BACK TO THE FUTURE

by Charles Robey
(Trussville AL)

"When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)

Do you remember the movie "Back To The Future?" Marty McFly, a typical American teenager of the Eighties is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a plutonium-powered DeLorean "time machine" invented by the slightly mad scientist, Doc Brown.

During his often hysterical, always amazing trip back in time, Marty must make certain his teenage parents-to-be meet and fall in love - so he can get back to the future. After a number of struggles, with the 50's physiology, Doc Brown is finally able to send Marty back from 1955 to 1985, and all's well.

So, what about us, as saved believers? Obliviously, we can't go back in time. However, our heavenly Father certainly looks after His children. Not only does His grace save us from our sins, but His grace also keeps us, according to His perfect will.

"For I know the plans I have for you,? declares the Lord, ?plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29: 11- 13)

From a secular point of view, it's a wonder how so many of us ever grew up, apart from God's love. Do you have vivid memories of the past? What experiences would you like to relive?

And conversely, what experienced would best be erased from the "ole subconscious"? As for me, I would just pray this simple prayer, in my dreams, "Dear Lord, let me be a child again, just for today.

Just to turn back the clock to those happy years of yesterday. A time of the simple way of life. A life chock-full of the joy and happiness. A time when Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny were as real as the night?s happy dream world.

So, Dear Lord:

Let me run behind that old ice wagon just to get a taste of those ice chips left on the wagon bed, and let me mysteriously set Grand-Maw's porch ice registry dial to 25 lbs, rather than the 100 lbs that she had requested.

Let me hide in the school cloak room to keep from getting those dreaded Grammar School shots. And please do not let the teacher find me as she originally did. Even though the shots hurt, I just could not cry in front of all my school mates.

Let me hide my newly acquired black horn rim glass in my school desk so as not to have my school mates call me "Four Eyes", even though I had to guess what was on the blackboard.

Let me know the joy of making that first basketball goal in front of my new found puppy love. I just knew I was going straight to the pros.

Let me wake up on Christmas morning to find those Roy Roger Six Shooters and chrome spurs under the tree. Boy, I could handle any of those bad-land guys who came my way as I ran up and down the sidewalk on my trusted broomstick horse.

Let me ride my first 'Western Flyer" bike without the training wheels. Putting those clothes pins on the spokes really did make for a good motor. I was off to the races in a big way.

Let me experience the adventure again of strapping that old bucket on my scooter and pretending it was a motor. It was really hard as I attempted to maneuver up that big hill, but it sure was a thrill coasting back down the same path.

Let me know the thrill of sitting by the radio and hearing those old "Super Heroes", such as The Lone Ranger, The Shadow, and Super Man capture the bad guys and solve all that crime. And, oh yes, let me experience the excitement of sending off those cereal box tops and receiving my decoder rings.

Let me have the patience to turn on the TV and wait for the test pattern to go away so that I may see my favorite cowboy show. Then, let me experience the thrill of watching the flag waving as the National Anthem played the nightly sign off.

Let me again set my fortress up in that old empty cement coal bend. I was the king on the throne with my neighborhood knights of the round table. And, oh yes, no girls were allowed.

Let me play my old 45 RPM records on my old phonograph again. You know the one, the player that would start playing when you closed the lid.

Let me again learn to drive by driving Dad?s old 1947 Chevy around in the backyard. If possible, please put power steering and power brakes on the car this time around. And it wouldn't hurt to also have air conditioning.

Let me go downtown and stand in front of the big store window just to get a glimpse of the new big screen 17" TV.

Let me visit the New Car Dealerships, and see the new models as they were placed on the showroom floor; the cars that had been hidden under the transportation truck canvass covers.

Let me see Dad put that new floor furnace in the middle hallway and help me not to get burned on the floor grate. What an improvement over going to bed fully dressed to keep warm.

Let me stay warm while I walk those four miles to school, not realizing the true distance since all my friends would join in as we walked. Then what an accomplishment when I graduated from walking to the bike. The only problem was finding an empty slot in the school bike rack when I was late.

And most importantly, bring me back to that old fashioned crude church altar. The one stained with tears where I first knelt to meet the "Living God as the choir sang;
All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

Now, gently pinch me Dear Lord so that I may wake to Your gentle eternal Grace.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

What about you? Have you ever, by faith, accepted God's grace and thanked Jesus Christ for taking care of your sin debt on Calvary's cross? You know, you will never be good enough on your own. You can never earn your way. And, you cannot rely on your parents, your pastor or friends.

You must simply ask Jesus to come into your heart and save you. If, you have done this, please obtain a Bible and start reading, with the book of John. And, be sure to start attending a good Bible believing church.

Ephesians 2:8-9(NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith?and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God? 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

God Bless You