My eyes burned, looking up into the sun, dried up tears streaked my face. My little body was covered in rags and scorched from the sun. I was covered in filth, unable to cleanse myself from anything the world, the desert, offered. As I turned in circles, so lost and confused, unable to find my way out. I looked in every direction and found no escape; only endless mirages covered the landscape. I began to weep, falling to my knees, placing my hands in my face to the ground, so lost and so scared. I had no comfort, no security, not even a little teddy bear to hold close at night. I had been in this place for so long the days began to run together. As I felt the dawn coming, I looked up from my tear-drenched hands and saw something in the distance. I saw a man wearing white robes sprinting in my direction. I was overcome by fear and quickly placed my face in my hands to the ground, scared to look up. I then felt a gentle hand on my right shoulder, and he pushed my hair behind my left ear as I sat there weeping into the ground. He said to me, “My child, I am here. These clothes, sores, and filth are not for you. I want to make you clean.” I began to weep louder, and I felt his hand slowly lifting my chin to meet His eyes. They were beautiful. Filled with concern and love, I had never seen someone look at me like that before. He saw the tears falling down my face and gently wiped them away. I looked at Him and whispered, “I am so sorry,” unable to control my wailing, and He lifted me to my feet and said, “I know, you are forgiven and loved.” He then took off His white robe and placed it over my little body. My tears ceased immediately, my sores healed, my filth washed clean, and my clothes were whiter than snow. I looked upon those eyes with such rejoicing and joy. I began to dance, spinning in circles waving my arms in the air, the robe was a little big, and my arms did not fit through the sleeves, but I was so overwhelmed by love. As I was dancing, I looked at the One who saved me and saw Him smiling, love pouring out of Him. He leaned down to my height to look me in the face – I was so giddy, unable to fully comprehend, but felt no fear with Him near. He told me to look around, and I saw the desert was gone entirely. It was renewed with life. Beautiful flowers, trees, streams of water filled the once desolate place. I stood and stared in amazement. He then started to pull something out of His satchel; it sparkled in the sun. I gleamed with wonder; as He pulled it out, I noticed it was a magnificent crown. He placed it on my head and smiled with compassion and love. Of course, the crown was also a little too big and started to fall down my face, and He began to giggle. He grabbed my right hand and started to walk me along the stream of water and green pastures. I was skipping more than walking, but He looked upon me, fully cleansed in His robe, and said, “I have found my lost sheep; I am the good shepherd.”
The remarkable aspect about the grace of Jesus Christ is that it comes unexpectantly, yet so gentle and loving. The apostle John puts it this way in John 6:35-40
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Jesus promises to receive everyone who comes to Him and places their trust in Him for their salvation. Even though we may not see the invisible work of Father God during our times in the desert, Lord God has been working all along to draw us to Jesus Christ. I pray that you know the blessed Son of God as your only Lord and Savior, and He has called you out of the desert into a blessed garden of blissful hope.
