The Message

When I was a young boy, I had a vivid imagination like most other kids my age. Pretending was my favorite pass time.  I enjoyed the world of make-believe, because early on, my life revolved around doctor visits and stays in the local hospital.

I experienced a lot of illness and spent much of my time indoors, so I needed something to occupy my mind in the lonely hours of being without other kids to play with.  I was diagnosed with severe allergies and asthma.

Mom and Dad guarded me closely.  They prayed much for me.  By the grace of God and His healing power, as I aged, my body became stronger, and wellness settled in. 

Our home was in the bedroom community of Martinez, California, a few miles from the bay, which was close to downtown Martinez.  On occasion I was able to visit the bay.

I remember, as my creative mind was working overtime, on my wish list of things to do, I thought it would be cool to find a bottle with some kind of message or treasure map inside that had washed ashore at the bay.

I also wished that I could put a message inside a bottle and toss it into the bay with our home phone number in it, hoping to get a call from the finder, but I never got the chance to follow through with my wish.  I needed something out of the norm to happen in my sheltered life.

I’m talking about messages.  The oldest sibling in my family was our brother, 14 years my senior, and two sisters older than me.  I was the youngest of four children.  Our parents waited a long time before I happened along.

When I was a little older, my brother took time to show me how to write a secret message using milk.  He started out by drawing a cross on my forearm using milk.  It was about 1 1/2” x 1” in size, nothing too big.  He then drew the same size cross on a small piece of paper using an ink pen.

He shared something I’ve never forgotten.  He said, “You can never take away the significance of what the cross means to mankind, even if you burn it.”  He continued, “Jesus died on the cross for our sins.”

He lit a match and set the piece of paper on fire.  He took the ashes and gently rubbed them across the area on my arm where the milk was, now dry and invisible.  Presto!  The cross reappeared like magic.  It was a hidden message that appeared before my very eyes.  I was amazed.

Talk about messages; the real message that sets individuals free from the bondage of sin is spoken of in the Bible and aloud by born-again Believers who were, themselves, set free from sin.  It’s called witnessing for Jesus. 

Those that hear the message regarding the born-again experience are given a choice to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior or reject His forgiveness of sin and go their separate way.  God does not usurp our will but gives us freedom of choice.  The message God wants everyone to take to heart is in Bible scriptures.

(John 3:16), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

(Romans 3:23), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

(1 John 1:9), “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God provides a brighter focus on life each day when we become His children.  Our relationship with Him is enlightened through the freedom He gives, because of His forgiveness.

Where the natural mind meets the spiritual mind is at the cross on our knees.  Experiencing salvation and knowing Jesus, firsthand, is believing.  He gives supernatural peace that goes beyond our understanding.  Forgiveness of sin means life everlasting in heaven.

I pose two questions…Is eternity in heaven, with God, worth the time spent on our knees asking Him to forgive our sins, or is rejecting God’s Son and spending eternity in the other place, with Satan, a better choice?  You be the judge.

To me, the message is loud and clear and will never change.  God’s true message of life stands above false teachings where hopelessness abides.  When non-Believers and cults say that their philosophy and doctrines are the way to God, it’s all a big lie.

God’s message to mankind says that agape love conquers all.  Jesus suffered horrific pain as He was crucified on a cross to pay the full price for sin and our redemption.  He died on the cross for the sins of humanity.  Jesus rose from the dead three days later so that we might have life everlasting through Him.  

The Lord ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God making intercession for you and me.  Yes, He prays for us, because He wants us in heaven with Him.  Jesus is the only way to heaven.

(Acts 4:12), “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd