Saturday’s Column: Learning From Lehman

One of the greatest influences I have had in my life is my mom. I’m not sure if you were aware, but my mom has frequently been in and out of jail over the past several years. Not that she did anything to be thrown into jail, but rather she volunteers to go to the Detention Center in Elizabethtown and conduct bible studies with the women there. However, when she goes, she is only allowed to take her Bible in with her and they shut the door and lock it behind her. We’ve talked about it several times and there is only a couple of instances when she felt scared, when she felt like she was in danger.

Once she was having a Bible study and the topic was things we must do as Christians. Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” However, there was one woman there that was adamant that she did not have to do anything once she was “saved”. It got to the point that the woman was furious, and my mom was scared, and she wasn’t sure what to do or if the woman would harm her in some way. So, mom very calmly opened her Bible to Matthew 25 and gave it to the woman and asked her to read verses 31-46.

These verses reveal a judgment scene where the nations are gathered before God’s throne and are separated as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. Those to the right will inherit the kingdom prepared for them (meant for us) because they ministered to the least of these their brethren. Those to the left will depart into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels (not meant for us) because they did not minister to the least of these.

Upon reading the verses the woman broke down crying. She knew what she believed to be true wasn’t. If you ask my mom, she’ll tell you it was nothing she said that provoked this sudden and instant change in the woman, but rather it was the word of God.

Hebrews 4:12-13 tells us “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

• –  Living – God’s word is active, able to achieve its purpose, working in people’s lives and it’s as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago.
• –  Powerful – God’s word has the power to change our thoughts, change our lives and change our eternal destiny.
• –  Pierces – God’s word pierces our soul with truth, points out our sins and provides the cure.
• –  Discernment – God’s word can perceive and recognize our every thought and intention.Isaiah 55:11 tells us “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” I’m not sure about the rest of the story. I hope the woman was able to leave with a new resolve to study and obey God’s word. However, we have God’s word available to us and it can do the same in our lives if we allow it.
  James 1:21 tells us, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” That is, if we read and meditate in it, pray for understanding and if we are faithful and obedient to God’s commandments therein. God’s word is able to do instantly what man is unable to do.