and peace and will lead you to the eternal home.
“ For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.”
John 3:16
May God bless you. Amen. Hallelujah!!
By Carolyn Thomas
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