Issue 33 [April 25, 2011]
One day a little girl was shopping with her parents when she came across a plastic pearl necklace. She begged her father to buy them and, of course, her father did.
That night, he smiled as he saw her clutching her pearls and asked, "Do you love me?" The little girl looked surprised, "Of course I love you, Daddy". “Well then”, he said, "will you give me your pearls?" The little girl clutched her pearls with a confused and hurt look on her face. "No, Daddy, not my pearls... you can have anything, but please don't take my pearls." Her father leaned forward, kissed her head and left for the night.
This exchange was repeated night after night. Her father would come into her room and smile and say, "Do you love me?" She would answer back, "you know I do" and then he would say, "then can I have your pearls." The little girl offered everything else she had, but never her pearls - every night she continued to clutch her pearls.
Until one night, her father walked into the room and found the little girl crying. He said, "Honey, are you all right?" The little girl, nose red, eyes puffy, held up a clinched fist. Slowly, she unfolded her fingers and between sobs said, "Daddy, I love you. Here are my pearls." A huge smile immediately broke across the father's face as he knelt beside her bed and reached his hand into his pocket. Slowly, he pulled out a real strand of pearls and placed them on his daughter's neck. He had had them all along. He just wanted her to trust him enough to take the fake strand off before he put the real strand on.
---Anonymous
Many have read the passage of scripture referenced and speculated as to what Abraham must have gone thru. What thoughts must he have had and what questions were running through his mind as he led his promised son up the mountain to sacrifice him? Hebrews reiterates that Abraham was showing his faith in God through this trial.
That leads us to the knowledge that in Abraham’s heart, he knew God would make a way. If he had to kill his son, God would raise him from the dead. If he had to sacrifice the very promise he waited 100 years for, God would STILL be faithful. That was the kind of faith Abraham had through this test and he passed with flying colors. God wasn’t ever trying to hurt Abraham, but Abraham could have fought God. He could have come up with reasons/excuses to NOT obey. He could have tried to reason with God and tell Him why this would be a bad idea. He could have begged God to change His mind and bawled and squalled on the floor. He could have questioned God’s authority and His love by asking, as many of us do, “Why me, Lord”.
Isaac was not only Abraham’s son. Abraham had other children. He had Ishmael that God told him to cast out of camp because Isaac was chosen. This was more than just a child to Abraham. Isaac represented everything God had EVER told Abraham He would give him. Isaac embodied Abraham’s future in every way. And, there are countless possibilities of how this scenario could have played out and still ended with Abraham being the father of many nations.
God wouldn’t have cut Abraham out of the lineage of Christ had he refused to sacrifice Isaac. He would have done what all fathers do and given Abraham another opportunity down the road to pass the ultimate test of sacrifice, just like the little girl with the fake pearls. But, it’s not God’s will for us to have to go through all the turmoil, worrying and struggling with the decision to trust Him. He wants us to do as Abraham did and choose to not only OBEY the voice of God, but to obey without doubt, fear, or pity.
Abraham accepted what God said even though he didn’t understand the ins and outs of the situation and he did exactly as he was told BELIEVING all the while that God was in control and would not allow this situation to hurt him and leave him hopeless. God had never failed him before and was not going to fail him now. Luke 11:13 says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” God is a good father. He knows us all completely and knows what we need and want before we do. Trusting Him completely shouldn’t be a chore or a burden. Tis’ so sweet to trust in Jesus is not just a song. The words are true. To be able to take God at His word KNOWING that He can NOT lie, can NOT fail, can NOT leave you and can NOT forsake you should be all the assurance any of us need to place all of our trust in the Savior. He is the Almighty God, our redeemer, the lover of our souls and the only One who died for our sins. He makes ALL things work together for the good of them that love Him and are the called according to His purpose.
So, when God puts the knife in your hand and asks you to kill your promise, your future, your plans, your dreams, your visions, your very life, what will you do?
Will you sacrifice the very thing you waited for, prayed for, cried over, and worked so hard to obtain? Will you cut loose from all you know and all you have to truly tell God that ALL you need is Him? Because, in the end, all we will have and all we need is Him.
We don’t get to tell Him how our lives will work out. We have to take him our dreams, aspirations, hopes, plans, and everything we have obtained and offer it to Him as the little girl offered her father her strand of fake pearls. Because when you give God your most valued possession…when you give God the REAL you, He will give you HIS plans, dreams, and desires for your life for they are FAR more valuable than your own. His plan will take you to the best, the perfect, and the true will of God for your life. You will have the abundant life that the Bible speaks of when you allow God to plan it for you. For, He is the Truth, the Life and the Way. His ways are far above our ways. His truth is everlasting and never-changing. And, He is calling us all to make this sacrifice for Him. How will you answer?
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About The Author:
Im 22 years old, fourth generation Pentecost. I sing, teach Children's Church, write songs, and am learning to play piano. I have been writing since I was 14 and love to read. I love God, love truth, and love sharing things God shows me with like minded believers. Im grounded in what I believe but not so arrogant as to think I could never be wrong. I have been proven time and time again that there is no right or wrong way to love God. Just love Him, seek Him, and trust Him and He will guide you into all truth.
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Editors Comments:
I would like to welcome our latest member to the newsletter staff, Corrie Staggs. We are privileged to have Crystal Wasden and Corrie Staggs added to our literary arsenal. I know they will do well and with a servants heart will reach out to touch you, your family and those down trodden souls and lift them up.
When you see either of these Holg Ghost filled young ladies, please let them know how much you appreciate their help, their writings, and thier burden for helping others!
