https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Nothing Else ~ Cody Carnes
The Lord is good, A strength and stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows [He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully] those who take refuge and trust in Him.
Nahum 1:7 AMP
Three days ago, we learned that our downstairs neighbor, who’d lived alone the full 3 ½ years we’ve known him, chose to live and die alone. I use the term “known” loosely, because there was very little we knew about him, including that he had family nearby, who clearly loved him.
What is a life that’s known? What does it take to love and be loved by others? I think it starts with courage and choice. Jesus demonstrated that for us by His sacrifice. His desire to know and be known by us, that not one of us would be lost to Him, compelled Christ to the Cross. Knowing that He desired to know and be known by you, when did you choose Him? When did you ask Jesus to be your Savior, that you’d get to know Him?
Like everyone our age, I remember where I was and what I was doing 20 years ago, today. Today was life-changing for so many. While there are hundreds of thousands of stories, I pray that this one touches your heart:
He got up, got dressed for work, kissed his girlfriend good-bye and headed out the door. Today was the day it would all change for him. He was starting a new job, a new way of life. After orientation, his boss showed him to an office and asked him to file while she was in a meeting. A while later, he began to hear a commotion. People were yelling and running. He stuck his head out of the office and saw the burning twin towers on TV and the reporter talking about the concerns for the President. Then someone in the office shouted, “Air Force One is across the street! Should we evacuate the building?” No one answered. All eyes were locked on the TV in horror. He moved back into the office and closed the door, his mind whirling.
Standing in that office, leaning against the door, he was afraid. “What if I die today? What if they take out the President’s plane and this office with it? What if my girlfriend was right about Jesus and I miss it?” He began to remember what his friends had said one night after work, so many years ago. They had talked about a Savior. Not a mean God, but One who loved him and who would accept him. Sliding down to the floor, he said, “God I give you my heart. From this day forward, I’m Yours.”
In Psalm 23, David called the Lord his “Shepherd”, someone who knew David: his needs, desires, wounds, and even joys. David has been called a man after God’s heart, not because he lived a perfect life, but because he chose to live a known life--known to and by his Savior, the way we all long to be known.
I don’t know your story, or how you were affected by that terrible, dark day. I do know that while so many lives were lost that day, at least one soul was saved, because he chose to be known by his Savior. Tuesday, September 11, 2001 was the day my husband gave his life to Christ!
Friends, my prayer is that you will choose to not live this life alone, but will be courageous enough to choose a known life--both by your Savior and by those around you.
©Heather Potts 2021
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