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The Amish Voice 8
I went to visit an Amish friend in the hospi-
tal. While waiting to go into her room, I had
an opportunity to talk with her husband and
relatives, ultimately leading to a discussion
about heaven. I shared with them how I was
born again and how it freed me when Jesus
came into my heart. As they listened, I could
tell some disagreed. After a
while, those who disagreed,
shared their beliefs—how a
person gets more and
more born again over
time, and by death they
have hopes of getting to
heaven. They based their
belief on how well they
lived their life—trusting
in their rules, not making
too many mistakes, and
not forsaking that which
is good. They strive to live a good
life, which is honorable in it’s right place.
(Do we do good works as evidence of our
faith or do we do good works to gain favor
and salvation with God) .
One even said, "We believe that the old
Amish way is The Way." On my way home,
and throughout the next couple of weeks, his
sentence haunted me. I wish I would've re-
plied: Jesus said, "
I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.
" (John 14:6)
To me it’s simple – Jesus is the only way;
not the Amish way, the Methodist way, the
Baptist way, the Catholic way, the Mennon-
ite way. Those are different theologies and
standards of living; a box with a label. Some
boxes are bigger and some smaller.
It’s not wrong to be in a church
box, but you must have Jesus as
the core of your box. Without
Him, your box is empty.
It’s about Him—not
our box.
The Lord put an inter-
esting thought in my
mind; the difference
between a saved per-
son who is working
for the Lord, and an unsaved person
who is working for the Lord. (Read Matthew
20:1-14.) In this story, you see that Jesus
used a workday as an example of life on
earth. The people who were hired the third
hour did not
clock in
; they went from their
home to the fields. What do you think their
wages would be after work?—the master had
no knowledge of their work hours. He
might've said, “How do I know you're not
some stranger off the street wanting pay-
ment?"
Many of us know the value of
clocking in
if
we want our wages. It’s similar in spiritual
labor; you come to Jesus and give our life up
to Him, saying, "I'm your servant, Lord. Use
me anywhere you need me."
In that parable, it didn’t matter what time
they were hired (or clocked in); their wages
were the same. In the same way, it doesn't
matter the time (phase of life) you
clock in
(become a born again believer) but that you
do
clock in
. Some might argue, "I’ll wait till
the eleventh hour.” How much work would
get done if all of us waited until the eleventh
hour to
clock in
? Remember, we’re not
promised tomorrow.
Matthew 7:21-23 warns of people who work
for the Lord all their life, but never give their
heart to Him. It doesn’t matter what box
(church name) you live in; make Him the
core by giving your heart and mind to Him.
Don't be one who says, God looks at the
good things I’ve done, as a way to earn your
salvation.
“For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast.
” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Is Christ In Your Box?
—by Monroe Raber
Methodist
Lutheran
Amish
Baptist
Mennonite
Nazarene
Hutterites
Catholic
I'm in bigger trouble than I have ever thought
possible, as I look over my life, my marriage.
I see broken pieces of glass all shapes and
sizes. They overwhelm my soul and mind as
I stand here looking so helpless into this tin
can, digging through it getting cut and
bruised. In desperation I cry—hot tears
streaming down my face. What am I to do
"Lord", I silently scream. I can't fix this. It’s
to broken. My strength is not enough!!
I feel a gentle hand tipping up my chin,
brushing my tears aside. Look! Remember
what I did for you, dear child. As I look, I
see a cross standing there. I draw in a sharp
breath, as I glance from my tin can and bro-
ken glass to his finished work on the cross, I
finally understand that He can do all things,
if I just give it to Him!! As I slowly reach
out my hand and pour out the tin can—the
pieces hitting the ground clattering—
scattering into the dust, I feel a lightness
come upon my spirit knowing that in my
dear Savior’s hand my marriage is secure. I
can rest assured, He cares so much more than
even I can. As I look toward the future, I see
He will turn our mess into beauty. It will
glisten for all eternity.
So dear friend, if you have a mess, a tin can
full of broken glass, come to the cross, reach
out your shaking hand and pour it out. Let
the peace of God come upon your soul.
Know that the One who cares so deeply for
you, will take the brokenness of your life and
fashion it into something unimaginable great-
ness and beauty. For He walks through the
fire with us and sees all of our hurt and pain.
Friend, He knows you; he wants you to know
Him too. So give your life to The Lord. He
wants a relationship with you!!!
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now thus saith the LORD that created
thee…and he that formed thee…Fear not: for
I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by
thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest
through the waters, I will be with thee; and
through the rivers, they shall not overflow
thee: when thou walkest
through the fire, thou
shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame
kindle upon thee. For I
am the LORD thy God,
the Holy One of Israel,
thy Saviour...
My mess is turned to beauty!
—by Cindy Miller