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Once in a Lifetime
January 1 is the first day of a brand new year. There is so much hope of what is to come. So many opportunities, so much potential for something better. In this article, I want to zero in on the word “first”. When something is done for the first time, doors are opened to a whole world of possibilities for either good or bad. The first time we do anything, it can never be repeated. We may do the action over and over again, but never again for the first time. That is a once in a lifetime experience.
Let us consider some of the “firsts” in life. There is a baby’s first step, first tooth, first spoken word. These are treasured memories for family members. Then comes the first boy or girlfriend, first date, and first kiss; these can leave sweet memories. Later we the experience of excitement of our first car, first job, and first paycheck. Life seems good.
Somewhere between the time of the first word spoken and the first job came the first sin. Perhaps it was a lie or you took a quarter from your mother’s purse. The first time is was scary; you probably felt bad and ashamed. Maybe you felt scared that you would get caught. It is so important that as parents we teach our children Christian principals and good moral standards. It might prevent the first episode with drugs or the first experience with sex outside of marriage.
The first time one commits a sin, there are so many emotions going on in one’s conscience, a person almost becomes ill. However, the more people indulge in sin, the less their consciences prick them, until their conscience is seared to the point of no feelings at all, and Satan has won a mighty battle.
Let us look at another side of “firsts.”. What did you feel the first time you heard the message of the Gospel? Were you a child or an adult? How did you respond? I was six years old the first time I heard about Jesus. I was told God sent His Son Jesus to die for my sins. I remember thinking, “Big deal! If God loved me so much why didn’t He come Himself? Why did He send His Son?” I guess I must have thought it was a cop-out. It wasn’t until I had my first child that I realized what a sacrifice it was for God to send His Son. It would have been so much easier and a lot less painful to come Himself, for one of the greatest loves in life is that of a parent for his children.
I remember my first encounter with Jesus. It was a true Damascus Road experience. I was riding through life on my high-horse when suddenly I was struck down. I was blinded to life for three days. Then Jesus spoke. He said, “I have fought Satan for you for three days, and I have won. You will never again live like you did before.”
And so it is, Jesus became my first love and He has required the first fruits of my day. He awakens me at 3:00 a.m. each morning and we meet to talk. It is a perfect beginning to my day
“I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:13-14, KJV).
Copyright © 2008-2015 Sylvia Hensel
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