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Instant Message
To Believe or Not To Believe
by Clare Cartagena (Clare's bio)
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“…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15b
When Tracy opened the E-mail she knew right away what it was. Everyone in the group was copied. ”Okay,” She thought. “I'll make a wish but how am I going to find ten people to forward it to?” She only had an hour to think of ten people because as the letter said, if she did not do it within that time the opposite of her wish would come true instead. Of course it was all just game but just in case Tracy was going to make sure she made the time limit.
An hour later the phone rang. On the line was Ming. She was crying.
“What's wrong?” Tracy asked.
“I could not think of ten people for that E-mail and now the opposite of my wish will come true.”
“What did you wish for?”
“I wished my parents would stop fighting and they would stay together. Now look what I've done! I can hear them fighting even worse,” Ming cried.
“Ming that was just a dumb E-mail. It could not make anything happen.”
“You don't think so?”
“No.”
“Did you make a wish? Did you send the letter to ten more people?”
“Well, yes but…”
It was just an E-mail, a harmless game but yet Tracy felt she should respond to it “just in case” and Ming believed she doomed her parent's marriage. How did that simple E-mail get so much power?
Tracy had a choice when she opened the message. Believe it or don't believe it. There was no in between. If she did not believe it she would not follow its instructions. Tracy believed the message. Ming believed the message. Both girls trusted what it said to be true. The proof that Tracy and Ming believed the E-mail is in what they did and what it did to their lives.
There is another big choice out there facing every breathing human on the planet. Believe God or don't believe God. God said He sent His Son as payment for our sins. Trust in Jesus and receive both forgiveness and eternal life. The proof that you believe God is in what you do and what the gospel message does to your life.
Take a look at the evidence inside you. Where are those places you are making a choice and you didn't know it? Consequences come either way. Tracy and Ming could not deny that. From where did the power in that E-mail come? It came by choice.
Also read: Luke 12:34 ; Psalm 20:7 ; Proverbs 3:5
Copyright 2003, Clare Cartagena. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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About Clare Cartagena: Clare Cartagena is an award winning published author of devotionals and short stories. Her life is full with her husband of fourteen years, two preteen children, and a career as a chemist. The Lord has captured her heart and drawn her into youth ministry at her church, Church for the Valley, Assembly of God. She considers it a privilege to lovingly support God's most exciting generation of youth ever that not one should perish or miss the awesome love of their Creator. E-mail Clare at ccarta1058@aol.com |
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