A Happy New Year, Part 2

Hey Guidesters! I am so sorry I didn’t post this story earlier. Like, who cares about the new year in March? By the end of January the new year has been forgotten ( at least for some of us). If you haven’t read part 1 already, click here.

The story so far: Benjamin was walking to town to run an errand for his mom. He came upon a little brown building from which flowed music. He listened in while hiding, and his mind spun with questions. He pulled upon the small door and stepped in.

Benjamin looked around him. The church may not look appealing on the outside, he thought, but it sure is good looking on the inside. Just look at these carpeted floors. The red velvet color really looks good on the floor. And those bright lights! They must change them regularly. And the . .

“Hello, young man, welcome to our church, Water of Life SDA Church! You’re a little late for the service, but you’re welcome to join us.”

Benjamin blinked. “Uh, sir, well,” he stammered, then blurted out all the questions that his mind whirled with,” Sir, what is this place? And what does SDA stand for? And, PLEASE tell me, Who in the world is this God Who deserves praise? And the Jesus person?”

“Whoa, son, slow your questions down a notch. Tell you what, I’ll ask the pastor to answer your questions after he finishes his sermon, OK, young man?”

Benjamin nodded and sat in a room to wait. He noticed a small magazine with colorful illustrations on the outside. He picked it up. The magazine was called Guide. He swiped to the first page. The first page had a section which, he guessed, was the editor’s section. He read the editor’s name. Randy Fishell. Hmmm, he thought, this seems interesting.

Before he could start reading the editor’s section, a tall, slim, jovial-looking man entered the modest little room. “Hello, son. Ed told me that you were questioning him about many different topics. He needed me to answer them. Tell me, son, what are your questions?”

Benjamin observed the man. He looked like he could be trusted with the most personal questions. “Sir, could you-could you be able to answer and keep the questions confidential between you and me?”

The man beamed at him.”Keeping things secret is my specialty, son,” he replied, his eyes twinkling.

Benjamin’s questions came out in a rush. The man gave him honest answers. Benjamin learned that God was the Creator of the universe, everything in it and above it. Jesus was His Son. God was omnipresent, always there to guide you through life’s toughest paths. He also learned that he was in a church, and the SDA initials stood for the Seventh Day Adventist Church, a church that believed the seventh day was the Sabbath day.

“How do you know that?” Benjamin inquired.

“The Bible says in Exodus 20:8-11, ‘Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: [11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.’

Then the man went on to say,” You know, Jesus really amazes me. He paid the price for our sin, which was an enormous price.”

“What was this enormous price?” Benjamin asked eagerly.

“You will not believe me, son.”

“Oh yes, sir, I will!” he said certainly.

“Well, son, the enormous price was Jesus Himself being crucified.”

For a moment Benjamin could not speak.Strong emotions washed over him as he thought it over.

“He-he-died for me?” Benjamin choked on the words.

The man laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Yes, Jesus died for all of us. He was buried for three days, but he rose on the third day. He us in heaven now, preparing a place for us.”

“How can I ever thank Him!” Benjamin cried.

“Accept the gift,” the man said simply.

Benjamin glanced at him. “What gift?”

“Jesus died for us because we are sinful humans. He gave us the gift of eternal life in heaven with Him. The only way to express your thanks is to accept it.”

“How do I do that?” he asked.

“Pray to Him. Tell Him that you want Him to come into your heart. Thank him for dying on the cross.”

“Can I do it right now?”

“It’s never too early, son.”

“Jesus,” he said, ” I’m a wretched sinner. I do not deserve the gift you gave to me. Please come into my heart and cleanse me of every sin. I want to be yours. Amen.”

When Benjamin looked up, there were tears glistening in the man’s eyes. “Amen,” he said, “amen.”

“Benjamin!” A familiar voice called to him. “Come here!”

“Mother,” he said, ” I’m sorry-”

“You frightened me half to death!” she said sternly. “I looked everywhere for you! What were you doing?”

“Mother,” Benjamin said, smiling, ” let me tell you what I was doing.”

Epilogue: Benjamin and his mother were baptized on New Year’s Day into the Water of Life SDA church. Benjamin never forget that year. It was a better celebration than any of the celebrations his friends had. That day he celebrated with the angels. He celebrated a new birth. And, most importantly, he celebrated Jesus, his best friend for life.

The End.