ALL THINGS NEW!
Chapter 19
Furious with the young man Denise had thought she loved, she
turned around, and started for the farm. She had considered
confronting Jon right there, but thought better of it. There was
a lot to be considered, she realized while driving the country
road.
Was this a first offense? Probably not! Her gut feeling
told her the girl had been telling the truth about the late-night
ride. And what was Jon doing all those times while Dad was in
the hospital, when he would take her to visit Dad, and disappear
with explainations of having 'things to do'?
Sarcastically, Denise wondered, now, who he was doing them
with! What about the times Jon said he had tests, and thesis
papers which would prevent him coming home on weekends? If he
was unfaithful to her right under her nose, why not on campus?
Now was not the time to confront him with these questions,
Denise decided. Besides, he could always lie about it. If he
would cheat on her, why wouldn't he lie to cover it up?
No, she would try to get some information first! Her head
would be stuck in the sand no longer! In spite of the anger,
Denise found herself saddened, realizing her hopes, dreams, and
plans for a future with Jon, might well be coming to an end.
But, if he truly was that kind of guy, she could live very
well without him! Better than she could, without being able to
trust him.
But, what if she was wrong? No, not this time, Denise told
herself. It was like the pieces of a puzzle suddenly coming
together!
Arriving at the farm, Denise saw that the kitchen light was
still on, even though it was well past her grandparents' usual
bedtime.
That was encouraging. She hated going into a dark house
alone at night. It would be good to have someone to talk to, but
not about this, of course. This, she would have to work out
alone!
Nana met her at the door, unlocking it to let her in. "Did
you talk to your patient? How is she? Does she remember
anything?" Nana asked excitedly.
"Oh, Nana, she is doing great. I had a good visit with her,
and she doesn't seem to have lost any of her memory! Her name is
Joanie Weston and she lives in Golden. She doesn't have any
family left, except her dead brother's family, who lives in
Colorado. Her husband died a while back, and she doesn't have
any kids." Denise hesitated just a second, then continued.
"She thinks she was being followed by a drunk driver, but
she doesn't remember the accident exactly, or how it happened.
She really is nice, Nana. I wish you could meet her!"
"Me too. Well, perhaps I will. I could go visit her, you
know, and tell her how we've been praying for her recovery. Of
course, it's because you were so involved, and concerned with her!
Do you think she knows the Lord?"
"I think so, Nana. She mentioned praying. We didn't really
talk very much, though," Denise said thoughtfully. "But, it
really wouldn't surprise me if she does."
"I'll pray about it, and I just may call on this-Joanie, did
you say her name was?"
"Yeah. You know, I think the doctor will probably be
releasing her soon. Her condition has been stable for sometime,
and the traction will probably come off in a day or two. I don't
know what she'll do, though, with no family to care for her until
she's able to care for herself," Denise said, voicing her concern.
"We can pray about that, too. It just may be that the Lord
can use us to help her in some way. It's getting late now, and
we'd better get to bed if we're going to make it to church in the
morning," Nana said, as she began to turn out the lights and
check the doors.
Quietly closing the door to her room, to avoid waking Papa,
Denise began to undress for bed. Her mind was like a three ring
circus, going from the afternoon picnic, to Joanie, to the
possibility of being her daughter, to Jon's disloyalty, to
wondering about God, and what he thought of the whole mess.
Lying quietly in bed, on the verge of sleep, a scripture was
brought to her mind. "And we know that all things work together
for good to those that love God, and to them who are the called
according to his purpose. Romans 8:28. She remembered learning
it in Vacation Bible School, a long time ago. Funny that she
should remember it, now. Repeating it again in her mind, she
wondered if it applied to her.
The heat was already in the air, when Papa called to
Denise the next morning.
Feeling tired, and aching from the emotional conflicts of the
previous day, Denise slowly managed to climb out of bed. Wishing
she could just sleep the day away, she forced herself to get
ready for Church.
Denise reminded herself how much she had learned, in such a
short time, since she had been at Nana and Papa's.
Things had happened so fast, she'd hardly even had time to
miss her parents, or Todd, she realized. Of course, she was sure
they were doing fine, and having fun. Well, she probably would
see Todd, and Grandma and Grandpa at Church. And she would just
have to sit down and write to Mom and Dad. They'd be returning
home next weekend, if all went as planned, but she had their
itenerary, complete with addresses. There was no excuse for not
writing at least once while they were gone, she reminded herself.
Roger really was a good teacher, she decided, as he began to
delve into the Sunday School lesson. She knew that he was taking
classes at a nearby college with plans to eventually teach High
School. He would be good at that too, she predicted, with his
sincere desire to help others, and he would be a good example to
his students, she knew, as he seemed to be able to live what he
preached.
Now, here is a man, she found herself thinking, her mind
still wandering from the lesson. Not like Jon, who went for the
gusto of life.
Denise's philosophical thoughts were interrupted by Roger's
question to her: "Denise, what did Jesus say to Nicodemus, when
Nicodemus asked how a man can be born again when he is old? Do
you remember?"
"Uh, I remember the story. He said something about being
born of the water, and of the Spirit, didn't he?"
"Yes, he did. He said 'except a man be born of the water,
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. It's
found in John, Chapter 3 verse 5. What do you think he meant by
that, Denise?"
"Well," Denise hesitated, searching for the true meaning.
"Is he referring to water baptism?"
"That's part of it. How can you be born of the Spirit?"
Roger probed.
"Does it mean like salvation?" Denise asked, unsure of her
answer.
"Yes. Salvation means deliverance, from the old nature,
from hell, from the curse of sin and death. A total deliverance
which occurs not only in our spirit, which is the real you, but,
also includes deliverance for our soul, or our mind, will, and
emotions, as well as for our body. It is not always evident
immediately, and Satan frequently tries to steal our peace, our
health, and our salvation. But, it was bought and paid for by
Jesus, when he died on the cross.
"And the Word says, in Romans 10:9, 'that if you confess with
your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has
raised him from the dead, you will be saved'. Paul says in
Romans 1:16, 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for
it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that
believeth.' Do you think that we should ashamed to confess the
Lord in front of people if we're saved?"
"No," Denise admitted. No, if we believe it, we can't be
ashamed of it, she thought to herself.
The lesson went on, but Denise's thoughts continued to dwell
on salvation, deliverance from the sinful nature by public
confession of what one already believed in the heart.
It is time, she decided. At the close of the worship
service, when the invitation was given, she gathered all her
courage, and stepped out into the aisle. Her fear was
unreasonable, but rising. Knowing everyone was watching her,
afraid of what they were thinking about her, and wondering how
this would affect her life, (could she live up to this
commitment?), she walked forward, determined, at last, to make an
open, public confession, that she, a sinner, wanted deliverance.
She wanted Jesus to be her Lord.
With tears streaming down her face, tears of humbleness, and
submission, and with her heart pounding heavily in her chest, she
stood silently before the minister as he prayed for her, then as
he directed, she repeated the sinner's prayer.
"And, oh, the joy that floods my soul", the choir was softly
singing, as Denise slowly made her way back to her seat. Her
steps seemed lighter, and the day brighter, she realized, as the
joy did flood her soul!
It's gone, she thought, elated. The worry, the cares...
She didn't understand all that had happened, but there was a
difference. Something very definite had happened. It was as if
she was in the arms of someone who loved her very much, with a
very tender, secure love! And it was real! No longer was she
afraid of the future, or guilty of the past! She was just
revelling in the gladness of her heart!
The preacher was reading from the Bible, as Denise brought her
attention back to her surroundings.
"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.
II Corinthians 5:17."
Yes, Denise realized, I am a new creature in Christ. I'll
never again be the same. Once again, I've been adopted. Adopted
into God's own family. Thank you Lord!