"Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SANDS OF THE SEA,IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED; FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY. and just as Isaiah foretold,
"UNLESS THE LORD OF THE SABBATH HAD LEFT TO US PROSPERITY,
WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED
GOMORRAH."
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is obtained by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at the law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written,
BEHOLD I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. "
Romans 9:27-33 (NIV)
I'm sure you're saying, "What-those are the same verses she used yesterday. Yes, they are, but they're weighing heavy on my mind again today. Read them slowly, even if you can perform God's wishes to a tea without faith and true belief in Him your works are dead.
Yesterday, I met a lady while getting my treatment who urged with me diligently that she "felt she was a "good person" who practiced a certain religion since she was a child, but doubted God loved her. When I asked her if she felt empty inside her reply was, "You can't even imagine the emptiness I feel inside. I feel so empty, I've tried to kill myself more than five times and almost seceded."
She also informed me that she despised the "church." Her exact words were, "The "church"is full of nothing but "goody two shoes who think they're better than everyone else. They don't really love, or want to be loved. They're just wrapped up in their "church lives" - not in helping or loving others." She said this with so much hate and pain in her eyes, I wondered if I was encountering a demon posed person.
She released so many things in the four hours we were together. I listened earnestly and said little. I did ask her to go home and slowly read and meditate on the book of John. I also asked her to slowly and diligently read Romans after the book of John. I reminded her that if we truly seek Jesus with all our heart and soul He promises to reveal Himself to us. Asking Jesus to forgive my sins and accepting Him as my Savior was the one and only way I ever filled the void and obtained true peace.
How about you, are you following a "religion," or following Jesus as your Savior through faith? The peace that passes all understanding only comes from the stone that the "builders" rejected. What a difference Jesus makes! Just as the last verse says, "And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed." Through life, and even in the presence of death Jesus is there.
Maybe I'll never see this lady again, but I hope she found the love of Jesus in me.
