Sand Mountain Sermonette 66
Revelation 5:9
The Girl Who Ate Ten Cents!
“And they sang a new song saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9
On mom’s side of the family, you would find Uncle Leo Johnson. I loved Uncle Leo! He was one of my favorite relatives growing up. He owned and operated a little country store and gas station in Husteville, Alabama, where my mom grew up. Now, you could count on this: Uncle Leo would always close his store when a Gene Autrey movie was playing in the town of Albertville or in Gadsden Alabama. He loved Gene Autrey, so it was no problem closing his store to catch him on the big screen!
Mother once told me of the time when she was twelve years old and her sister, Sarah, was seven that Uncle Leo took them to see a Gene Autrey motion picture. Their mom, my grandmother, had given each girl a dime to spend on a box of popcorn at the movie. The sisters were sitting in the back seat of Uncle Leo’s car, when Sarah turned to my mom and said with tears in her eyes, “Jeanine, I swallowed my pop corn money!” To which my mom responded, “Sarah, I could just wear you out!” To which Uncle Leo, having heard it all said, “Don’t worry Sarah, I’ll buy you a box of popcorn when we get to the movies.” And he did!
How wonderful it is when someone pays for something we could not pay for even if we had originally intended to pay for it! It is hard for the human mind to comprehend, but Jesus Christ, the Son of God paid for our salvation by His blood-which no amount of money in all the world or any act of merit on our part, could ever purchase! In fact, the Bible says you and I have nothing to offer but a swallowing of our sinful pride which leads us to reject the grace of God: His love, mercy, forgiveness, hope, and peace, in exchange for the abundant life in Christ lived in submission to Him.
Perhaps you’ve been searching for the meaning of life and your purpose in life for a long time, but know this, I can tell you through all my personal ups and downs that only Jesus Christ can satisfy your soul. Invite God to speak to your heart as to how much he loves you. And how much is that? “For You (Christ) were slain, and have redeemed (purchased) us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
There’s not a man, woman, boy, or girl anywhere in the world that God doesn’t love and long to be in relationship with through His Son, now and forever! Call on His Name!
Pastor Louie