UNCONSCIOUS INDIFFERENCE: Unmerited Favor

I Was Walking To Nowhere, Real Fast
And
Supremely Pleased About It
Until ...!

Until He

Giving The Heads Up ... Showing Grace
You Know ... Unmerited Favor
Stopped Me On The Way And Said:

Dead End Up Ahead!

Do A U-Turn

And

Go Right

To Where The Obedient Sheep

Are Graciously Fed!

This Notice From The Good Shepherd
Was, To Say The Least, Unexpected
Because
Perhaps, Unconsciously Unconsciously
I Avoided That Particular Shepherd
Because
He Had The Way ... By Reputation
- In Truth And In Fact -
Of Making One Smell One's Self
And, Thereby Acknowledging The Stench Of Personal Sin
Acknowledging That One Was In A Mortal Strife
Acknowledging That The Sin-Life Was Not Nice
Acknowledging That Sin, Itself, Was A Satanic Device
Acknowledging That The Only Way To Eternal Life
Was Through The Lord Jesus Christ
Acknowledging That Salvation Was Life
And
Acknowledging That For One To Get Out From Under Sin
One Needed Christ To Use His "Knife"
- His Innocent Blood Red -
That Washes The Sinner Clean
Making His Sin Known Scarlet
To Be As White As Snow
His Sin Known Crimson
To Be As Wool!

Oh, Yes!
I Knew Of The Good Shepherd
But ... Previous To NowI Had Had No Real Need
- No Over-Arching Desire -
To Get To Personally Know Him!

Until Now ...!

I Was In A Bind
A Pickle
Between A Rock And A Hard Place
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea!
I Was On A Rotten Limb Over A Shark Tank!
I Was Living In A What Could Only Be 

Euphemistically Called A House
Because
The Roof Had Windows
The Floor Had Doors
And
The Sides Were Made Of Crackled

And Pocked-Marked Glass
And
It All Stood On Sinking Sand
Far, Far, Far From Rock Solid Ground
Out Of Ear-Shot Of Fair-Weather Friend
Friend With Benefits
And
Family Always Needing Finance
But
Not Far From The Friend Who Sticks Closer Than A Brother
The Good Shepherd
- That Good Shepherd -
Who Always, Always, Always
Seemed To Appear
Whenever I Had Indulged In One Of My Cock-Ups
And, As UsualWas Now Saying
Lovingly Saying:

Please Give Me Your Burden! 

Give Me Your Hand! 

Follow My Direction

And You Shall Arrive Safely

In Beulah, The Beautiful Land!

I Looked Up!
I Saw Light!
I Was Tired
Bone-Weary
Dispispirited
Distressed
And
I Was Finally Ready To Fail At Sinning
And
To Take The Way To Live-Way To Life Test!

I Swallowed My Vaunted Pride!
I Acknowledged My Fair Shame!
I Untied My Gross Back-Pack Of Sin
And
I Gave It All To Him Who Carries The Burden
For All Who His Holy Name Claim!

I Cried Out!
I Laughed!
I Sang!
I Lifted Up Unweighted No Longer Weary Arms
And
I Reached For The Hands Reaching For Me
And
I Triumphantly Praised The Only One Perfect
The One God Holy!

I Had Been Blind
But
I Plainly Now See That
Satan Is The Liar
And
That Jesus Christ The Righteous Sets Fallen Man Free!

But, Then ...

I Asked That Question:

Why Did It Take So Long!?!

Said He:

You Were Not Ready!

You Needed To Want To Be Saved!

You Needed To Desire To Be Blessed! 

You Had To See Your Condition

In Its True Light

And

Of Your Own Free Will

Call Upon God Almighty

To Get You Out Of The Dark Night

Where You Had Adjusted 

To Being Able To See

Without Perceptible Light!

It Is Only When Your Corrupted Sight

Cuttingly Challenged

Convicted Of Darkness

And

Convinced That There Is True Light

Is Begging For Pure Light

That The Light Of Life Is Welcomed

And

You Become Willing To Walk By Faith

And

Not By Lying Eyesight

As Encouraged

By Your Deceitful Man's Heart!

You Removed The Scales!
You Unstopped My Ears!
Would You Please Now Shod My Feet
To Go Share The Gospel, The Truth
So That My Joy May Be Complete!?!

Take A Moment

And Rest A While

And Learn From Me

All You Can About Me

And Soon You Will Don

Your Helmet Of Salvation 

Your Breastplate Of Righteousness

Your Belt Of Truth

Your Sword Of The Spirit 

- The Word Of God -

Your Shield Of Faith 

And

In Daily Communion

- Praying Without Ceasing - 

With The Throne Of Grace

Go Off To Tell Others

That Jesus Christ Alone Saves!

**--**--**--**

Brethren,Believe It Or Not
We Have To See
To Be Able To See
That We Need Him
Who Provides For Our Real Needs!

Many See But Are Blind!
Many Are The Blind Who See!
Would That We All Will Humble Ourselves
Getting Off Of Our Pedestals
Whereon We Placed Our Selves As Gods
High
Lifted Up
Mighty
Unable To Save
But Looking Pretty ... On Grandly Decorated Shelves!

Please Do Not Wait Too Long
To Humble Self
To Set Dear-Self Aside
Or
The Day Shall Come
- When You Least Expect It -
When You Shall Embark On The Bark
That Departs For The Last
The Only
Soul Damnation Destruction
One-Way Can't-Return-From Ride
On The Lake Burning With Brimstone And Fire
Set As Sin, Sinner, Satan

Death, Hell And The Grave's
Everlasting Consuming Pyre!

Do Not Be By Sin's Ease Beguiled!

Look To Jesus Christ

And

In His Everlasting Arms ... Hide!

Jesus Christ Always Saves!