Page 6 - Good News January 2005 paper

Ted Griffin Wat Jesus Christus jou aanbied, het belowe: "Ek kom weer om julle
Jou vooruitsig vir die nuwe jaar kan jy nie koop nie en niemand sal te kom haal sodat julle by My kan
kan baie goed wees en net so ryk dit ooit van jou kan wegneem nie: wees” (Joh. 14:3).
soos die beloftes van God. Die * LIEFDE wat nie van jou * 'N EWIGE TUISTE, waar niks
Bybel sê jy kan vertroue hê vir die gevoelens of jou verdienste weer die lewe kan versuur nie,
toekoms wat baie seker is, maar afhang nie, maar op die eindelose geen haat of selfsug of bekom-
dit berus nie op jou eie vermoë of goedheid van God gegrond is. mernis of siekte of dood nie. "Hy
jou eie vasberadenheid nie. Dit is "Kyk hoe wonderlik is God se sal elke traan van hulle oë afvee
gegrond op God se liefde en Sy liefde vir ons, want Hy het en daar sal nie meer dood wees
getrouheid. Wat ook al vanjaar vir Christus vir ons laat sterwe toe nie. Niemand sal ooit weer
jou voorlê - stygende pryse, ons nog sondaars was" (Romeine hartseer wees of huil nie en daar
werkloosheid, probleme in jou 5:8). sal geen pyn meer wees nie"
gesin - niks sal hierdie vooruitsig * 'N NUWE VERHOUDING MET (Openbaring 21:4).
kan wegneem nie. GOD, omdat Christus ons skuld Waar jy aan die begin van die jaar
Die profeet Jeremia het die betaal het. "(Christus) het Sy lewe staan, kan jy na die omstan-
geheim geken. Die Here het vir gegee ter wille van ons wat dighede kyk en hoop op die beste.
hom gesê: "Dit sal goed gaan met skuldig was om ons na God toe te MAAR die ander moontlikheid is
elkeen wat op My vertrou en sy bring" (1 Petrus 3:18). dat jy jou lewe tot die Here se
verwagting in My stel" (Jeremia * VRIENDSKAP waarop jy kan beskikking kan stel en op Hom
17:7). God, die almagtige Skepper reken, want Jesus Christus het vertrou. Dan kan jy die vooruitsig
en Onderhouer van die heelal, gesê: "Ek sal nooit van jou af weg- hê dat wat ook al vir jou voorlê, Hy
weet van elke probleem en Hy gee gaan of jou in die steek laat nie" saam met jou sal gaan en jou deur
vir jou om. Hy kan jou sekerheid (Hebreërs 13:5). al die omstandighede sal dra.
vir die toekoms gee. * 'N DOEL IN DIE LEWE, want om "Wat dit ook al mag wees waar-
Vir iemand wat nie deur Jesus Jesus Christus te gehoorsaam en mee ons te doen het, daar is niks,
Christus verlos is nie, lyk die lewe vir Hom te lewe, gee sin aan ons letterlik niks, onder al die dinge
leeg en sonder vooruitsig. In bestaan. Jesus het gesê: "Ek is wat God geskape het wat ons sal
werklikheid is dit ook so, want die pad na die Vader toe. Ek is die kan wegruk van God se liefde vir
Paulus sê van sulke mense: "Julle waarheid. Ek is die lewe" (Joh. ons nie, want Jesus Christus ons
het sonder God gelewe en daar 14:6). Here het daardie liefde vir ons
was vir julle geen vooruitsig in die * VOLKOME SEKERHEID oor ons gebring" (Romeine 8:39).
wêreld nie" (Efesiërs 2:12). uiteindelike bestemming. Jesus Uit: Die Kruisgesant

enny was a bright-eyed, said. "But you can have Rosie,
pretty five-year-old girl. One my favourite doll. Remember
Jday when she and her her? You gave her to me last year
mother were shopping, she saw a for my birthday. And you can
plastic pearl necklace priced at have her tea party outfit. too.
R25.00. She wanted that necklace Okay?"
so badly and when she asked her "Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her
mother if she would buy it for her, father brushed her cheek with a
her mother said, "Well, it is a kiss. "Good night, little one."
pretty necklace, but it costs a lot A week later, her father once
of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy again asked Jenny after her
you the necklace and when we get story, "Do you love me?"
home we can make up a list of "Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you."
chores that you can do to pay for "Well then, give me your pearls."
the necklace. And don't forget "Oh Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have
that for your birthday Grandma Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's
just might give you a few rands my favourite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play
too. Okay?" with it and braid it and everything. You can have
Jenny agreed, and her mother Ribbons if you want her, Daddy," the little girl said to
bought the pearl necklace for her. her father.
Jenny worked on her chores very "No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her
hard every day, and sure enough, cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one.
her Grandma gave her R10 for her Sweet dreams." Several days later, when Jenny's
birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting
the pearls. on her bed and her lip was trembling.
How Jenny loved those pearls! "Here Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She
She wore them everywhere - to opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside.
kindergarten, bed, and when she She let it slip into her father's hand. With one hand
went out with her mother to run her father held the plastic pearls and with the other
errands. The only time she didn't he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside
wear them was in the shower - her the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had
mother had told her that they them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up
would turn her neck green. the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.
Jenny had a very loving daddy. So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us
When Jenny went to bed, he to give up the cheap things in our lives so that He can
would get up from his favourite give us beautifuI treasure. Isn't God good?
chair every night and read Jenny Are you holding onto things which God wants you to
her favourite story. let go of? Are you holding onto harmful or unneces-
One night when he finished the sary habits and activities which you have become so
story, he said, "Jenny, do you love attached to that it seems impossible to let go?
me?" Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love hand, but believe this one thing...
you," the little girl said. "Well GOD WILL NEVER TAKE AWAY SOMETHING
then, give me your pearls." WITHOUT GIVING YOU SOMETHING BETTER IN ITS
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny PLACE! - Dunamis