Sunday Stories, August 5, 2018

Keith Rooney is known for his resistance to boundaries.  He pushes them, challenges them, constantly stretches, bends or expands them. It’s both frustrating and endearing and even as I remember staring over cliffs on narrow mountain climbs, thinking this may be my last day on earth because I chose to accompany him, I still love hearing his action packed stories of fun and adventure that began it all.

At twelve years old Keith was the proud owner of a 1975 Honda XL250 motorcycle.  He was given instructions on how, when and where he could ride.  The purchased helmet was a must at all times. Mother insisted! A little ways from the backyard was an old pond bed. It was off limits. Father insisted! The former reservoir, no matter how small, was an amazing place for an imaginative boy.  It’s bottom was muddy, and its dry, sloped banks resembled a race track.  On this particular day the sun was too hot for headgear, but the temptation was too great to resist, so Keith dared and went in. 

Riding in circles, gaining speed, kicking up dust with the wind in his hair, Keith ramped up the steep bank, caught a little air and landed in the tall, soft grass of the pasture……..right on top of an old horse drawn plow hidden in the flora. A quick inventory of mind and body was all good news, but the bike was wedged between the steel share and the plow’s handles. An effort free himself brought the farm implement along. He was stuck and in need of saving.  He could hear his dad, a field over, working away on a tractor, so he waited until the chatter of the engine shut off and his cry for help could be heard.

Alonzo and Beverly Rooney trusted their child to follow the guidelines that would protect him.  He disobeyed and compromised the wellbeing of himself and the Rooney property. The consequences of disobedience could have been so much worse than just the anger of a frightened and disappointed father.

God gives us boundaries, not to restrict us, but to preserve the image of Himself He wove in us when He first breathed life into Adam.  We disregard God’s authority with little thought of cost to ourselves and others and end up in muck and mire we never even knew existed!  And then……we cry out to Jesus……and we are saved.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord.” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

Keith doesn’t even remember the punishment he received that day because faith in his loving dad made loss irrelevant. Parents that love their children enough to save them are a most wonderful gift, but better still is a Heavenly Father that sent His only Son so that you and I could have eternal life. 

I Hope you have a Peace Filled Sabbath!

Gretchen

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