Don't Be Late!

 

        I don’t like being late. In fact, I’m almost always early for appointments. This habit stems from my dad. He was punc-tu-al.

        Mom, on the other hand, most often ran late. No matter how much time she had to prepare, she found more to do before getting out the door. When nearly all set, she’d announce, “I’m almost ready!”

        Dad replied every time, “Ruth, you’re not ready till you’re in the car!” using her first name only. By the umpteenth time, however, he’d add her maiden name. Uh oh!

        But Mom didn’t get the hint.

        So, my sister and I grew up hearing Dad yell, “Ruth Holland, you’re not ready till you’re in the car!” most times when we headed out. And more than once he told Mom, “You’re gonna be late to your own funeral.”

        When I married Brian, he decided to copy my father, and it became a bit of a joke.

        I’d get ready to go here or there, plop on the couch, and announce, “I’m ready.”

        Brian would smile—and to this day replies, “You’re not ready till you’re in the car.”

        I don’t mind occasional late-comers, but I do get irked by chronic-stragglers if I’m the one waiting for them. This annoyance carries over to doctors’ offices. If I wait more than 2 hours for an appointment (for example), let’s just say I get a bit irked, just like Dad. Maybe more than a bit.

        Should I mention that 2 of our children decided to show up late? Yup. Didn’t those babies care they failed to occupy the fully-prepared nursery on time? The nerve! One kept us on pins-n-needles an extra 9 days. The other? Our 4^th! I mean, who expected #4 to keep us parents in limbo 11 extra days? (I’ve forgiven them.)

        In reality, there are times being tardy doesn’t cause global chaos—just inconvenience. After all, no “water under the bridge”—unless someone’s late because there actually was water under the bridge. That could happen.

        I’m not sure why some people tend to be late-comers. Maybe they think they have plenty of time to get one more thing done—like Mom did. They just don’t realize, as one of my special friends shares, “Time has flies!” (I love the way this friend expresses that idiom.* Don’t you?)

        There’s a time, though, when being late will come with eternal consequences. When thinking there’s plenty of time will make the difference between one’s final destination. No one knows when Jesus is returning to take believers-in-Him to Heaven! There are clues, though, in God’s Word indicating we’re approaching—or actually in—End Times.

        Let me back up a few moments though. Way back to Bible times! 

        There’s a stirring account in the Book of Acts, Chapter 26 where the apostle Paul, at that time 
imprisoned for preaching the Good News about Jesus, stands before King Agrippa to be judged. Agrippa permits Paul to speak, and the apostle takes this opportunity to express his joy in being able to address the king. He also shares about his background in Judaism, experience as a pharisee, and deep guilt in persecuting believers.

        Paul must’ve had a captive audience (ironic, since he was the prisoner) because Agrippa allowed Paul to continue. Thus, the apostle shared his personal testimony and what happened on his way to persecute more believers-in-Jesus:

“…O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Having obtained help from God, I stand to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:13-22

        Also present? Festus, the Roman governor. He shouted at Paul, declaring this prisoner-of-many-words mentally off and driving this political official nuts.

        But Paul wasn’t dissuaded by the governor and affirmed he imparted only truth. He even spoke to Festus on behalf of the king before turning the conversation back to Agrippa. (That took guts. That took God!)

“For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Acts 26:25-26

        Next comes King Agrippa’s tragic response:

“You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Acts 26:27

        Paul closes his defense with this challenge:

“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:28

        [King Agrippa, you weren’t ready by your own account. You were late. Lost. Your position couldn’t save you, nor could your wealth or heritage.]

        If you’re a person who hasn’t yet accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you’re gambling against time. Oh, sure, you might have plenty of time and choose to wait, but I challenge you to consider your eternal destiny and relationship with the Lord!

        It’s worth taking care of that now and comes with benefits. You’ll have time on this side of eternity to joy in your new-found life in Christ.

        So, dear one, I implore you. Consider this decision before it’s too late.

Plenty of Time written by Clay McLean (released in 1971)

Plenty Of Time - The Galileans - 1973

~and~

Almost Persuaded

“Almost persuaded” now to believe; “Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say, “Go, Spirit, go Thy way;
Some more convenient day on Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here, angels are lingering near,
Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wanderer, come.

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past! “Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail;“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail, “Almost,” but lost!

(Almost Persuaded, by Philip P. Bliss who tragically died with his wife

in a fiery train wreck 5 years after writing this hymn in 1871, public domain)

        Right now, you still have time. If you don’t understand how to join God’s family, here’s a video explaining the steps:

Heaven How To Get There

Presented by Rev. Brian Hampshire

#time #toolate #JesusSaviorLord #apostlePaul #KingAgrippa #Acts26 #howtogettoHeaven

*“Time flies.”

Photo Credit: clock—publicdomainpictures.net, Paul with King Agrippa—goodsalt.com, person praying—vecteezy.com

Biblical Passages from NKJV version. Video used with creator’s permission.

---

“Has Anyone Considered My Child Has a Soul?”

        Fifty years ago, I drove onto the campgrounds of Children’s Bible Fellowship in New York State. My assignment? Serve as a counselor to the disabled. There was a lot at stake other than just doing this task well. You see, I’d already written the mission organization expressing my desire to serve with them full-time.

        Their initial requirement: Apply to counsel at Camp Hope for the summer, and they’d see if I was a “good fit” for openings at Hopetown—their on-grounds resident school where kids and teens lived year-round.

        This ministry grew as a result of a parents-of-disabled-children’s meeting held in New York City years prior. Attendees asked numerous questions and offered suggestions, wishing to improve their disabled children’s lives physically, emotionally, and mentally.

        Then a Jewish father stood and asked, “Has anyone considered my child has a soul?”

        This was the “seed” that planted a vision in the heart of the mission’s founder. And from that grew Camp Hope and later Hopetown.

        I’d desired to work with the disabled for years prior to this summer, grasping opportunities throughout high school and college, to better equip me for whatever God had in store.

        Unbeknownst to me, the director of Hopetown, who also worked in the camping program, planned to assign the most challenging campers to me—a test of sorts. I didn’t see it that way at the time. I just looked forward to the experience and settled in for the summer.

        After orientation, the first session of campers arrived. Assigned to me? Inez—a petite, pretty-as-a-princess child. Yet her face lacked expression, and she constantly ground her teeth. Inez was autistic and required a 1-on-1 counselor for her 2-week stay.

        I didn’t know a lot about autism. I tried my best, but something within me ached. After all, this was a Christian camp, and our goal was to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. How could I reach a little girl who seemed so distant?

        But during orientation the mission’s founder had shared with us about that meeting he attended eons ago—when the question was put forth: “Has anyone considered my child has a soul?” He also imparted another truth. A body and/or mind may be disabled, but the soul/spirit cannot be. Then he told us an amazing account—

        A certain non-verbal boy attended Camp Hope some years before. He’d not spoken his whole life.

        When he returned home, his parents talked with him about his time at camp—like always but never expecting answers. Still, they loved him and communicated.

        “Did you have fun at camp?”

        No response.

        “You must’ve enjoyed time with the other campers.”

        Silence.

        “What did you learn at camp?”

        “Jesus loves me this I know,” the boy said, “for the Bible tells me so.”

        Reader, can you imagine the expression on these parents’ faces? The utter surprise? The tears of joy? They couldn’t wait to share this news with the mission’s founder, and he joyed each time he shared this account with incoming summer staff.       

        Since God conveyed His Love to that boy, might my camper experience the same? Can she actually grasp that Jesus loves her? Will I be able to help her understand?

        I showed my camper pictures and told her about Jesus in simple words, but she remained expressionless. I didn’t have a clue if anything broke through to her. So, I prayed.

        A couple days passed with no evidence…

        …until one day when I was pushing her on the swing. She seemed to love the back-and-forth motion of that activity, so we did that a lot.

        As I gave her that swing ride, I wondered if Inez might be from a Spanish-speaking home. (This info would’ve been in her camper profile, but somehow I missed that detail.) After all, a number of campers were from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

        What if I communicate with her in Spanish! I only knew a few words in that language, and I wasn’t even sure I pronounced them correctly. I tried saying a few things to her, but she remained emotionless, grinding her teeth.

        Then an eighteen-year-old memory popped into my head—one from when I was Inez’s age.

        My mother was a patient at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Several times Dad took my sister and I to see Mom, except we couldn’t visit her at all. Only Dad was permitted into her room. So, we girls waited nearby.

        Two precious nurses kept us company during those visits and taught us a hymn and Jesus Loves Me… 

        …in Spanish!

        And we never forgot it.

        Now, here I was, gently pushing Inez on the swing. “Si, Cristo me ama,” I sang, and…

        She smiled! Not just a bit. Nope. I’m talkin’ big toothy-grin!

        I gasped. “Oh, Inez! You have a beautiful smile!”

        And my camper stared blankly.

        Then I sang again, and she smile brightly!

        I was amazed and stopped to thank God for this breakthrough, and Inez’s smile left. I sang again, and her smiled returned!

        In a very real sense, we sang Cristo Me Ama together the rest of her time at camp. And I hoped and prayed Inez’s spirit would continue singing when she went home.

        In reflecting on this 50-year-old memory, I remain astonished by the Savior—this infinite God—Who created the world, Who listens to and answers when we pray, Who bent down and whispered to these 2 dear non-verbal campers!

        The world may overlook some children at times, thinking them hopeless.

        But God tells them, “I love you.” And He wrote a Book to prove it because He wanted them to know.

        Reader, do you know a special needs child who seems distant? May you share God’s Love with that precious one who needs to know…

        …“Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so.” 

Jesus Loves Me ~ Cristo Me Ama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsO5ThjGS-0&list=RDJsO5ThjGS-0&start_radio=1

(original English version from hymn/story by Anna Bartlett Warner, 1859, public domain)

 

P.S. ~ At the close of that 1^st summer, I was accepted by CBF as a houseparent and cared for 17 (not all at once) kids/teens over the 3 years I served in that capacity. A “bonus” was meeting my husband at Hopetown. We served with CBF until 1989, at which time God led us to BCM International, Inc. ~ Bible Centered Ministries ~ where we’ve ministered since.

 

#counselor #CampHope #Hopetown #disabled #autism #specialneeds #JesusLovesMe #Spanish #CristoMeAma

Photo Credit:

girl in swing—depositphotos.com, sign—teacherspayteachers.com

Parents’ conversation with non-verbal boy camper is not verbatim.