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If Charlton only knew how perilously close his daughter had come to
the precipice-- that very same Friday night as the accident in Twin Yucca! As Adam
saw the car explode and the last hope evaporated of ever getting the young passenger
out, Charlotte, thousands of miles away in North Carolina, was saved from the intentions
of one who would have had his own way with her-- no matter what the cost. The stolen
car Charlotte had been a passenger in that very night, could easily have lost control,
for its driver was under the influence of GHB, a popular drug that had a nickname
hinting of its potential danger-- "Grievous Bodily Harm." This bodily harm
truly would have been as grievous to the passenger of the stolen car as to the passenger
of the burning one! Little had Darren known how soon God would require his punishment.
But, Charlton did not know all this-- he only pictured his daughter trapped in the
passenger seat of a burning car. It was too much for this father to think of.
"You make me so ashamed!" wept Charlton, not caring that he had gained
the attention of everyone in the room. "I blamed God for being unfair. I just
remembered a verse my Sunday school teacher always quoted when I was a boy: 'Shall
not the Judge of all the earth do right?' How can He ever forgive me?" cried
Charlton, sobbing as one who saw a Great Light that was shining into his life, revealing
the hidden things that he had tried to hide from God. Realizing what purpose God
had for his fiery trial, Adam silently gave praise to the Lord, Who desires truth
in the inward parts.
"First John, chapter one, verse nine says, 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'"
quoted Adam, still rejoicing inwardly.
"I'm so sorry!" wept Charlton.
"And from Jesus Christ, Who is the Faithful Witness, and the First Begotten
of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto
God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen!" prayed
Adam, momentarily forgetting that his burns were so painful.
The doctor discharged Adam that same day, informing him that his burns, which were
mostly first degree, would heal in three to five days.
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause
you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Then shall
ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe
yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
~ Ezekiel 36:26, 27, 31 ~
"And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then
can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not
with God: for with God all things are possible."
~ Mark 10:26, 27 ~
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