he get a hit?” Her eyes were hoping for the right answer.
“He made great contact on the very first pitch, but it ended up in foul territory. It was pretty much downhill from there. Unfortunately, he made the last out of the game when we had a chance to tie.”
I could see the painful expression of compassion on my wife’s face as she considered Nigel’s failure.
“I may have made a mistake by letting him play at this level, Babe.”
Mary Lynn gently patted me on the shoulder, gave me a kiss, and quietly reminded me, “You never know what blessings God has in store, Daddy.”
She was right, and I did have a few ideas on how Nigel and I could attack this new problem. I glanced at my watch as we finished the dishes. It was almost one o’clock and perfect timing for an afternoon with my engine builder. Together, we should be able to get a lot of work done on the second motor. When I pulled into Joshua’s driveway, his uncanny appearance at the side garage door and ensuing wave for me to come join him, had almost become routine. I gathered my things and headed down the path to his shop. The majestic trees lining the walkway provided shade to his front yard and memories of my mother’s love for their splendor. With each unconscious step, I wondered what spiritual lesson he had in store for me today. I could never have imagined the challenge he was about to unfold.
CHAPTER 2
The Line
“It’s good to see you, John,” Joshua said as he wiped his hands on a rag before shaking my own.
“Nice to be here, Joshua. What do you have planned for today?”
He was moving toward the parts sitting on the workbench when he replied, “I got the engine block back this week, which will allow us to finish prepping it. Once that is done, we can install the bearings, crankshaft, and pistons.”
“Sounds great!”
The next three hours passed quickly. We worked together with greater familiarity of our assigned jobs. After all, this was the second time around, and I was able to help with many more tasks. Our movements made me recall the surgical nurse/doctor cooperation that is found in every operating room in the country. However, this time I was the nurse, and he was the mechanic surgeon using his skills to create a top-level motor.
When there was a momentary break in our work, he looked at me and said, “Did you hear that?”
I stood perfectly still but could hear nothing unusual.
“Hear what?” I asked.
“Shhh…there it is again.” He placed his index finger to his lips.
I repeated my silent stance, then shook my head and raised both hands in question of any unheard sound.
“Listen carefully,” he whispered.
“I’m trying,” I replied just as quietly. We both stood like statues until he broke the silence.
“Are you telling me you cannot hear those chocolate chip cookies calling us?” He broke out in laughter, knowing he had kidded me once again.
“Oh yeah! Now I hear them!” I said while laughing in recovery. I slapped my forehead stating, “I thought they were coconut macaroons! It must have been the tropical accent that threw me off.”
Soon, we were enjoying cookies, lemonade, and the return of spring to his back yard. I recalled the first time we sat here, and how much I had learned over the past six months. There was no doubt that the mechanics of building an engine together had become the platform for a much greater life experience. I was smiling in appreciation when he interrupted my peace-filled thoughts.
“John, are you a sinner?”
“Of course, I’m a sinner,” I stated without hesitation.
“No doubt, that is the most common answer for many Christians and even some non-Christians,” he said. His eyes were gazing at the brick wall bordering the back perimeter of his yard, but his mind penetrated well beyond those physical limits. He paused in thought, rose from his chair, and walked to the very familiar whiteboard. The questioning sentences appeared across the top.
ARE YOU A SINNER? OR WERE YOU A SINNER?
He turned to me asking, “Have you ever seen the movie Bruce Almighty?”
“I think so. Isn’t that the one where Jim Carrey gets God’s job for a while, then he quickly makes a mess of things, and finally gives the responsibility back to God. If I remember correctly, he ultimately discovers that it isn’t as easy to run the world as he thought it would be. Especially when he says, ‘Yes.’ to everyone’s requests.”
Joshua looked at me and smiled, saying, “That’s the one. Let’s pretend for a moment that you, instead of Jim Carrey, have been given the tasks normally assigned to God. We will also imagine you are in charge of writing a book on how people should live their lives.”
“Tall task, Joshua!” I smiled in recognition of the project’s importance.
He nodded and continued, “I believe this book would contain three major concepts. First of all, the book should enlighten you to the fact that you are a sinner.”
“Agreed!” I responded in affirmation.
“Secondly, the book should explain how you need to believe in Jesus to overcome your sins, and, because of this belief, you are saved from their consequences. Also known as your salvation.”
“I’m with you.”
“Finally, the book should teach you how to live AFTER you have been saved and forgiven for your sins.” He emphasized the word “after” to make his point.
“Do you agree that your book about how to live your life should contain all three of these stages of faith?”
“Yes, of course,” I answered, “It must address every chronological step in our spiritual growth.”
He turned to me with a slight grin at my expected reply.
“The Bible does these things. It speaks to you at each phase in your life. The Bible teaches you about the problems in your life before you are saved. It guides you while you learn how to become saved from your sins. And finally, the Bible teaches you how you should live and what you should believe after you are saved.”
“Sounds like my homework has been handed in already!” I raised my glass in celebration.
Joshua tapped his glass against mine and began pacing as he spoke.
“So, if the Bible talks to you at each different spiritual phase in your life, it is your job to determine which one is being addressed as you read its text. Guidance from the Holy Spirit will help you with this decision.
“In other words, does the verse you are reading apply to your life before you have believed in Christ and become saved from your sins? Is it directed at the time you are learning the true meaning of Jesus’s redemptive sacrifice?
