Saved from a Vain Picture, Marilyn Pope

Working as a young nurse in a large city hospital, I didn't realize that I needed a savior. I thought that I was helping to save the lives of others. I never considered myself as one who was seeking or searching. I was content, thinking that I had all I needed, or could provide for myself what I wanted. I had a decent profession that I enjoyed. I had a nice apartment to live in, but was always looking for something to put in it to make it a little nicer. I had a fancy car to drive, but was always looking for a newer, sleeker one. Cars got old quickly. Vacation trips were exotic, visiting places I had never seen. But as each vacation ended, I would already be planning where I wanted to travel next. I thought all I needed to make my picture perfect was a young man who could sweep me off my feet, capture my heart and allow me to pour out my whole being to him. But even when that person appeared, my life for the first time was filled with higher highs and deeper lows than I knew how to handle. Something inside was not perfect.

Then that person who had become so much to me experienced something quite unexpected that didn't fit into my picture. He found Jesus Christ with a group of people who knew how to enjoy this One in an unreserved way. When He brought me to meet them, my first reaction was, “This is not for me. I don't need this kind of life!” But actually, even though I wouldn't admit it, this was exactly the life I needed.

I came away thinking that I couldn't live their lifestyle, but something was bothering me. I had to admit that I saw in their faces a satisfaction and happiness that I didn't have. I saw something in their eyes that I could only describe as being love. I knew I was missing what they all had.

During the next year the Lord gently softened and opened my heart. He even arranged for one of the believers from the local church to be a patient on the floor where I worked at the hospital. The Lord showed me through him and his family how normal it was to be a Christian and to live a Christian life. Looking back now, I realize how delicately and skillfully the Lord Jesus worked in my life to prepare me for Himself.

Eventually I realized I needed to put myself with those people. One evening while with them, I began to experience such a joy and freedom that I had never known in my 24 years of life. I was released from all bondage and able to enjoy the living person of Jesus Christ. My human spirit was now filled and overflowing!

Now, 27 years later, my testimony is that through these years of meeting with the local church, along with 26 years of marriage and raising five children, my life has been so full and complete. I can only say that this is the result of finding the living person of Jesus Christ and His people who love Him and have chosen to follow Him. Each day the lord has been so real and available to me. Never has there been a regret, but rather a worship and praise for His mercy to find me and place me in the place of His choosing for me.