The Gospel and a Hamburger
Remember the good old days when mail was a wonderful thing? People wrote letters and notes and sent cards with actual handwritten sentiments and news and thoughts. A walk to the mailbox back in the day might be a worthwhile trip, a treasure in an envelope waiting just for you.
Nowadays, most of the mail that arrives at our house goes straight into the recycle bin. Flyers and advertisements constitute the bulk of it. Texts, emails, and social media are now the communication methods most in vogue if we want to keep up with family and friends.
No lie here – I miss “real mail” from real people, but I also confess that I, too, no longer send out much in the way of “real mail.” (Insert “broken heart” emoji.)
We do still receive a crazy number of catalogs, and before they land in the recycle bin, I’ll occasionally flip through them just for fun.
Two things strike me as ironic when I find those catalogs in my mailbox. First of all, someone at those companies has mistakenly identified me as a person of great financial means. (Hahaha!) Second of all, someone else at those same companies has decided that beautiful, well-dressed models with sad, pouty faces and soul-empty eyes will entice me to part with what little money I have to buy their products/clothes/fragrances, etc. I’m not sure they’ve given this much thought. Why would anyone want to purchase what they’re selling if it would make me as despondent and hopeless (and hungry!) as these models appear to be?
Since I’m on such a kick for “real mail,” I thought about writing a real note to the model on page 23 of the fancy department store catalog I received the other day. It would read something like this…
Hi, sweetheart!
Gosh, that outfit you’re wearing on page 23 of the (blah, blah, blah department store) catalog is absolutely stunning! Maroon is definitely your color! Has anyone ever told you that?! As gorgeous as you look in that photo, I have to say that I noticed you look a little sad. You okay, sister?
Looks to me like you could use a little good news. I may not have the money to buy one of those expensive dresses you’re modeling, but I do have something that might lift your spirits a little. It’s called the gospel, and it can change your life in the best way.
Pretty girl, you were made for a life of loving and living for the God Who created you. He imagined and cherished you long before you were even born. He knew who you would be and what would bring you joy. He created you uniquely and specially – no cookie-cutter work from our God!
The thing is, God is different than we are. He’s perfect. He has no flaws. He’s pure. And here we are – prone to want to go our own way and do whatever we think is best for us. The problem with that is those things only lead us away from God and His great big love for us.
The thought of being separated from us is just too much for God so He’s always had a plan to bring us back together. He’s taken it upon Himself to make a way back to Him. His Son Jesus stepped in and left heaven for earth to mend the fence between us and His Father. Every wrong choice you’ve ever made? Paid for by the Son – with His life. That’s how very loved you are.
Even beyond that, Jesus not only paid for your wrongs, He also came back to life so that you wouldn’t have to worry about death anymore. Yes, we’ll all one day breathe our last. Our hearts will stop. But Jesus promises that if we believe all of this happened just for us and we put our lives in His hands, we’ll wake up on the other side of death and find God waiting to welcome us into the most beautiful forever – beyond our imaginations!
I wish I could see your face right now. I’d hope to see a sparkle in your eyes. I’d hope to see peace wash over your countenance. I’d hope to see joy dawning in your beautiful smile. That’s what the good news can do for you if you’ll let it. I hope you do.
I love ya, girl!
Tiffany
P.S. If you’re ever in town, call me. You look like you could use a hamburger! I’m buyin’!
*****
“But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:4-5
