Faith

---

The Orphan
©
By

Stephen A. Peterson


Melissa, 8 years old, orphaned by the death of her parents in a car accident, was living with her maternal grandmother when their house caught on fire. Her grandmother, in an attempt to rescue her granddaughter, died in the fire. Melissa’s cries for help were answered by a man who somehow managed to get in the house through the backdoor.

Seven months after the accident and an unsuccessful nationwide search for a relative, a hearing was held by juvenile court to determine who would take custody of Melissa. A medical doctor, a wealthy business person from the local community and an engineer all gave their reasons they felt they should be chosen to give Melissa a home and family. As arguments were made for her custody, Melissa sat quietly with her eyes fixed on the courtroom floor seemingly in tearful contemplation.

Then a strange man walked to the front of the courtroom. When he arrived at the table where a lawyer sat, he removed his hands from his pockets revealing severe burns and damage to them. As the persons present gasped, Melissa shouted with joy in recognition of this strange looking man. For Melissa, this was the man that saved her from certain death. His hands were burned and damaged breaking through the door and a burning building to save Melissa’s life. Melissa jumped up from her seat, ran to the man, threw her hands around his neck and seemed to hold on for dear life.

The other petitioners upon seeing her rescuer left her alone with him. Those burnt, injured hands settled the issue of the case of Melissa.

And so it is between humankind and Jesus Christ. His crucified, pierced hands reminds all humankind what He did on His Cross to rescue us from certain death and the greatest gift ever given humanity—His Life for our sins to reconcile us to Himself and the Father!

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE