The Answer
I’ve heard the same story all my life – just in different versions — same lesson, different answer.
Daddy would take us kids fishing. My brother Jim and I would get impatient; Daddy would share his wisdom: You gotta lose a lot of worms, before you catch a fish.
I enjoyed helping Mama in the kitchen; cleaning up was the UN-fun part. Mama would remind me: There’s always a mess in the kitchen before the cake goes into the oven.
Grandma Birdie’s chicken dinners were the best – once you got to the “eating part”. In answer to my, “Do I have to?” she insisted: You have to pinch out all those pin feathers if you want chicken for dinner.
Grandma Chloe raised vegetables, not chickens. I’d have to go help — first pick the beans, then prepare the beans. In answer to my, “Do I have to?”: We have to snap the beans if we want to eat them for supper. Knowing Grandma, she probably added something about Jesus — how He knows that a little extra effort makes things extra special.
Years later, helping spouse with a remodel project — replace this, sand that, paint those…well, you get the picture…the proverbial UN-fun part always comes first. By this time I didn’t need to ask, “Do I have to?”
The Prophet Isaiah had his version of the same lesson; his answer: Grain must be ground to make bread. Isaiah 28:28.
And yes, even our Dear Lord Jesus taught the lesson. His Answer is: “In this world, you will have trouble.” But Jesus didn’t offer fish, cake, chicken or green beans. His solution: “…take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Jesus offers eternal life! Jesus died and rose again so that we can live with Him f-o-r-e-v-e-r!
Saying our bedtime prayer at Grandma’s I asked, why did I want Him to “take my soul”. Grandma would answer that because we love Him and He loves us, we get to live with Him in Heaven. We just remind Him to take us – for His future reference.
Grandma Chloe never cited Scripture, but her words carried the essence, the meaning. We believe in Jesus and we’re baptized so we can go to heaven. (Mark 16:16)
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.” (1 Cor 15:2)
Grannies, Hold the Word! Plant The Seed! “…humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21
Jesus Is The Answer!
06/21/20