By Sharon Eastman
How God Provides Protection when We Are Foolish
Horror struck me when I realized I was trapped in
the rusty old car fleeing down the Hollywood Freeway. I started screaming as
the man blocked me in this clunker’s seat, his right side obstructing the
passenger’s door. His partner drove frantically securing the driver’s side. I
was pathetically locked in this car not knowing where I was or who I was with.
I prayed desperately knowing how God provides protection even when we are
foolish.
It was the 1970s, the hippy era, and I had forsaken
all my home grown Christian dogma and values. My friends and I looked to the
popular Eastern religions and astronomy for spiritual direction. We all wore
bell bottoms and poet tops, attended protest rallies, but, fortunately,
refrained from illicit drug use. All we needed was love but not the agape kind
God gives. We wanted thrills and excitement at any cost. We thought we were
invincible.
I landed in this predicament by my own folly. Frank,
my cousin, and I were walking down the Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip and began to
hitch hike. A banged up old car stopped, and we naively entered it. The two
men, who picked us up, had dark complexions and spoke in Spanish. When we asked
to be freed, they released Frank but pushed me back into the car. My heart
sank, and then my adrenaline glands began to work. My heart sky rocketed, and I
thought, I knew that I was going to die.
“Senorita,” they asked as we zoomed down the road.
“What’s your name?”
“Maria,” I lied in hysteria.
“Where’s the drugs?” they asked in broken English.
“I don’t know.”
“Liar!!!” and the passenger slapped me across the
face.
I winced. Although I had asked Jesus into my life as
a child, I asked fervently again. I knew the living God was the only one who
could save me from this ordeal. I tried to remember a childhood inspirational
Bible verse, but the only one I could remember was John 3:16. “Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus,” I screamed in my head and hummed “Jesus Loves Me” to calm my terrified
soul.
My kidnappers came to a sudden halt in a dark and
dreary neighborhood. They settled down feeling secure in their surroundings.
Then, the passenger placed on black leather gloves and sneered at me.
At that frightful moment, the Holy Spirit (and my
Superman glands) gave me the strength to push the driver forward and unlock his
door. I escaped and ran screaming down the street to the safety of a busy
pharmacy.
I called home, and Frank picked me up. “Halleluiah!”
Frank exclaimed. “You’re safe!”
“Safe but shaken. Praise the Lord, who rescued and
protected me!”
“We were so stupid. We’ll never hitch hike again.”
“Right on!” I said with relief and joy.
I really learned my lesson the hard way. God will
provide protection even though we are foolish. The best thing is to never tempt
God by Satan or stupidity.
How God provides protection is demonstrated in the
scriptures. Jesus was sorely tempted by Satan to jump from the pinnacle of the
temple. Jesus knew angels would and could save him. But, Jesus answered unto
him . . .”It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Luke 4:12 KJV.
God will provide protection, but we must be sensible, too.
After my frightening hitch hiking experience, both,
Frank and I, forsook the hippy crowd, returned to church, and are living our
lives for the Lord. I cherish every moment of my life. I know I almost lost it,
but God protected me. I appreciate all things – the dawn, the singing birds, and
the twilight sunset. My favorite inspirational words are by Robert Louis
Stevenson. “The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should be
as happy as kings.” And, Jesus alone holds the key to life and happiness.
No comments:
Post a Comment