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Letter from Earnest – June 2018

I hope that you are all doing well. I wanted to share a letter with you concerning a former client from the residential program. He is an incarcerated teenager who is still looking for answers. Please pray for him.

Dear Earnest,

I have had some bumps in the road but I am doing better. I have recently started incorporating a lot of Buddhist beliefs into my life. I read a quote by Gandhi that say, “God has no religion.” I read that and thought about it, every religion is similar. I do not know if I consider myself Buddhist or not, but I still know that I am loved.

I have finally gotten a mature mental mentality and am doing really well with staying on track. I got a bunch of privileges before I got into trouble the last time. I am starting to get things back. I have been doing really well in school. I am getting really close to graduating. I only need a few more credits.

My reply to his letter:

Thank you for your recent letter, Friend. I am always thrilled to hear from you. I do not want you to be put off by me when I express my concern pertaining to your last letter. You are a brilliant young man and you have always been curious about many things. You have tried many things to discover that they are painful and not constructive. Such would be the case concerning pursuing foreign gods. I know that this is a blunt statement. However, I trust by now that I have enough clout with you that you will at least allow me to express my affection and concern.

Look to Jesus, son. There are many options out there concerning religion and faith, but so far only one satisfies and that is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He himself has been clear with us about what it takes to be saved. Acts 4:12 (KJV) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

He is not just referring to pie in the sky and the sweet by and by, but He is making reference to salvation today in your personal life which will give you the strength to stand against the temptation of the devil. You may be disappointed with God or even angry with Him because He has not responded according to your wishes. But be sure, if opening the gates of that jail and letting you walk free would lead directly to Him, every wall would come down to release you from you incarceration.

But perhaps you are still incarcerated because God wants to show you that long before you were imprisoned physically, you were in bondage emotionally, sexually, and socially. Your only hope for deliverance from this prison is Jesus. You cannot make a deal with Him, you can only submit to Him. If you do that, no matter where you are, you will be free.

I love you friend,

Mr. Earnest

 

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