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Here is a true story of a time when God helped me when I was far out in sin, like the prodigal son of the parable Jesus told in Luke 15:11-24. My Heavenly Father had begun preparations for me before I even arrived on the scene. That is just like the father in the parable. Read it and you'll see what I mean. If He did it for someone else, He will do it for you. God is no respector of persons.
My heart was pounding like it would burst through my flesh with each heartbeat. I could hardly catch my breath. I had been running for blocks, even though I could no longer hear the thumping music from the lowrider car.
Two men from that car had tried to force me inside. They were stopped at the red light. When they saw me, they started yelling things at me in Spanish and laughing. Two of them jumped out of the car and trapped me between the traffic light and a big blue mail box. I managed to get away from their grip, and when they pulled on the arms of the sweater I was wearing it slipped right off and I darted into the intersection.
I didn’t think about the cars until I was safely on the other side. Then I just ran as fast and as long as I could. My only thought was fear. I was running for my life and my safety.
When I finally stopped running, I was on a street in a residential area. I was crying and could barely see to read the street sign, so I just continued to walk as it got darker and darker. I knew it was late, but I had no idea what time it was; and I had no idea where I was, except that it was somewhere in Bakersfield, California.
I began praying through the tears, “Jesus, please help me, please help me!” I said it over and over again.
I looked up, and few houses down the street there was a bunch of people leaving a brightly lit house. It looked and sounded like they were at a party.I heard their exchanges as they waved goodnight and filtered out into the night. “Good night, Sister So-and-So,” “Good night, Brother So-and-So.”
A closer look at the lighted picture window of the house they were vacating showed a set of wooden blocks that formed a single word—JESUS. When I saw the name, it was like a special effects production from a movie. The blocks seemed to get bigger and bigger as I was looking at them. These words I had heard my grandmother say many years before burst on my mind, “no matter what the problem, Jesus is the answer”. I began crying almost uncontrollably.
I still couldn’t see through my tears, and I almost bumped into a young man who was leaving that small crowd. He stopped and asked if I was alright. I ignored his question and through my sobs, asked one of my own, “Is this place a church?” I so hoped that it was. I hoped that someone might help me.
He said, “No, but we all go to the same church and we were just having a baby shower for the lady that lives here.”
I thanked him and turned to leave. “Wait,” he said, maybe the lady that lives here can help you. Stay right here,” and he motioned me to the porch step where I sat down as he went inside.
I suddenly realized that I was no longer afraid. I could breathe.
After a very few moments, the lady came down the steps as I rose to meet her. She was younger than me, and looked like a kid to me.
She put her arm around my shoulder, “Come on in here, we’ll talk. Are you hungry?” she led me to the kitchen and started making me something to eat.
We talked for a while. I told her how I had just gotten out of jail, how I got there, and how I had strayed from the Lord and that I just wanted to go home and begin to rebuild my life.
I told her I needed to get to Taft, California where my car was and get my stuff to go back home. She was very happy to oblige, but her husband had been called into work and wouldn’t be back until morning. He had their only car.
“I am not surprised you are here,” she told me. Then she related how the Lord had awakened her early that morning. He had an instruction for her. He told her that he was sending a woman visitor to spend the night. He told her the woman needed help to get home. The Lord said she should get the spare room ready.
It was because of the circumstances that she knew I was the one that the Lord had told her to make preparations for. She and her family treated me like royalty. It was so wonderful and overwhelming all at the same time.
I don’t even remember those dear people’s names, but the Lord does. I pray for them and thank the Lord for their obedience to his instruction.
It doesn’t matter how far away from God you have drifted; you cannot go so far that he can’t prepare a place for you; you cannot go so deep into sin that he can’t get you back where you belong. No matter what the problem, Jesus is the answer. And he has already paid the price to free you.
No matter where you are, no matter what you are involved in, God has already made preparations for you, too.
Over two thousand years ago, He sent his Son, Jesus, who hanged on a cross and shed his blood for your sin-past, present and future sin-all of it. He died so you don’t have to. He was buried so you could have life. He rose to life again so you can live forever with him. Call on his name and he will rescue you. He is at the ready, waiting to hear from you.
“And their sins and iniquity will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17
Remember, Jesus is the answer,
Brenda Quimby Smith
Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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