Good News for Aunt Grace and You

Many metaphors illustrate conversion from the death union “in Adam” to the life union “in Christ.” 

In the previous post, we employed the evocative picture of new birth. In this post, we will utilize the well-known life event of a wedding.   

The biblical writers use the metaphor of a wedding and marriage. For example, in the Old or Hebrew Testament, Isaiah speaks in these terms:

For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name... (Isaiah 54:5a; see also Isaiah 62:5)

In the New Testament, Paul writes:

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. (2 Corinthians 11:2; see also Ephesians 5:32; Revelation 19:7-8)

Here is a story of a conversation I had with Aunt Grace many years ago.

A conversation

Occasionally, I visited my mother’s aunt, Aunt Grace. She was a kind and gentle lady.

On one occasion, the conversation turned to religious things and what it meant to be right with God.

I asked Aunt Grace the old question: “If you were to die tonight and appear in the presence of God, and God asked you, ‘Grace Walsh, why should I let you into my heaven?’—what would your answer be?”

“Well,” she answered, “I’ve gone to church all my life, and I’ve never done anyone any harm.” She hesitated as she searched for more and finally said, “And I knit socks for the Ladies Auxiliary. Anyway, I’ve always been a Christian!” 

I don’t think she had ever had to answer that question, and she knew that her reasons didn’t ‘cut it.’  

Grace had been a widow for many years and still wore her wedding band, which she unconsciously rubbed as we spoke. So, I asked gently, “Aunt Grace, have you always been married?”

“Well, no. Jack put this on my finger at our wedding.”

I started with, “You met Jack Walsh, and you liked what you saw and heard?"  

“Yes.”  

Were you married at that first meeting?”  

“No, of course not.”

 “So, you got to know Jack more and more and liked what you were learning?”  

“Yes, of course, but I still wasn’t married to him.”

“One day, Jack proposed to you?”  

“Yes.”

“What did you say?”  

“I said ‘yes.’”  

“But you still weren’t married, were you?”  

“No, I wasn’t.” 

After a pause, I added, “Then you appeared in the ‘church,’ and the minister asked Jack, ‘Do you take this woman, Grace Black, to be your wife, etc.?’ What did he say?”  

“He said, ‘I do.’”  

“But you still weren't married, were you?’  

She shook her head as she added, “No.”

“Then the minister asked, ‘Grace Black, do you take this man, Jack Walsh, to be your husband, etc.’ What did you say?”  

“I said, ‘I do.’”  

“And at that point, you were declared husband and wife—you were now husband and wife?”  

“Yes!” 

Although she answered confidently, she still could not figure out why I was walking through something so obvious.

My point

Aunt Grace was familiar with the Gospel or Good News of Jesus Christ—that Jesus came, died upon a cross, his dead body was buried in a tomb, and three days later, he rose from death, full of life. 

Knowing about this person called Jesus and what he has done is not the same as being “in Christ” or being born anew. 

In the same way, Grace Black knowing about Jack Walsh was not the same as being married to him.  She was not in a covenant relationship with him—she was not married to him—even after Jack said, ‘I do.’ Aunt Grace had to respond with ‘I do.’ At that point, she was converted from Miss Grace Black to Mrs. Grace Walsh—she entered a new relationship and a new life.

Knowing about Jesus is a good start, but more is needed.

As Aunt Grace waited, I made my point.

“Aunt Grace, when Jesus died on the cross, God said to every man and woman, ‘I do.’ But his ‘I do’ isn't enough by itself. He has done everything that he can do. What is needed is your response.”

We sat silently as she processed what had been said. She nodded as the light dawned—she understood. 

Summing up

The Good News of Jesus Christ is that God has done everything he needs to do to give you new life. What remains is for you to accept his gift—to say to him, ‘I do.’

Here is a link to a booklet that multitudes (including me) have found of great help: “The Four Spiritual Laws.” Take time to read it carefully and thoughtfully. 

If you haven’t already, say ‘I do’ to God’s wonderful gift of life and cross over from the death union “in Adam” to the life union “in Christ.”  

If you have any questions or comments, please write me using this link.

FORWARD TO the next post in this series

BACK TO From ‘in Adam’ to ‘in Christ’

Photo Credits: A combination of two images by John B. MacDonald © 2024. The background image is “Hand of an Extraordinary Man” by J. Rafael Pintos-Lopez (2007) from his website at http://rafaelpintoslopez.com/eng/. The transparent image in the foreground is by Joss Barratt/Carnival Films Copyright: © Carnival Film & Television Limited from https://artnouveaubride.wordpress.com/category/vintage-brides/ (access October 15, 2024).