To Walk By Faith, Not By Sight Ch.2

The last part of To Walk By Faith, Not By Sight. Enjoy!! <333

Oh, and btw, happy May!!!!!

Chapter Two 

The next morning it was a week before Christmas Eve. Melissa continued to turn the Bible’s words over and over in her head. She walked over to the church near her neighborhood and spoke to the pastor. Pretty soon, Melissa and Pastor Jeff met every Friday every week to discuss the Bible. 

“Trusting in Jesus Christ,” Pastor Jeff told her on Christmas Eve, “is having faith in Him. He is our savior, and to be saved, we have faith in Him and are saved for eternity. Read this.” He handed her the Bible and pointed to John 3:16. 

“For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting. ... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Melissa shook her head. “Wow.” 

Pastor Jeff took the Word and leafed through the pages. “Melissa, you’ve grown a lot in your faith. Have you been talking to God every night?” 

“Yes, I have.” Melissa smiled. “I pray. I simply tell Him everything on my heart. Slowly, I’ve realized I pray for nearly an hour, and by then I don’t want to stop. I - I -” She paused, nervous. 

“What is it, Melissa?” 

She fidgeted. “I . . .” 

“Do you want to become a Christian?” 

Melissa nodded. She managed a shy smile. 

Pastor Jeff beamed. “That’s WONDERFUL!!” he boomed. He hugged her tight. 

Melissa laughed. 

“I want to - I want to . . . oh, what was that verse?” She opened her Bible. “Ah, ha! Here it is. ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight,’ 2 Corinthians 5:7.” She tapped the page. “Oh, Pastor Jeff, I want to walk by faith, not by sight!” She felt a shoot of excitement tingle into her finger tips. “I want to have eternity with our Lord.” 

With tears in his eyes, Pastor Jeff led Melissa in a prayer giving her heart to Jesus. After he said “Amen,” Melissa opened her eyes and stared at her counselor. 

“I - I feel radiant!” She giggled. She rose. She leaped. She spun. She glowed. 

Later that day, Melissa presented the Bible to Leonard and her whole family. She told them about how Christmas was Jesus’ birthday. How he wanted to save them all. She told read them John 3:16 and Psalm 23, 91, 116, 117,  and Psalm 118:2 and Psalm 118:14.  Then she read them 2 Corinthians 5:7. 

“I’m a Christian now,” she explained. “God is my everything. And I want God and His Son to be your everything, too.” 

The Millers sat in silence, stunned at their daughter’s brilliant speech. Soon, Mark, the college boy, stepped forth. 

“My girlfriend is a Christian,” he said. “She’s been telling me a ton about God and Jesus. I’ve been reading the Gospels.” He paused. “Who is that pastor you’ve been studying with?” 

“Jeff Howard.” 

“May I come, too?” 

“Of course! I don’t think Pastor Jeff will mind.” 

Mark beamed and sat down beside her. He took her hand and squeezed. “I’m proud of you, sis.” 

Melissa grinned. She turned to her mom, dad, and siblings. “What about you guys?” 

Leonard nodded. “I’ll start studies, too. With you and Mark.” 

Lily’s shoulders rose up and down. “I don’t know, but I think it sounds wonderful, having hope. I’m not so scared of dying now - when I do.” She added quickly, “And that’ll be when I’m 100!” 

The family laughed. 

Crystal didn’t look so sure. “I don’t know. I’ll muse on it.” 

Melissa flashed her a quick smile, trying to make sure she didn’t see her worry. Oh, dear

Jesus, please help Crystal find the way to walk by faith, and not by sight. 

Mom and Dad agreed to studies, but didn’t promise anything. Christmas passed with a lighter heart, and Mark and Melissa both sang Christmas songs, and this time they meant it.  

A year later on December 25, the whole Miller family dined with the Howard family. That Christmas night, a very happy “Away in the Manger” chorused. Every Sabbath, the families went to church together and listened to Pastor Jeff’s sermons. 

And all because Melissa purchased the “wrong” Book that became the perfect Book for her family. And she learned to walk by faith and not by sight.

~Izzy~

To see the first part of this story, go HERE