Alison is a fine young lady who graduated from college last spring. It was a thrill to watch her climb the steps to the platform and receive her diploma. It took her a little longer than most of the students to climb those steps, because she had to walk with the help of two special canes. The dean kissed her on the cheek, and everyone clapped for her. Her mother wept with happiness.
You see, life has always been a little more difficult for Alison. She was a normal baby for the first few months of life. Then suddenly she got quite sick with a disease called cerebral palsy. Alison’s life as a child with this disease was difficult for her and her family. Much time and money were spent on medicines and therapy. Operations followed.
When Alison was only eight years old, her father suddenly died. Then she and her mother had to take care of themselves.
Through all of these problems, I have never seen a happier, sweeter, more pleasant person than Alison. It has always been a pleasure to be around her. Everywhere she goes people love her.
Why do you suppose she is such a lovely person? I believe it is because we see the loveliness of Christ in her. You see, she and her mother are both believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the head in their home and the main object of their lives.
This winter Alison is back in college for more studies. Her purpose is to be able to help other people who are handicapped to make the most of their abilities. She gives the Lord Jesus all the credit for her abilities and skills.
Boys and girls, we have so much to be thankful for when our bodies and minds are whole. Do we thank God for this? I hope so!
But each one of us is born with another kind of handicap — our life is handicapped with sin. “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12). Sin brings ruin and judgment with it. But God loves sinners and wants them to be whole. Through the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus, on Calvary, God can take your sins away. In heaven Alison will have a new body, free from its handicap of cerebral palsy and its handicap of sin. But right now she has a saved soul because she asked the Lord Jesus to take away her sins.
How about you? Are you saved? Wouldn’t you like to be? You only need to ask the Lord Jesus to take away your sins. When He takes you to heaven you also will have a new body free from its handicap of sin. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” 2 Corinthians 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).
ML-01/17/1988