CLASHING SPIRITS
AT CHRISTMAS
.
In the
cafeteria, that Thursday before Christmas break, a fellow teacher, Leonard Koening,
silently bowed his head before he ate. Though
annoyed, as we ate, I tolerantly engaged him in conversation. You see, I hated Christians. To my surprise, we chatted about a dominating immoral
passion we both experienced.
.
Relatively
new to the area and hoping he would link me up with some local likeminded women,
I asked for some contact information. He
astonished me responding, “I don’t do that anymore. I’ve broken all contact with them.” That excuse made no sense to me. Could he be serious? Then I remembered he prayed.
.
At that
moment, I was secretly suffering the disappointments, frustrations, and inner turmoil
my godless lifestyle had accumulated.
His refusal only added to my emotional conflicts, and it really set me
off. When we got outside, my hostility exploded. I was suddenly up in his space, nearly
scrubbing his face with my scruffy beard, “I saw you pray…you’re a Christian or
something!” He affirmed my allegation, mildly
nodding, “Yes…I believe in Jesus.”
.
“You
Christian you, why don’t you just convert me?…you Christian you.” Challenging him further, I ranted, “Why don’t
you save me, if you’re such a faithful believer?”
.
He calmly
responded, “John, I can’t do that…but what I can do is tell you what happened
to me.” I actually stunned myself when I
accepted his offer. So, he told me his story.
.
I acted
unimpressed, but Leonard was not talking about some foolish theological concept
or dicey spiritual mind game. Instead,
he told me of a God with whom, he honestly believed he had a relationship, Who
he also said actually loved even people like me, despite my contempt for Him
and His ethicals. Rather than rigorous
of “holy demands,” Leonard spoke of the peace he had, now that God’s Spirit lived
within him. He simply didn’t want he
wanted before.
.
Leary of
undisclosed strings attached, I hid my longing for even a year of peace, I asked,
“So, what does this god of yours want from me?”
.
Leonard
answer, “John, think about it. He is God…He
doesn’t want anything you have. He wants
to give you what He has.”
.
“That is
ridiculous,” I said, “Why would God take on human form and die for me? Seriously, what is in it for Him?”
.
“John, God
loves you. He just wants you to love Him
back. Think about,” Leonard reasoned, “What
kind of God of love would He be, if those He loves didn’t love Him in return?”
.
Later, alone
in my apartment, I couldn’t help wondering if Jesus really might have been God,
coming in human form, then allow Himself to be killed, in order to provide
peace between Himself and me. Could God
have done all that, to make it perfectly clear that He loves “me?”
.
I considered,
“Why not turn to that Divine Person, Who claims to love me so completely and unconditionally?”
.
Kneeling on my
apartment floor, I tried to talk to the “God,” Leonard described. I started, “God, if You are real?” Then I remembered Leonard quoting a Bible
verse that says, “Those who come to Me, must believe that I am, and that I am a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Me.”
.
So, I changed my prayer, saying, “God, I
believe you are there, and that Jesus Christ is Your Son.” My indication faith in Him and His Son was
accepted, because God took over from there. I was startled with the reality that my sin
lead to the vicious murder of Jesus, on a Roman cross. Forgiven, I was not alone, frustrated, or struggling
with inner turmoil. Instead, His joy and
peace filled my empty hearth…and yes, yes, yes, I love Him!
.
His love,
peace, and joy were mine, and that Christmas was the very best Christmas of my
life. Amazingly, each year thereafter has
been a celebration of Christ’s life and love within. This Christmas, I pray His love, peace, and joy
will fill your life as well. God loves us. Leonard lived one more year, before he died. God’s gift of love came to me through that
dear man, and I will be eternally grateful that God allowed him to live long
enough that 46 years ago our paths crossed.
That is Love.
John 3:16 For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. 17 For God
did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world
through him.
