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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: End Times (02/27/14)
Right With God
As I took my morning jog around the park, a gentleman sitting on the park bench, called to me. How did he know my name? I had never seen him before. I walked over to the bench, and he motioned for me to sit down. Being the suspicious person that I am, I hesitated, not knowing what kind of a person he was.
“You are unsure of sitting with me, because, I do not look like what you expected. You are judging me by what I look like on the outside. Please sit down, I have a message to give you.”
Puzzled, I sat down beside the man, far enough away that I wouldn’t smell him. The man’s name was Enoch. He started by telling me that my life needed to have some repairs.
First of all, I needed to have a real relationship with Christ, my Savior. Now that really got my goat. “What are you talking about? I’m as good a Christian as the next one. I go to Church every Sunday, I pay my tithes, I am kind to my neighbor, and I don’t swear, cuss or drink.”
The man just smiled and went on talking. “When was the last time you told God you loved Him? When did you last lead someone to the Lord? When did you give a kindness to another person without expecting something back in return? Do your prayers contain only ‘give me’, this or that?
Many people who call themselves Christian don’t have any idea what that means. They accept the idea that Christianity is a religion, it isn’t. Christianity is a relationship with our God. God desires your friendship and company. He wants your heart. God created man in His image so He could commune with him daily. God desires the fellowship of His creation.
When Adam and Eve fell from grace, that broke the bond between the creation and the creator. God loved His creation so much that He made a way for man to be redeemed, which is bringing man back to his former state. This plan took some time to be realized. But with God, there is no time. The End Times are coming and God has to prepare the heart of the man to accept his Savior. God was going to release man from the law-which he could not keep. He would provide a permanent sacrifice for all time. Man would be covered with the blood of Jesus Christ the living Son of God.”
“You know, of course,” the man went on talking, “That God can not look at any sin. There can be no sin in Heaven, so all sin is equal in God’s sight. That means that your sin of speeding is just as grievous to God as the mass murderer’s sin. If you don’t ask for forgiveness of your ‘sins’, you will end up in the same place the murderer will be.”
“I didn’t know that.” I cried. What can I do. It’s too hard. I will be asking for forgiveness every minute of the day.”
“You probably would if God hadn’t sent His only Son to die on the cross. His blood was shed for all who would accept Him as Savior. That means that you have the privilege of going straight to the throne of God and asking for forgiveness. Your sins are then forgiven and cast into the sea of forgetfulness. God’s grace is sufficient for you. God wants your love so much that He was willing to sacrifice Jesus for you. Now Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God as an intercessor on your behalf.
You see, you don’t need to compare yourself with anyone else. God will talk to them in their heart. After you have built your relationship with God, you won’t care whether people are as good as you. You can never be ‘good’ enough with out Jesus’ blood covering you.”
As I listened to Enoch speak, I felt a true conviction upon my life. The Holy Spirit came over my being, and I could do nothing, but fall on my knees and ask forgiveness from God. The end times are coming and I have done a sorry job of letting my light shine to the world. I will have much to answer for.
How could I make it right - to spend eternity with God?
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This article has been read 740 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
03/08/14
A multi-layered piece that brings forth a myriad of thoughts while presenting the topic.

Well done.

God bless~
Yvonne Blake 
03/11/14
You explained the Gospel very well, but I'm still wondering who Enoch is and why he is there. You need a little more story to keep the reader's interest. (Also, it helps the reader if you leave an extra line between paragraphs. I made that same mistake when I first started.)
Keep writing. Each time strengthens your skills.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/14/14
Congratulations on ranking 7th in your level! The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/14/14
This is a powerful piece. You did a nice job of setting the conflict right out of the gate. I could sense her unease right away. Then you introduced the main conflict (which is one we all struggle with everyday--our sins. This line touched me especially: You are unsure of sitting with me, because, I do not look like what you expected.
It packed a wallop for sure. There shouldn't be commas around the word because. I also noticed some errors with the quotation marks rules. They aren't easy to remember for sure. My favorite online go to site is:http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm
I use it at least once a week. It covers many grammar categories. I like it because at the end of each section, it has a quiz so you can see if you understood the lesson.

Though the mysterious stranger is a literary device that many use, I think you did a nice job of making it your own. I think you did a splendid job on writing on topic. Your ending was great too. Last week in Jan's Writing Basics, she talked about endings. If you haven't ever checked out her thread on the message boards, I'd encourage you to do so over the break. She is wonderful at responding to everyone who leaves a post, even on some of the older threads. I've learned a great deal from her. You're doing a wonderful job, and I have do doubt you will continue to blossom and God will use your words in ways you may never suspect. Keep writing.