Hebrews 2:3 – How can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him. (NRSV)

I've been a mother for 70 years, and Mother's Day this year made me think of the years gone by. Now, all my children are retired and have their own families. There have been times to be proud and, yes, times of difficulty! Growing up was not that easy.

For example, it was quite a journey to be presented with a firstborn premature child with no instructions. One is helpless to understand all that it takes to care for the tiny premature bundle before you. There are times when the little person in your arms shows unhappiness, and your effectiveness fails to be of any help. One learns how and when and what to do when a more experienced person helps out. It is amazing how quickly things turn out for the best.

So, it was such a surprise to receive a Mother's Day card with a note: "I am sorry I was such a jerk when a teenager!" I did not see that coming!

I had to think about that! I must have been blind to miss that, thinking that it was a normal teen that I had under my roof! What did I know?

Now at my old age and after reading the Bible for education in God's own Word, I begin to see what "jerk" can mean. When I read about sin and salvation, eternal life and the judgment of hell, I now see myself as a jerk not to have received sooner God's love offer to save me from the turmoil of hell. I was raised in a Christian family, and even heard God speaking to me as a seven-year-old picking wild strawberries in a field. But it was not until I already had four children that I said "Yes!" to Jesus.

I thank God for sending to me believers in Jesus to remind me to think where I was with God. Then, as I continued to grow in Him, I had to learn to discern falsehood, errors, mistakes the world makes, and the errors of the religions that humans blindly follow.

Growing up in truth is not easy, but all who confess to be jerks about their sin are smiling the happy smile of a saved soul.

So as a former jerk among the smiling ones, today, I praise God the I AM for His enduring love and for the power and the glory of the cross of Christ! Praise God for the tomb that is empty! Jesus walked out alive, resurrected, and is now at the right hand of God the Father. He will come again as a judge of the unsaved sinners and a Saviour of all the jerks who have repented from all their sins, to be received to everlasting life in God's heaven! Oh! what joy that day will be!

Prayer: Thank You, God the I AM, for the unimaginable love that You have for us undeserving ones. In Your hands, we are in a safe place. Thank You for being the only name given by which we must be saved! No other name: only Jesus saves us! We pray in that name, Jesus! Amen!

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About the author:

Kirsti Sipila <kirstiksipila@hotmail.com>
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
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