Have you ever found yourself stuck? Not in the mud, although that’s pretty miserable too. I’m talking about stuck in a wrong mindset, one that keeps you from seeing the wonder of God working even in difficult times. I was there, and don’t want to go back. But this morning God broke through the circumstances to remind me that He is above circumstances. I have hope because I have Jesus, and because of that I have something of tremendous value to share! I’m still in the usual “place”, but somehow things are “new”.

Speaking of that…

In Chapter 18 of The Bridge from OneDayBow,  Tim is about to “wake up” to a new reality in a strangely familiar place. (If you don’t know what happened before, be sure to read the book and earlier entries in “The Story Behind the Story” at onedaybow.com.) Let’s pick up at the beginning of page 78 of the book:

Tim had been dozing soundly, but suddenly he woke –

Had he just been dreaming or did someone yell out, “Broke!”

Tim jumped up in amazement, trying to figure how

He could be beside the Bridge he took to OneDayBow.

“They’re broken! Hey, I told you twice not to put them there!”

Another voice was closer, but Tim could not see where –

Or who it was that yelled out… Tim was really confused.

Whoever was there shouting seemed extremely amused.

Just when things were looking strange, Tim, sees a girl with a familiar face, but at a place that didn’t seem to fit with the last time he saw her. That’s right – it was at the Fair! Oh, no… Tim hadn’t made a good impression on Makenna Linn that day. The fact she was there, at the Bridge, left him kind of speechless. For a while that is. But instead of her being mad at him, she seemed to be looking out for him! Here’s what happened next:

Tim slowly started brushing the dirt off of his shirt

As a girl walked up to him and said, “Tim, are you hurt?”

“I’m not sure… I don’t think so,” Tim muttered quietly.

“They’ve stolen all your bobbles!” she shouted. “Don’t you see?”

Hmm… this is getting increasingly confusing for Tim who moments before was caught up in considering the Final Place, where he would one day live forever with the King. Tim may have wondered, “Is this real now? Was it real then?” Inside of Tim, everything had changed, and he knew it was very real. and yet the place his eyes focused on was very familiar – and also very real! But Tim can explain it better than I:

Tim’s mind reeled with questions about what had occurred.

But on the ground, near the Bridge, Tim spotted the King’s Word!

The Book the King had given in OneDayBow to Tim,

Was proof he wasn’t dreaming – because it came from Him.

There Tim was, in the place he was before entering the Kingdom of OneDayBow, with clear cognizance of all that was real and true in that Kingdom he now belonged to! Not only that but he was wearing the belt of truth, the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, and the peace shoes. And the Book was right there with him, and the shield of faith! Amazing!!!

I think you Christian readers are tracking with me, but the not-yet-believers may be thinking that the train left the yard without them. When a person comes to genuine faith in Jesus Christ they become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), but the place of residence doesn’t immediately change. But there is a reason for that: we Christians have good news to share about how others can meet Jesus and enter His Kingdom – even while living on the earth. Fully equipped, fully empowered to live for our great God! Amazing! Do I sound a little fanatical? Well, you ain’t heard nothing yet! Wait till you hear what Tim has to say next time. He may be in the usual place, but inside he is new and he’s just gotta tell somebody!