Knew You Would
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Knew You Would
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Benoni Bulletin -- 030607-- "Jim, I Knew You Would Come"."JIM, I KNEW YOU WOULD COME!"
Have you ever undertaken a task that involved a
dangerous or spine-chilling risk? Some dearly-beloved, but desperately
ill, relative might beg you to donate a kidney. You might be required to
serve in a paratrooper battalion in a combat zone. You might be assigned
police duty in a ghetto. You might be expected to nurse dying AIDS
patients or those with the new drug-resistant tuberculosis
that originated in South Africa. You might be asked to be a missionary
in a third world country where political unrest and unfettered crime go
totally unchecked. Once you have completed the assignment, would you say
it was worth it? Would you say, "If I had to do that all over again, I
would do it without hesitation?" Danger. Risk. Threats. These
are all words that convey something from which we shy away. There is a
strong instinct of self-preservation in us all. Risk, however, sometimes
brings out the coward lurking in us.
After preaching at Riverside on Sunday night, Donna
and I took advantage of the public holiday the following day to be in
Fort Worth to meet for the first time our one and only great
granddaughter, four-month-old Emily Paige Steyn. In addition, we had not
seen our Fort Worth children, Steve and Lisa and their families, since
Christmas! However, we had a slight problem. Torrential rains with
Texas-sized drops transformed the streets of Fredericksburg into raging
rivers. As the rain pelted down, visibility was near zero. Steering an
aqua-planing vehicle is no joke. The radio was announcing "flash floods"
and missing victims of the downpour. Would it be wise to sail on? But
where would you turn around? Leaving the "road" might just mean ending
up in some unsuspecting homeowner's living room! But visions of our
children, grandchildren and our one and only great-grand baby danced in
our heads. Well, to make a long story short, we made it to the metroplex
by the grace of God. And it was worth it! Yes, we would do it again
without hesitation. If you want to see a copy of the "prize," just ask
Donna and she will whip out a picture and you can "ooh and aah" to your
heart's content. What we human beings wouldn't do for our families! We
were so pleased that we made it because the expression in our family's
eyes said, "Mom and Dad, we knew you would come".
During World War 2, a wounded soldier lay in "no
man's land" between his comrade's trenches behind him and the enemy
machine gun nests before him. The buddy of the wounded soldier requested
permission to fetch his fallen friend. As his commanding officer was in
the process of refusing him permission, there was a lull in enemy fire.
The young soldier dashed out of the trench, retrieved his buddy and
returned to the dubious security of the trenches. Alas, he, too, was now
mortally wounded. The officer rebuked him, "You fool, I told you not to
go out there. He is dead and you soon will be. It wasn't worth it!"
"Oh, no, sir," replied the dying hero. "It was worth it, sir. When
I picked him up, he whispered, "Jim, I knew you would come!"
What a wonderful friendship. Danger, risk and fear were all swept away
by torrents of loving friendship. Reminds one of Jesus, doesn't it?
Do you think that when Jesus came to earth to die for
us, He thought it was worth it? The Bible says
that Jesus "endured the cross,"
(Hebrews 12:2). It says He "scorned its shame." So,
why did He do it then? It goes on to say, He did it because of the "joy
set before him." He knew there was no other way, (Acts 4:12). Jesus was
and is our only hope. As we lay out there dying in the "no man's land"
of sin and death, He is the only friend who can risk the danger and
bring us home to safety and security. Certainly, we die. But it is a
death to sin and the desires of this world. It is the beginning of a new
life in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). A few days ago, we were
privileged to celebrate the arrival of our great granddaughter, sweet
little Emily Paige. But celebrating the arrival and life of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ is eternal and on-going! We say, "Jesus, we knew
you would come." He in turn lets us know it was worth it. His death
on the cross set us free from spiritual bondage. That's the reason He
came. His mission is accomplished! "Oh, be ye glad!" Love you all, Al
-- the "Horne" of Africa.
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