The Hope of the Believer . . .

A LOVE STORY

Cecil Hook

When Rodney started to school, Ashley was in his class. He had seen her before but he was not interested in girls. He loved the rough and tumble companionship of the neighborhood boys, especially of Keith and Roger. They ran and wrestled and played, testing their skills against each other. Besides, even though Ashley lived only three streets over, hers was a better neighborhood which looked forbidding to Rodney. Even her name sounded too sophisticated for him.

After years of ignoring Ashley, even though they were in the same class, he began to change his interests. Keith and Roger no longer looked as good to him as Ashley and other girls did. But timidity would not allow him to show her any attention. As they grew older Ashley grew more beautiful, personable, and poised. Even though Rodney thought she was the most charming person in the world, he felt that she was out of his class and unattainable for a date or for a friend.

Then Rodney began to see that Ashley was noticing him, smiling when he looked at her, and even approaching him for pleasant conversation. Realizing this, he finally gained the courage to ask her for a date. The love story progressed from there. He felt her deep love for him in spite of his bumbling efforts to please her and to copy her refinements.

She gave him the most thrilling assurance that a young man could ever hear. "Rodney," she whispered, "I love you without any reservations. You could never do anything that would stop me from loving you. You might do things to hurt me deeply, but I will always love you. I want to share the rest of my life with you." And she did. Such love caused Rodney to become the most loving and dedicated husband any woman could dream of having. Their lives were bound together by a most secure love that surmounted all problems and gave them peace in all times of difficulty.

From my earliest interest in religion, I was attracted by the rough and tumble doctrinal discussions which tested our knowledge of the Bible and our skills in argument. Through knowledge and skill, we thought we were able to prove ourselves worthy and to work our way through salvation.

In reading the Bible as a teenager, I read such passages as "Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin" (Rom. 4:8). But Paul was quoting David there, and David must have been exaggerating for emphasis, a sort of poetic license. That could not be for me. It was out of my class. Just ignore it. Go on in the tried and true law-keeping and achievement route. Those passages about imputed righteousness were several streets over in the forbidden neighborhood of the denominations.

With the passing of years and my gradual development in understanding, those passages began to hold more charm. In fact, they were alluring! But Paul just could not be saying that I could be the person against whom God would not impute sin!

In time I began to hear God saying, "I love you with an unconditional love. I will love you even if you don't love me. I love you so much that, if you will commit yourself to me in faith, I will no longer take notice of your sins." Unbelievable! He said that to me! How could I but commit myself to him in lifelong devotion?

Now it is a wonderfully peaceful relationship that we have - the peace that passes understanding. My life of works falls short and is ineffective. I stumble and bumble. I sin. But he does not hold it against me.

What a love story! What a happy ending - and continuation! — 1350 Huisache, New Braunfels, Tx.  78130