Last year, my wife and I had a great vacation, driving across the U.S. to Canada. Every time we saw a wonderful sight, she would say, “I wish my grandson could see this!” That is how we wound up driving across the desert Southwest in a van full of family.
Shortly before our vacation, I was surprised to be picked for Grand Jury duty. It was a two month, two day a week obligation, including two days of our vacation! Thankfully I was able to get flights to take me home and back to rejoin the trip further down the road. Unfortunately, I would miss 3 ½ days. My wife wasn’t happy, but I couldn’t honestly get out of jury duty.
The first stop of our trip was El Paso, Texas. Our hotel gave us a place to rest, and my son-in-law time to fix the cell phone he needed to keep in touch with his job. A severe thunderstorm blew through and suddenly changed daylight to dark. The wind picked up, so we had pizza delivered and ate in our room. They got the phone fixed and returned just as the skies cleared.
The next day we drove through beautiful Gila Bend National Forest, stopped at the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert, arriving in Flagstaff, Arizona. It was refreshingly cool and dry. The following day I was at the airport, while my family saw bears, wolves and buffaloes at a wildlife park and toured a mansion made of logs. I was with the Grand Jury, when they toured the majestic Grand Canyon, stopping to see Native American performances and a museum.
I was all set to rejoin my family and the fun when I arrived at the airport to check in. To my surprise, my flight reservation was for the wrong day and all the flights I needed were overbooked! All I could do was return to my empty house. Because of my mistake, I missed the family time, my son-in-law was stuck with all the driving and my wife was even more upset with me. It was my fault, but we all suffered the consequences.
My mistake and the consequences reminded me of much more serious consequences our mistakes can have. Ever since I was a child, I have heard “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). If I hadn’t accepted GOD’s wonderful offer, I wouldn’t be forgiven.
I grew up knowing when it was Church time I was supposed to be there. That stayed with me and was passed to my daughter and her family. If my parents didn’t take me to Church, or if I had stopped going, I might not be living for the LORD.
Susan and I went to Church the first Sunday after we were married. We have always followed JESUS and been part of a local Church. Our daughter was raised in a Christian environment and attended Christian school after we returned to the US. If we hadn’t made JESUS the center of our family, that may have continued with my daughter’s family.
If you and others don’t accept JESUS as your Savior, you will suffer the consequences of your mistake. Instead of eternal life in Heaven, you will suffer everlasting death in Hell. Don’t make that mistake, because the consequences are eternal.
Wayne Lance (2018)