The Forbidden Romance

I found this story this morning, it was written in one of my mama’s journals. Mom’s birthday is the 26^th of April, 1932, my son Jonathan was born on the 26^th of April 1985.

     Mom went home to be with the LORD on July 16, 2015. In memory of my mom, I’m writing this story. Mom was an evangelist for many years. She loved Jesus. She started churches, she was a Soul-winner, there’s a word we don’t hear anymore. Many signs and wonders followed her, because she believed what Jesus said, is true!! Think about this, are you walking with the World or with Jesus?

The Forbidden Romance

(The Church walking with the World)

James 4:4 – Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

The Church and the World walked far apart, on the changing shores of time. The World was singing a giddy song, and the Church a hymn sublime.

“Give me your hand” cried the merry World, “And walk with me this way;”

But the good Church hid her snowy hand, and solemnly answered, “Nay.”

I will not give you my hand at all, and I will not walk with you. Your way is the way of endless death; your words are all untrue.”

“Nay, walk with me but a little space,” said the World with a kindly air; “The road I walk is a pleasant road, and the sun shines always there. Your path is thorny and rough and rude, and mine is broad and plain; my road is paved with flowers and gems and yours with tears and pain. The sky above me is always blue, no want, no toil I know; the sky above you is always dark; your lot is a lot of woe. My path, you see is a broad, fair path and my gate is high and wide—There is room enough for you and for me to travel side by side.”

Half shy the Church approached the World gave him her hand in snow; the old World grasped it, and walking along saying, in accent low. “Your dress is too simple to please my taste: I will give you pearls to wear, rich velvet and silks for your graceful form, and diamonds to deck your hair.”

The Church looked down at her plain white robes and then at the dazzling World and blushed as she saw his handsome lip with a smile contemptuous curled.

“I will change my dress for a costlier one,” said the Church with a smile of grace; then her pure garments drifted away, and the World gave, in their place, beautiful satins, and shining silks, and roses and gems and pearls, and over her forehead her bright hair fell crisped in a thousand curls.

“Your house is too plain,” said the proud old World, “I’ll build you one like mine;–

Carpets of Brussels and curtains of lace, and furniture ever so fine.”

So he built her a costly and beautiful house— splendid it was to behold;

His sons and beautiful daughters dwelt there, gleaming in purple and gold; and fairs and shows in halls were held, and the World and his children were there: and laughter and music and feasts were heard, in the place that was meant for prayer.

She had cushioned pews for the rich and great to sit in their pomp and pride. While the poor folks clad in their shabby suits, sat meekly down outside.

The Angel of Mercy flew over the Church and whispered, “I know thy sin.”

The Church looked back with a sigh and longed to gather her children in—

But some were off at the midnight ball, and some were off at the play, and some were drinking in gay saloons; so she quietly went her way.

“Your children mean no harm— merely indulging in innocent sport.” So she leaned on her proffered arm, and smiled and chatted, and gathered flowers, as she walked along with the World; while millions and millions of deathless souls, to the horrible pit were hurled.

“Your preachers are all too old and plain,” said the gay old World with a sneer. “They frighten my children with dreadful tales that they should never hear: they talk of brimstone and fire and pain, and the horrors of endless night; they talk of a place that should not be mentioned to ears polite. I will send you some of the better stamp. Brilliant and gay and fast, who will tell them all to live as they list, and go to heaven at last. The Father is merciful and great and good, tender and true and kind: Do you think He would take one child to Heaven and leave the rest behind?” So he filled her house with gay divines, gifted and great and learned—and the plain old men that preached the cross were out of the pulpit turned.

“You give too much to the poor,” said the World, “far more than you ought to do; if the poor need shelter and food and clothes, why need it trouble you? Go take your money and buy rich robes and cars and yachts so fine and pearls and jewels and dainty food, and the rarest and costliest wine. My children, they dote on all such things and if you their love would win, you must do as they do and walk in the ways that they are walking in.”

The Church held tightly the strings of her purse, and gracefully lowered her head and simpered, “I’ve given too much away; I’ll do Sir, as you’ve said.”

So the poor were turned from her door in scorn, and she heard not the orphan’s cry—

And she drew her beautiful robes aside, as the widows went weeping by. The sons of the World and the sons of the Church, walked closely hand and heart, and only the Master, who knoweth all, could tell the two apart.

Then the Church set down at her ease and said, “I am rich, and in goods increased; I have need of nothing and naught to do, but to laugh and dance and feast.” The sly World heard her, and laughed in his sleeve, and mockingly said aside, “The Church is fallen—the beautiful Church and her shame, is her boast, and pride!”

The Angle drew near to the Mercy seat and whispered in sighs, her name; and the saints their anthems of rapture hushed, and covered their heads in shame. And a voice came down, the hush of heaven, from Him who sat on the throne, “I know thy works, and how thou hast said, ‘I am rich, and hast not known that thou art naked and poor and blind and wretched before my face— therefore from My presence I cast thee out—

And blot thy name from its place!

–Matilda C. Edwards

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 King James Version (KJV)

You’ll know when you’re on the right path. It’s not crowded at all! –Marla Shaw O’Neill