I was born in 1930, and grew up from about six years of age in a small country
church in southern Manitoba, where everyone knew everyone else, and the adults
made sure they greeted practically everyone else who was present, even the
children.-- and all were called by name. The minister too shook hands and
greeted each child, as well as each adult as we exited the only door out front.
We children were taught to be respectful in shaking hands. We had sat up and
listened to the sermon and joined in the Lord's prayer. The minister of this
church for six years was enthusiastic about Wycliffe Bible Translation work. Two
of his sons and his daughter became Wycliffe Bible Translators.
I lived at home until I had completed Grades 10; and for grade 11, my middle
brother and I drove horses more than five miles to school even in winter. The
sleigh box upset off its runners only once, spilling us out over the side of a
snow-drift. Thankfully we were not injured.
For Grade 12, I boarded with an aunt in a larger town. Then I immediately took a
Six Weeks Teacher Training Summer School that qualified me for teaching in a
small one-roomed country school for one year. Saving the salary money of $100
per month, I was able to take the one-year Teacher Training Course for
elementary teachers (usual in those days). It qualified me to continue teaching
for a couple of years. Then, as the requirements kept being advanced, as the
supply of teachers kept building up following the Second World War teacher
shortages, higher learning was demanded for teachers. I kept taking summer
School and evening University Courses until I took a year off from teaching to
complete the Bed (Bachelor of Education) degree--except for one course that I
did immediately afterwards as an evening course.
Most importantly, great change had taken place in my life during the first of my
years of teaching.
In a hand-written letter, dated November 29, 1950, I had received from wife of
the new minister in the country church where I had grown up, was an outline of
the way of salvation, in steps: She wrote in the center of her letter that I
still have:
* ****
First of all we must acknowledge that ALL (even you and I) have sinned -- Romans
3:23.
Having realized we have sinned we must repent -- Acts 3:19
We must confess our sins to Jesus and ask him to forgive them. Isaiah 53:6; I
Timothy 2:5.
Then we must believe that Christ hears and answers us. John 3:16; Acts 16:31.
After we have accepted Christ into our heart, we can forever claim the promise
in John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name."
It is really a great deal more simple than most people seem to think. It is just
a matter of accepting the gift God has provided for us.
* ****
I knelt in prayer by my bedside in my farm boarding house room when I finished
reading that letter.
I did not have peace for some months afterwards. I wanted to do something (or
give up something) to complete my salvation--of course it was Satan's idea to
disturb and side-track me. For months, I tried hard. I did this. I did that. I
even tried spelling my name differently-- sort of a sacrifice of giving my ALL.
But I did that just once--I realized that was not to be continued. (Yet Jesus
can turn even our worst efforts to his glory and our benefit.)
Then one evening in very hot weather, some of our family drove to the city of
Portage la Prairie where we picnicked with my brother a year and a half older
than myself, who was working as a summer student minister between years of
studying for his Arts degree in preparation for entering ministerial training.
In Portage la Prairie, my brother had met an elderly minister who was having
mentorship influence on himself and he wanted us to experience this man's
preaching.
That evening, after we walked through a large very warm sanctuary (with a great
half-circle of glowing brown varnished pews), we entered a small back room that
was many degrees cooler and had about four chairs in each of about seven or
eight rows against a wall. (I have no idea of the denomination of the church.)
There, the elderly, small, very sincere man preached calmly, interestingly, and
wholly biblically. I have no memory of what he said, but I came out of that
service quieted within, and appreciatively satisfied. I had been assured that I
never needed to (and never could) add one iota to the finished work of Jesus
Christ for my salvation. Jesus had done all that could ever be required. We
human beings could accept what he has done by faith, and only faith. Faith in
him -- plus nothing.
I rested in Jesus.
I'm glad there was no call to come forward that evening, or to have counseling.
That sermon was all I needed. I just was full afterwards with satisfaction and
peace, and I spoke quietly of it as I went from that place with holy assurance.
Maybe it is because of this great experience, and its aftermath, that I love to
write gospel devotions of grace and assurance. I want to let the person reading
quietly absorb the work of Jesus Christ and come to peace and assurance--to rest
in Jesus' love in his having done all that is necessary. And I try not trouble
the reader with specifics of having to DO. The doing will result from the
presence of the Holy Spirit who has entered as a still, small voice -- but all
encompassing. And the Bible is there as a guidebook.
I spent years teaching school and doing inner-city mission work. The last two
years of the past century I was in Peru, South America teaching children of
Wycliffe Bible Translator's personnel.
I love writing devotionals for publication, and enjoy reading books like those
written by Philip Yancey or Lee Strobel. And I treasure Heaven in for Real by
Todd Burpo and enjoy the work of supporting Wycliffe Bible Translators and
leading Wycliffe Report and Prayer evening meetings held monthly at most.
Amen.
Isabel Allison
Roland, Manitoba, Canada
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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