GROWTH THROUGH STRUGGLE

During the Revolutionary War there lived in Pennsylvania a pastor by the name of Peter Miller. Although Miller was greatly loved by everyone in the community, there was one man who lived near the church who hated him and had earned an unenviable reputation for his abuse of the minister. This man was not only a hater of the church, but it also turned out that he was a traitor to his country, and was convicted of treason and sentenced to death.

The trial was conducted in Philadelphia and no sooner did Miller hear of it than he set out on foot to visit General Washington and interceded for the man's life. But Washington told him, "I'm sorry that I cannot grant your request for your friend."

"Friend!" Miller cried. "Why, that man is my worst enemy!"

"What?" the general exclaimed in surprise. "Have you walked sixty miles to save the life of an enemy? That, in my judgement, puts the matter in a different light. I will grant him a pardon for your sake."

The pardon was made out and signed by General Washington, and Miller proceeded at once on foot to the place fifteen miles away to where the execution was scheduled to take place that afternoon. He arrived just as the man was being carried to the scaffold.

When he saw Miller hurrying toward the place, the condemned man remarked, "There is old Peter Miller. He has walked all the way from Ephrata to have his revenge gratified today by seeing me hung." But scarcely had he spoken the words when Miller pushed his way through to the condemned man and handed him the pardon that saved his life.

How many of us would be willing to go to such lengths to save our worst enemy who never even asked for forgiveness? Yet this should be the Christian's way of life. Is there someone that has hurt and wronged us so deeply that we just refuse to forgive this person and bitterness has stolen our joy? By the power of the Holy Spirit we can forgive though the person may not deserve it. What if God had refused to forgive us?

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32).

Samuel S. Scull settled on a farm in the Arizona desert with his wife and children. One night a fierce desert storm struck with rain, hail, and high wind. At daybreak, feeling sick and fearing what he might find, Samuel went to survey their loss. The hail had beaten the garden patch into the ground, the house was partially unroofed, the hen house had blown away, and dead chickens were scattered about. Destruction and devastation were everywhere.

While standing dazed, evaluating the mess and wondering about the future, he heard a stirring in the lumber pile that was the remains of the hen house. Amazingly, a rooster was climbing up through the debris. He didn't stop climbing until he had mounted the highest board in the pile. That old rooster was dripping wet, and most of his feathers were blown away. But as the morning sun came over the horizon, he flapped his bony wings and proudly crowed. That old, wet rooster could still crow when he saw the sun.

Like that rooster, our world may be falling apart and we may have lost everything. But if we trust in God we'll be able to see the light of His goodness, pick ourselves out of the rubble and sing praise to the "Son." "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15).

Gene Williams in his repair guide for amateurs, gives the following warning: "Getting a jolt from an incoming 120 volts ac (120 Vac) is more than just unpleasant; it can be fatal. Studies have shown that it takes very little current to kill. Even a small amount of current can paralyze your muscles, and you won't be able to let go. Just a fraction more and your heart muscle can become paralyzed." Williams knows that the naïve amateur repairman doesn't have sufficient respect for the lethal power of electricity. The amateur knows that a shock hurts but he thinks he can always let go of the wire. It is the paralyzing power of even a small amount of electricity that makes it so dangerous.

So it is with sin. People dabble with sin because they don't fear its power to paralyze the muscles of the soul. Then it's too late. Even when people know a sinful behavior is hurting them and they want to quit, they can't let go. Sin is never safe!

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalm 1:3).

I want naught but to do my part
To "lift" a tired and weary heart,
To change folks frowns to smiles again.

Then I will not have lived in vain,
And I'll not care how long I'll live
If I can give…and give…and give.