Ruth's christian testimony: Lacey

Wednesday 4 April 2007

Lacey

Lacey was, at that time, a sixteen-year-old girl in Mississippi. From what I remember, she was saved at twelve and developed a serious illness when she was thirteen. I was told she almost died the year before, after an operation, and has been in and out of hospitals before and since. When I got to the States she was very ill and had just arrived home from a recent stay in hospital. I got a chance to meet Lacey in her home. She was on morphine to keep the pain under control and as she was lying on the sofa, I knelt down in front of her. I thought she was the closest thing to an angel on earth. She is a very beautiful looking girl and she seemed to be transparent. I chatted for a short time and Clark asked me to pray. I looked at him and I panicked and said “No” then I looked at Lacey and just knew that I had to. At this point of my new life I don’t think I had prayed for anyone out loud. I hadn’t time to think. I held Lacey by the hand and so I prayed, out loud. I stumbled and mumbled a prayer of sorts. I haven’t a clue what it sounded like. I can scarcely remember what I said I was that shocked, because when I looked up she was crying and the tears were falling down her face. I stood up and muttered something about Sean needing me and left the house.

I met her again in hospital, and again, and again. I had the chance to see and watch how she and her family, as Christians, coped with her illness and most of all with her pain. They never blamed God. They never reproached their Father for allowing this. They knew it was happening for reasons and that God was in control. They prayed with her and even Lacey said she didn’t mind so long as God was working good out of it. This is where I learned the meaning of (and indeed put it to use with regards to going to court over Sean’s access) Romans 8: 28. ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose’ and James 2: 2&3. ‘Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience’.

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How to be right with God...

The following is taken from BCF Self Confrontation Manual for in-depth Biblical Discipleships developed by John C. Broger

If you do not already have a sincere (guiltless, pure, genuine) personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, you have a spiritual problem that only God can solve. Without this relationship to Jesus you are:

Hopelessly separated from God (Romans 6:23a; Ephesians 2:1-3 11-12: Colossians 1:21)

Spiritually dead in your own sin (Romans 3:23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13)

Hostile to God (Romans 5:10a, 8:7; Colossians 1:21)

Blinded to Satan (11 Corinthians 4:3-4)
and held captive by him to do his will (11 Timothy 2:24-26, esp verse 26)

Powerless to overcome sin's hold on your life (Ecclesiastes 7:20; John 8:34, Romans 1:28-32, 5:6; Galatians 5:19-21; 11 Peter 2:19)

Unable to understand the things of God (Proverbs14:12, 16:25; Isaiah 55:8-9; 1 Corinthians 2:14)

Unable to please God or to walk in His way (Psalm 143:2b; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-12, 23; 8:7-8; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; 11 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 11:6)

Incapable of living a spiritually fruitful and meaningful life (John 15:4-6)

God's answer to your spiritual problem is based on His character.

God is just, so you face His wrath and judgement in your sinful state (Romans 1:18, 6:23a; Ephesians 2:3; Hebrews 9:27; 11Peter 3:7)

On the other hand, God is loving and doesn't want you to perish in your sin (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 11 Peter 3:9)
so He draws you towards His Son, Jesus (John 6:44-45, 65)

The answer to your spiritual problem is found in God's Son, Jesus Christ.

By His gracious and merciful love, God gave His one and only begotten Son, Jesus, as the only answer for your helpless spiritual condition (Isaiah 53:2-12; John 3:16, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6; Ephesians 1:3-12; 1Timothy 2:5-6; 1 John 4:10)

Since you could not save yourself or do anything to merit God's favour and mercy (Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; 11Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5-7)
Jesus paid the full price for your redemption by dying on the cross for the penalty for your sins (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3;-4; 11Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 1Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 10:10-14; 1Peter 1:18-19, 3:18)

God accepted and approved His Son's sacrificial death for your sins by raising Jesus from the dead (Romans 1:4, 4:25)
Jesus Christ is eternally alive (Acts 2:32; Romans 6:9; Revelation 1:17-18)
is with God (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 8:1)
and is Lord of all (Philippians 2:9-11; Revelations 17:14, 19:16)
Through His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ is victorious over sin (Romans 6:10)
death (Romans 6:9)
and the devil (Hebrews 2:14)

Through Jesus you can:

Have your sins forgiven (Acts 5:31, 10:43; Ephesians 1:7, 4:32; Colossians 1:13-14, 2:13-14)
and be reconciled to God (11Corinthians 5:18-19)

Experience a spiritual new birth (John 3:3; 1Peter 1:3, 23; 1John 5:1)

Receive the gift of eternal life through God's gracious gift of faith (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:40, 47; 11:25-26; 17:1-3; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1Timothy 1:16; 1John 5:11-12)

Have access to God (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18, 3:11-12; Hebrews 10:19-22)

Be a member of God's family (John 1:12; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:5, 2:19; 1John 3:1-2)

Understand the things of God (John 14:26, 16:13-15; 1Corinthians 2:9-13)

Become a new person with the capability for living in a totally new manner (Romans 6:4-22; 11Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13)

and be empowered to change, to mature into Christlikeness, and to have an increasingly intimate knowledge of God Himself (John 17:3; Romans 8:2, 28-29; 11Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 1:6, 4:13; Colossians 1:9-11; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 11Peter 1:3-4)