Many
of us
are so
determined in
our faith that
we allow ourselves
to be bound
by it. In so doing, we
limit God. We are quick
to say, “God told me that He
was going to heal me”. Then we
determine in our own minds that
the healing is going to be accomplished
in a specific supernatural
way and refuse to accept any other
means of healing.
It’s like the often-told story of the
man who was caught in a flood.
The waters had risen so fast that
he had no time to get out of his
home to higher and safer ground.
He climbed up on the roof of his
home and began praying for God
to save him and God assured him
that he would be rescued.
A short time later a man came
along in a rowboat and offered to
take him to safety but he refused.
He told the man in the rowboat, “I’m fine, God’s going to save me.
Don’t worry.” So the man in the
rowboat left.
The man kept praying but the
waters continued to rise. A few
hours later some men in a
speedboat came along and offered
to
take
the man to
safety. Again he refused and said, “I’m fine, God’s going to save me.”
The men in the speedboat left and
the waters continued to rise.
The man kept praying and a few
hours later a helicopter appeared
over the house, which was now
almost completely submerged under
the floodwaters. The helicopter crew
lowered a ladder for the man to
climb up but he waved them off
and shouted, “Don’t worry, I’m fine,
God’s going to save me.”
The waters kept rising and a few
hours later the man drowned. When
he got to the Pearly Gates he
began complaining to St. Peter that
God had told him that He would
save him but hadn’t done it. St.
Peter asked him who did he think
had sent the man in the rowboat,
the men in the speedboat, and the
helicopter.
A young man was getting ready
to graduate college. For many
months he had admired a beautiful
sports car in a
dealer ’s showroom,
and knowing
his father could well
afford it, he told him
that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day
approached, the young man
awaited signs that his father
had purchased the car. Finally, on
the morning of his graduation his
father called him into his private
study. His father told him how proud
he was to have such a fine son,
and told him how much he loved
him. He handed his son a beautiful
wrapped gift box.
Curious , but somewhat
disappointed the young man opened
the box and found a lovely, leatherbound
Bible. Angrily, he raised his
voice at his father and said, “With
all your money you give me a
Bible?” and stormed out of the
house, leaving the holy book.
Many years passed and the young
man became a very successful in
business. He had a beautiful home
and wonderful family, but realized
his father was very old, and thought
perhaps he should go to him. He
had not seen him since that graduation
day. Before he could make
arrangements, he received a
telegram telling him his father had
passed away, and willed all of his
possessions to his son. He needed
to come home immediately and
take care things.
When he arrived at his father’s
house, sudden sadness and regret
filled his heart.
He began to search his father’s
important papers and saw the still
new Bible, just as he had left it
years ago. With tears, he opened
the Bible and began to turn the
pages. As he read those words,
a car key dropped from an envelope
taped behind the Bible.
It had a tag with the dealer’s
name, the same dealer who had
the sports car he had desired.
On the tag was the date of his
graduation, and the words…PAID
IN FULL !!
The man whispered, “God, speak
to me.” And a meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear. So the
man yelled, “God, speak to
me!” Thunder rolled across the sky.
But the man did not listen. The
man looked around and said, “God,
let me see you.” A star shone
brightly. But he noticed it not. And
the man shouted, “God, show me
a miracle.” And a life was born.
But the man was unaware. So, the
man cried out in despair, “Touch
me, God, and let me know that
you are here!” Whereupon God
reached down and touched the
man. But the man brushed the butterfly
away and walked on.
Don’t miss out on a blessing
because it isn’t packaged the way
you expect.
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