It was January 16, 1935, and on the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados, a baby was born. His parents gave him a noble Bible name, Timothy. When the child was just a year old, the family moved to the South American country then known as British Guiana. As he matured, this brilliant youth traveled to the neighboring island of Trinidad where he studied at Caribbean Union College. There he met a special Guyanese girl named Thelda. Gradually a bond of affection and love drew their lives together.
Tragedy
Tim's goal was to become a physician, and he soon migrated to the United States of America, studying first at Andrews University, Michigan, then at Loma Linda University in Southern California. But in his second year of medical1 school when his hopes were high, tragedy struck! On that awful night of May 16,1959, a reckless vehicle knocked his car off Highway 10. For the next 48 hours, Tim's life seemed to hang in the balance as he alternated between consciousness and unconsciousness. When his condition was finally stabilized, the seriousness of his condition became evident. His cervical spine was broken at the C5 and C6 vertebrae. He was paralyzed from the neck down. Without the use of arms and legs, he would be quadriplegic for the rest of his life. On his hospital bed, the youth faced serious questions: queries about his life, about his goals, about his future. He grappled with awesome questions for which he had no answers. After two months of hospitalization, he was transferred in to the Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in New York, and to the inestimable inspiration of Dr. Howard A. Rusk. Over the next 10 months of rehabilitation, Tim was taught to operate a motorized wheelchair. He also learned the use of a device which gave him limited movement to his thumb, middle finger and forefinger. With this gadget, he was able to do some writing, and among other things, to handle his own telephone. But although these bits of progress encouraged him, life was full of trauma.
Four Guiding Principles of Relationship
Faith
What enabled this ambitious youth to cope with such a devastating calamity? First was his faith in God. Of course, Tim had some big questons for the Lord: Where was God at the time of the accident? Why did He allow it to happen? Could such a God still be trusted? Experientially, Tim could descend with the psalmist into the valley of despair to cry out, "My tears have been my food day and nign Where is your God?" (Psalm 42:3). Then he could ascend with the poet to the summit of trust and sing, "Why are you down cast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put yOur hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God" (verse 11). Despite his calamity, he could say with Job the patriarch, "But He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" Job 23:10, NKJV).
Can we say that? When we experience tragedy, do we still believe in God? When calamity confronts us, is our faith still strong? When we face questions without ready answers, do we still trust God?
Mind Power
Another source of Tim's strength was his mind power - his faith in himself. While he was paralyzed from the neck down, he was still functional from his neck up. His mind was clear and his brain was alert.
The human mind is the most marvelous piece of God's creation. We are told that if someone were to build a computer to match the human brain, the housing unit would be three times the size of the United States Empire State Building. It would need all the energy of Niagara Falls to power it, while it would take the waters of Niagara to cool it. And it would utilize all the electronic circuitry of all the Tadio and television stations of the world. That's brain power!
There is an amazing verse in the Bible that gives the Lord's assessment of the human mind. As the antedeluvians raised the first skyscraper, God declared, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them" (Genesis 11:6). Nothing impossible"-that's the voice of God describing the brainpower of men and women.
Tim made up his mind. He would still become a medical doctor. If the University would accept him,he would resume his studies and pursue his goal. Despite the limitations of his body, he would use his brain. Thať's mind power!
Some say they cannot climb to the top because they have no money. What if they had no legs? Others say they cannot reach their goals because they have no opportunity. What if they had no hands? The inspired writer declared, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
Not only did Tim have faith in God and faith in himself; he also drew upon the faith of his family. His father, a gospel minister, stood by his side, and his dedicated, Christian mother cradled him the second time. And while faithful family members supported him with presence and prayers, loyal friends gave him inspiration and encouragement.
Action
It is great to have faith, but that is never enough. Faith must move a person to action. Believing he could pick up the pieces, Timothy applied to Loma Linda University to be re- admitted into the medical program. School officials had to face serious questions: Could he cope? Could someone so severely handicapped stand up to the rigors of medical school? After all, even students with all their abilities and extremities sometimes fail because of their inadequacies. Finally, however, the University decided to permit him to continue.
Tim arrived on the campus with his wheelchair, and with the help of some friends started his unique adventure. Not only did he have to battle with the rigors of academia; he had to conquer the physical challenges of moving his chair from classroom to classroom in different parts of the campus. Then, he had to deal with the emotional stress that his handicap presented, and with the social pressures of interacting with people, some of whom were helpful and others not so helpful.
But his faith went to work. He labored, he studied, he struggled, he persevered on and on. Then came June 3, 1963. At the graduation exercises of Loma Linda University, Tim receiveda standing ovation. He was now Timothy Greaves, M.D.!
For the next four years he pursued a specialty in pathology. And today, if you visit the 1,500-bed Medical Center of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, you will meet Dr. Greaves. He is assistant director of Cytology, and associate professor of Pathology. He is the epitome of success.
Loyalty
Meanwhile, Thelda also migrated to the United States of America, and after studying at Andrews University, she completed her professional training at Hinsdale School of Nursing, Ilinois. This beau tiful young lady attracted a number of suitors, but the big question in her mind was, What should she do about Timothy?
Her brain became a battlefield. On one hand, deep down inside, she still loved Tim. On the other hand, she was sure that because of his handicap, she could not marry him. Yet, she felt an obligation to honor the promise she had made to him before the accident. She was convinced that her conscience would not allow her to be happy if she deserted him to marry someone else. So, on and on her mental conflict raged.
In 1969, some 10 years after the accident, this couple met for the first time since the tragedy. It was an encounter charged with conflictine emotions. During the "70s, Thelda did orthopaedic nursing. There she mastered the ability to deal with the handicapped. But more than that, she met patients who had spouses. While some of them were married before their tragedy, she observed that some still enjoyed a marital encounter. This experience opened new windows to her thinking.
Love
Gradually, Thelda's questions turned into answers, and she came to a decision. If Tim proposed to her again, she would marry him. As the currents of love swept over their hearts, Tim gathered enough strength to ask, and Thelda collected ne courage to give an affirmative answer. They were engaged in 1960.
One year later, on June 28, 1981, at Loma Linda, California, amid the echo of the organ, the shrill of the violin, and the strings of the harp, Tim and Thelda exchanged their marriage vows. It was a delightsome garden wedding, and nature jumped for joy. But brighter than the light of candles, flowers were their precious words of promise: "Entreat me of not to leave thee wether thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge thy people hall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:16, KJv).
A decade has come and gone, and their love still lives on. This couple is known for their devotion and is a perpetual inspiration. As Tim told of his love and Thelda spoke of hers, note of her words: "Tim is a special person, and I feel no embarrassment, whatever, in public when he sits in his wheel chair and I stand by his side." Then she added, "I have always been faithful to him, and I ever will be.' What love! What loyalty!
This 20th century love story reminds us of that first century love song: "Love is patient, love is kind... It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:4, 7, 8, 13).
There is another story of two inseparable sweethearts. The man's name is Law, and the woman's name is Grace. Tim and Thelda are different from each other, but they need one another. In love with each other, they are sweethearts forever. So Law and Grace are different from each other, but they need one another. They love each other, and live together as sweethearts forever.
Just as the love affair of Tim and Thelda was guided by four precious principles-faith, action, loyalty, and love-so the love relationship of Law and Grace is inspired by four unshakable principles.
Relationships of Law and Grace
Impotence
First of all, we need to look at Mr. Law. He is described in Exodus 20:3- 17, and is expressed in the Ten Commandments. The first says, "You shall have no other gods before me. The second admonishes, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything." The third is, You shall not misuse the The name of the LORD." The fourth reminds us, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." These outline our duty to God.
The other six state our duty to humanity. The fifth counsels, "Honor your father and your mother." The sixth commands, "You shall not murder." The seventh warns, ""You shall not commit adultery." The eight declares, "You shall not steal." The ninth advises, "You shall not give false testimony," And the tenth is, "You shall not covet."
This law is the law of Jesus. Its sacred principles, which were understood since Eden were codified and declared by Christ, the "I AM," on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20), then endorsed and magnified by Him on the Mount of Blessing (Matthew 5). It is still the best code of conduct, and the finest standard for human behavior today. The apostle Paul affirmed that "the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good" (Romans 7:12).
But good as it is, the law cannot save us from sin. While it is true that "through the law we become conscious of sin," the fact remains that "no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law" (Romans 3:20). "By observing the law, no one will be justified" (Galatians 2:16). This is the first principle in this spiritual love affair: The Law of Jesus cannot save. It is impotent!
If one were to make a fresh start today, sinful human nature would find it impossible to obey God perfectly enough tomorrow to merit salvation. And then, what about yes- terday, and the days and years of past disobedience? Try as one may, a sinner can never earn salvation.
Omnipotence
Since we cannot save ourselves Jesus died to save us. On the cross a Calvary, Christ suffered, bled, and died for every human being who has lived, is living, and will live on planet earth. He experienced the death that was ours, so we might enjoy the eternal lite that is His.
That is the message of the world's favorite verse of Scripture, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16, NKJV). Thať's Grace! And it is omnipotent, for it is capable of saving anyone in any place, at any time. The second principle of this love affair is omnipotence, arnd it declares that the grace of Jesus Christ saves.
This is the very heart of the Gospel. We are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). We are saved "by grace...through faith," and it is a free "gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).
Calvary's grace is omnipotent because it takes care of every past sin, each present mistake, and all future transgressions. Should anyone stand at heaven's gate and be asked to give a reason to be let in, only one answer will suffice: the blood of Jesus!
Consequences
But we must always remember that just as Tim and Thelda are different but inseparable, so Law and Grace are two inseparable sweethearts. Grace never stands alone. The apostle James highlighted this fact when he asked, "What good is it, money brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" (James 2:14). Here is a man who claims to be saved by Grace, but does not produce the works of the Law. James is saying that such a man has a counterfeit grace that does not save.
Then he illustrated his point. What if one who is naked and hungry asks for help, and the other replies, I wish you well," but he fails to "In the same way, faith by itself, if it match his words with deeds of love? 5 not accompanied by action, 1s dead" (James 2:15, 17).
Grace never stands alone (James 2:24). She always has Law beside her! While she possesses omnipotence, Grace has a consequence! When Someone is saved by the Grace of Jesus, he must obey the Law of Jesus. Consequence, the third principle of that whenever there is Grace, there is Law.
Agreement
Agreement The apostle Paul taught this very truth over ent and over again. After declaring, that "man is justified by faith apart from observing the law" in Romans 3:28, he went on to ask in verse 31, "Do e we, then, nullify the law by this faith?" Then he gave the answer,"Not at all. Rather, we uphold the law."
While affirming that we are saved "by grace.. through faith...not by works," in Ephesians 2:8, 9, he emphasized in the very next verse that we are "created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Elsewhere He stated, "For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous" (Romans 2:13).
We need to keep in mind, however, that obedience to the law is not a precedence to, but rather a consequence of salvation by Grace. We obey, not to be saved, but because we are already saved! Such obedience is "the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26, KJv), or "the obedience that comes from faith" (Romans 1:5). And Jesus agreed that this consequent obedience isa vital dynamic of the love affair when He said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15, NKJVv).
Absence
According to the principle of consequence, whenever there is Grace there is Law. The converse is also true: Where there is no Law, there is no Grace! This corollary is the principle of Absence. It is the fourth concept which says: If Law is not present, Grace is absent!
Why is this so? Because the existence of O one is proof of the presence of the other. "I will show you my faith by what I do," apostle James declared. Then he used the devil to illustrate his point. When people said they believed, he pointed out that even "the demons believe" (James 2:18, 19). But these believing devils never obey! And no one wants to be in such bad company!
So Law and Grace are inseparable sweethearts--as inseparable as the body and the spirit in a living person. "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead" (verse 26). Three times in one chapter the inspired writer repeated it: "Faith without works is dead" (verses 17, 20, 26, KJV;. So if we kill Law, we will need to build two caskets, for these two sweethearts are inseparable!
The Hand of Love
Lars Justinen's painting of the scarred hands depicts a little girl standing beside Jesus curiously observing the gaping nailprints. As she gazes tenderly into His face she asks, "What happened to Your hands?" What hands He had! Sturdy hands made tough in the carpenter's shop. Healing hands that touched the sick and raised the dead. Firm hands that raised the scourge and sent the traders scamp- ering from the temple. Miracle hands that multiplied bread and fish to feed the multitude. Bleeding hands with the flesh torn by cruel spikes. Can we, like that little child, gaze at the wounds in His loving hands? Now those very hands are reaay to write. Let us note the inscription. "I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts" (Hebrews 8:10). The amazing truth 1s that whenever a man or woman 1s saved by grace, Christ dips His finger in His own blood, and writes His law upon the fleshy tables of that person's mind. And the inscription is indelible!
No more stealing, for Christ has written on our minds, "You shall not steal." No more adultery, for He has engraved upon our brains, You shall not commit adultery." No more lawful or unlawful drugs, for He has written with His own finger, "You shall not murder." No more sinful pleasure, because the Savior has penned, "You shall have no other gods before me." No more Sabbath-breaking, for Jesus has written with His own hand of love, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy," No more dis- obedience, for He has etched, "Honor your father and your mother." No more cursing and SWearing, for our Savior has in- SCribed upon our minds, "You shall not misuse the name of the LoRD."
Silently, mysteriously, miraculously, we become obedient to the Law of Jesus because we have been saved by the Grace of Jesus!
Inseparable
Tim and Thelda are inseparable sweethearts. Accident could not alienate them, disappointment could not destroy them, paralysis could not prevent them, handicap could not hurt them. From each to the other came the words true and tender, "I love you." Within the family of God, they are sweethearts forever.
Law and Grace are also inseparable sweethearts. No doctrine can divide them, no preacher can part them, no writer can withhold them, no sinner can separate them. From each to the other come the words true and tender, "Tlove you." Within the family of God, they are sweethearts forever and ever.
Let's have a coffee
Hari
Blessings
