Newsletter - February 2005

Dear Friends:

Do you have any heroes? I read a Christian book recently which said that we should have more heroes and fewer idols. Thinking about the difference between the two, it seems that an idol is someone or something that gets between me and God and a hero is someone who helps me connect to God. I have known both kinds of people in my life.

I have been pondering the thought about having heroes and, realize that it can be dangerous to look too closely to other humans to be our models. Jesus is the only one who is a perfect example of the kind of life God wants me to live. But still I must acknowledge that I can learn a great deal from observing the right people. The concept, I believe, is supported in scripture. Paul set himself up as an example for other church leaders to follow. He also instructed older women to be examples for younger women to learn from and to emulate. I think part of God’s plan for our spiritual growth is that we learn from one another.

So, let me ask you again, do you have any heroes? I have a new one and I would like to tell you about her. Kate has been a friend of my daughter’s for some time now and, when I heard about the problems in her marriage and the related financial difficulties she was facing, my heart went out to her. Yet, when I talked to her on various occasions when we met, she was never discouraged, never less than optimistic, and always trusting that God was working things out for her good and His glory. She was committed to being at home with her three sons, confident that God would honor her priorities and provide for their needs. She took on part-time work at an after-school program where her boys could be with her. And, one day a week, she began to clean for me to earn some much-needed cash.

Yesterday Kate left me a voice message saying that she would not be able to clean our house today because she had had a car accident, her car was totaled, and, although she was not severely injured, she hurt from head to toe. I called her back as soon as I picked up the message, concerned that she would be overwhelmed by this new problem in her life. What I heard when she began to tell me about the accident gave me heavenly goosebumps.

She had left home praying as she pulled out of the driveway for safety for her and three-year-old Jacob as they made their way to a friend’s home for a child’s birthday party. As she was driving along the main highway in our town, she observed a car coming up to the intersection ahead of her and realized that it was not going to stop. She slammed on the brakes and committed herself and Jacob to God. The crash was violent, but she was protected by the air bags that discharged, and Jacob was safe, though crying, in his car seat. She smelled smoke (later realizing it was from the air bags) and frantically freed Jacob from his seat and moved him to safety at the side of the road.
Then she turned to face the person who had put her life and Jacob’s in danger. She was ready to berate him for ignoring the stop sign and pulling out in front of her. How could he have been so ignorant? So thoughtless? She watched as the driver of the other car slowly eased from behind the wheel, somewhat dazed but apparently not injured. He was so old! Her anger turned immediately to compassion as she ran toward him, Jacob in tow.

“Sir,” she said, still breathless from the crash. “We could have been killed just now. If we had, my son and I would be in heaven, but where would you be? Do you know Jesus?”

“No,” he answered, “I guess I don’t. I’m not really a very religious man, but I have a good heart.”

“But, sir,” your good heart is not enough to get you into heaven. Let me show you.” Kate ran back to her crumpled car to retrieve her Bible just as the police were arriving at the scene. She showed the 83-year old man Jesus’ words when he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Then she turned to Romans 10:9-10 and read aloud, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with the heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

They talked about heaven, about eternity, about his love for his wife of 60 years and his desire to be with her forever. After a few minutes, Kate realized that this was all new to him and that he was still somewhat shaken by the accident, so she concluded with two thoughts.

“Sir, it was not an accident that we met today. God brought us together so you could hear about Jesus.” Then she asked, “Do you have a Bible at your house? Because, if you don’t, I am going to give you mine. It is very important that you read the Bible and find out more about Jesus and his offer of eternal life in heaven.”

“I think I have one, but I don’t know where it is,” he responded. “I will find it.”

When I talked to Kate a few hours later, she was in physical pain from the force of the impact, but she was flying high spiritually. She was praising God for his protection and praying for Henry, the man who caused her pain but for whom she now carries a spiritual burden. She didn’t know yet what she was going to do about a car. With only minimal employment and no cash, she had carried only liability insurance and, therefore, didn’t know how the car could be replaced. She knows, though, that God will provide and because of her faith and the example she has given of her constant walk with God, I, too, can believe.

Why is Kate a hero to me? Because she trusts God in ways that I am still exploring. She talks to Him constantly. She puts into practice, on a moment-by-moment basis, the words of Philippians 4:6 where we are told not to be anxious about anything, but to pray about everything. From a worldly perspective, she should be anxious, bitter, and angry. Her marriage is a continual challenge and her financial world is upside down. She does not have the things we all crave – security, a stable home, a committed partner. But she has God and, for Kate, God is enough. I am learning so much from her!

Let’s look for heroes in our lives: Not people who distract us from God, but those who point us to Him, those who are models for us as we learn to live as God’s children in this world. And, then, maybe, by God’s grace, we can someday be a hero to someone else, showing them the way to live God-pleasing lives on this planet.

Our ultimate hero and model, of course, is Jesus. We must never lose sight of Him and what He taught us about living lives that please the Father. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Hebrews 12:2-3 The Message).

I pray we will have days filled with God-sent spiritual adrenaline as we keep our eyes firmly on Jesus but, at the same time, learn from other travelers along the way!

Blessings to you today!

Bev

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