TITLE: A Symphony of Miracles Chapter 33 Two edged Sword 4/3/14 By Richard McCaw 04/03/14 |
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Chapter 33
Two-edged Sword
Most people today get lost in the crowd, forgotten in the mass of working, tired, ‘striving for more,’ materialistic, humanity. However, everyone longs for deep personal relationships, and to be enveloped in what is popularly called ‘love.’ Most people do not seek philosophical answers to theological questions, especially questions of the hereafter. In our confused, mixed-up world, broken relationships abound and everyone is seeking stability and assurance. Deep down if an individual does not find this ‘love-relationship,’ a god of some kind will be created to fill this vacuum, perhaps, some material thing, power or the prestige that comes with success.
Elizabeth Taylor, regarded as the most famous movie star of the 20th Century, once commented on her quest for deeper relationships. She stated, “One of the few times I've ever been really happy in my life was when I was a kid before I started acting. With the other kids I'd make up games, play with dolls, pretend games...As I got more famous, after National Velvet, when I was 12, I still wanted to be part of their lives. I hated school, because it wasn't school. I wanted terribly to be with kids.”
In February 1996, she appeared on the TV program, “The Nanny,” as herself, and the star of the show, Fran, identified her to a friend by using all of her husbands' names, stating that she would be meeting "Elizabeth Taylor-Hilton-Wilding-Todd-Fisher-Burton-Burton-Warner-Fortensky." She had been married eight times to seven husbands.
After marrying John Warner (December 4, 1976 – November 7, 1982), a Republican U. S. Senator from Virginia, unhappy with her life in Washington, she became depressed and entered the Betty Ford Clinic. Apart from her eight marriages, Taylor had at least six romances outside her marriages. Human relationships were not sufficient to satisfy the emptiness in her spirit.
The Sunday night before my thirteenth birthday, I found something that filled the emptiness in my spirit. My mother had taken us to Bethany Gospel Hall, a branch of the Brethren church on Hagley Park Road. The church appeared to be packed with people from all over the city, who had arrived to hear Harold Wildish, a well-known English evangelist and Bible Teacher. Although ceiling fans were whirring, many were busily fanning. You could hear the shuffling of leaves as many turned the pages of their Bibles.
At the end of the service the tall preacher with his large clear face and tiny moustache, invited anyone who wanted to be ‘saved’ to come forward.
“You’ll receive a free booklet of John’s Gospel” he added.
“Free booklet!” I thought. Since I was an avid reader, I went forward.
Someone warmly greeted me with outstretched hand and told me, “Sit down here, son!”
As I sat down on the front seat, Marion Wildish, the preacher’s wife, a plump English woman with an elegant church hat on her head, came and sat beside me. Whatever else she said must have flown through one ear and out the other. Only one thing remained with me. “Say this after me: I am His and He is mine!”
“I am His and He is mine!” I repeated. The significance of those words stuck in my spirit like a nail well hammered in. I repeated them and suddenly the truth broke forcibly upon me that the God of the universe actually owned me, and I had a special relationship with Him as His very own friend. What a significant revelation and turning point! I was born again into the kingdom of God! Thank God for my mother, who did not send me, but took me to church to hear God’s Word.
According to the writer of the book of Hebrews, “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart!”
Once more I began to perceive that the God of the universe, who created all things, Who had also created me miraculously in my mother's womb, was once again stepping into time to bring me out of darkness into His marvellous light.
Today, all I can say is, “He is worthy, ceaseless praises to receive!” Like the angels in heaven I still fall on my knees, I still fall prostate before Him. In fact, sometimes like men of old, like the apostles and elders mentioned in the Revelation, I fall silent at His feet in worship before His throne, and sing, “I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You.” Then I will speak to my soul and sing, “O my soul, rejoice!” Then I will tell Him as I continue singing, “Take joy, my King, in what You hear. Let it be a sweet, sweet song, in Your ear!”
Miracle of miracles, I had met the King of the universe, and He had become my special friend!
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