Burst Into Flames: A Parable
Page 31
On the drive home after lunch, Blake found himself feeling very emotional. While he was happy for Andy, he had been thrilled to see Andy and Courtney strolling off into the mall together as the lunch group was breaking up, but it stirred up longings for Elaine. This whole idea that maybe God gave him direction and maybe he didn't, was really unbalancing. Then there was a song on the radio, it wasn't really a terribly sad song, but it was just too much on top of everything else. He found tears running down his face, but they weren't just tears of sadness. He pulled the car off onto a side street and turned it off. Then, the crying began in earnest.
In the midst of his tears, he knew he had to pray as much as he needed to breathe. His prayer was disjointed, but from his heart. It was full of praise and thanksgiving, but also was a pouring out of his fears, sadness and disappointments. When it was all over, he laughed as he realized he must have been quite a sight. He didn't know how long he had been badly parked in front of somebody's house crying his eyes out and having a crazy conversation, even though he was the only person in the car. He didn't really care who might have seen him, because right here in his car on a suburban street, Blake had talked to the Almighty God, the King of the Universe, the Creator of All Things and the Source of All Wisdom! Furthermore, he now knew, without a doubt, that in God's will and through His unlimited power, that Blake was going to become a teacher! As Blake started his car and pulled off, he laughed aloud out of sheer joy!
Up to this point he hadn't told a soul about the possibility of God leading him to teach. He had just been afraid that it was nothing but his imagination. Now he pulled out his phone and called the person he most wanted to share the news with.
When Nikki answered, Blake said, “Nikki, God is so awesome, you aren't going to believe what He is doing in my life!”
“Don't keep me waiting, tell me.”
Blake teased, “How about I tell you in person, over dinner tonight?”
“Blake, while I would love to, you know we've talked about that.”
“Yeah, I know, but you can't blame a guy for trying to spend time with a good-looking girl like you. Everything seems so right with the world at this moment, I thought perhaps if I asked again, I might get a different answer.”
Nikki laughed, “Just what kind of drugs are you doing? You seem on top of the world.”
Blake laughed, “Being in the presence of God can have that effect. I just spent some glorious time crying my eyes out and conversing with the Lord on some side street. I'm sure if the people inside the house I was parked in front of, looked out, they would have been sure they had a crazy person on their hands. I was just driving down Hawkings Lane when God called me to pray RIGHT NOW. I barely got the car parked before He came over me. It was an absolutely amazing experience. Then, not only did I spend time with the Almighty, but I have a calling. He wants to use me! He wants me to go into teaching!”
Blake could hear the happiness in her voice as Nikki said, “Oh Blake, I am so happy for you. I do wish you were close enough to give you a big hug of congratulations. Teaching, huh? I never heard you say anything about an interest in teaching.”
“When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher just like a middle school math teacher that had changed my life. Over the years, that dream got lost. Perhaps that was God speaking to me, even back then.”
Nikki said, “That is so cool!”
“I don't have a clue how this is supposed to work. I don't know what I need to do to get a teaching degree. I don't know if this is night classes or I go back to school full time. I don't know what school to go to. I don't even know how many classes I would have to take...I doubt my business classes will transfer, but I should have all the core classes out of the way. Gee, I really don't know anything about what I'm in for.” said Blake.
“Don't you worry a bit about the details. If this is his plan, then He is all about the details, all you have to do is be faithful and obedient. He will take care of everything else. Just trust Him.”
“Nikki, you are a gem! I am so glad the Lord brought you into my life!”
EPILOGUE
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God...”
Romans 8:28
Blake placed a bouquet of yellow daisies on the grave and said, “Happy Anniversary, Elaine. You know I will always love you and I will always miss you. You made me a better person when we were together. You showed me what real faith looked like. I am so sorry that I was too stubborn to let real faith work in my life until you were gone. I now know that I missed out on a whole level of intimacy with you by not really submitting to Christ, and I regret that. You were such an awesome influence on me, you will always live on forever in me.
“As Nikki and I have been making our wedding preparations, I can't help but look back and be amazed at how much has changed since you died. I was so depressed about losing you, but that was the exact slingshot I needed to get intimate with Jesus. My job got so awful after Jim got replaced by Oliver. Trying to deal with him through the day, while going to school at night was about enough to make me insane, but you know what? Through it all, Jesus was there for me. He provided me with supportive friends and the peace that only He can give.
“I still can't really believe that Nikki and I are going to get married. While we had developed a really good friendship, it wasn't an easy transition into a romantic relationship. That was my fault. Somehow, I was always looking for you in her. I had to reach the point of realizing that she was herself, not some incarnation of you. That was hard, because it felt like I had to give up another part of you. But I believe that Nikki and I will have a good life together, because Christ is right there in the middle of our relationship.
“This week my students found out I was getting married next month. They were so excited and happy for me. The way they responded was a great confirmation that I was really developing a real relationship with them. I really am happy in teaching, it is so much more satisfying, at a deeper level, than my old job could have ever been. I really feel like I'm making a difference in their lives. They know about my faith and it still amazes me at how often they came to me with prayer requests or questions about faith. There are so many kids out there that are hungry for something real. I pray that the Lord allows me to provide Him to those students in even greater ways.
“It was terrible when you died, but God is so good. He has really come in and given me new joy: joy in Him, joy in my students and teaching and joy in Nikki. This could never have happened without you. Your life was so short, but it was so worthwhile. I will always love you.”
Blake stood up and returned to the car where Nikki was waiting for him. Deep in his soul, Blake thanked God for everything he had been given, he was sure it was more than any person really deserved. In spite of the amazing generosity and depth of God’s blessings he had already experienced, Blake suspected that this was only the beginning of what he would see.
God of my praise, do not be silent.
Psalm 109:1
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About the author:
The real author of this novel is the Almighty God, however He chose to use the imperfect instrument of Richard McInteer to translate His perfect thoughts into a written story. Richard loves the Lord and loves His Holy Word. He has no formal training in theology, no professional position in a church, but is qualified through Luke 10:21
At that same time Jesus felt the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, and he said: My Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that was what pleased you. (Luke 10:21, CEV)
It is the fervent prayer of Richard McInteer that this work of Christ's might help somebody develop the faith to walk through life hand-in-hand with Jesus. Richard lives in Lexingon, Kentucky with his wife and 2 daughters.
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Footnotes
1 Matthew 7:13-14
2 Hebrews 12:6
3 Matthew 7:21-23
4 James 2:19
5 Luke 4:34
6 Matthew 18:3
7 Galatians 6:22
8 Hebrews 12:2
9 see James 2:10
10 Ephesians 2:8-9
11 Matthew 23:27-28
12 Matthew 7:21-23
13 Matthew 7:21-23, NASB
14 Philippians 2:12-13
15 Philippians 2:5
16 Philippians 2:13
17 Luke 22:27
18 Matthew 12:18
19 Matthew 26:39
20 Psalm 139:13-14
21 Romans 8:14
22 see Esther 4:14
23 Revelation 3:15-16 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.”
24 Genesis 37-47
25 Psalm 111
26 Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
27 Matthew 6:33
28 Job 33:14
29 Romans 8:38-39
30 Micah 6:8
31 Colossians 1:9-10
32 1 Kings 19:12, KJV
33 Deuteronomy 13:4
34 Isaiah 51:4
35 Micah 6:8
36 John 10:3-5
37 1 Peter 5:8
38 John 8:44
39 Psalm 95:7-8
40 James 1:14-15
41 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
42 1 Corinthians 6:19
43 Matthew 5:27-28
44 Hebrews 11:1
45 John 14:13
46 John 15:7
47 2 Timothy 2:21
48 2 Timothy 2:21
49 Revelation 22:5
50 2 Timothy 2:21
51 Judges 6-8
52 Matthew 6:10