Only One Way Home

Chapter 5: Mrs. Reynolds - The Neighbor

Mrs. Reynolds had lived next door to Emma for nearly three decades, her presence a constant thread in the intricate fabric of Emma's life. She was an elderly woman with silver hair neatly pulled into a bun and warm, inviting eyes that twinkled with the wisdom of years. Having witnessed Emma's journey— the joys of motherhood, the struggles of her marriage, and the quiet sorrow that followed—Mrs. Reynolds patiently bore witness from a distance, offering a soft smile or a wave while giving Emma the space to navigate her own path.

Their bond had formed through countless shared moments, both hilarious and heart-wrenching. They exchanged tales over cups of afternoon tea, where laughter rang out as loudly as tears fell during harder times. Mrs. Reynolds had brought comfort to Emma during parenting challenges, and Emma had returned the favor through simple kindnesses, like delivering baked goods or keeping an eye on her neighbor's home while she traveled to see family. With the years, their connection deepened, fostering a beautiful intimacy built on understanding and compassion. 

Today, as Mrs. Reynolds entered the hospital room, a wave of familiarity and warmth enveloped Emma. "Well, dear heart," Mrs. Reynolds said softly, her voice a soothing balm against the sterile background of the hospital. "It's good to see you. I've been praying for you every day."

"Thank you," Emma replied, feeling a flicker of joy in her chest amidst her struggles. "It's been a tough time, but I'm getting through it."

"What you're going through has been heavy. Pain often has a way of getting to us, doesn't it?" Mrs. Reynolds settled in the chair beside Emma's bed, her eyes steady on Emma's face, searching for connection. "Can I share something that's been on my heart?"

Emma nodded, intrigued. She had often sought guidance from Mrs. Reynolds, whose faith was unwavering and whose wisdom anchored her during stormy seasons.

"I want to install you with the Gospel, the Gospel of the Grace of God. The very core preaching that saves a lost soul," Mrs. Reynolds began, her voice infused with conviction. "In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul says, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" This is the foundation of our hope."

Here in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Now, we approach the Gospel, the good news for believers today. We know this, because the Apostle Paul himself declares it. He first calls it "the gospel" in verse one, but if that's not enough, he states it's the gospel "by which ye are saved" in verse two. No verse in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John speaks like that. 

All the verses regarding the Gospel in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John refer to the Gospel of the Kingdom. "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand". Remember that? That was good news for Israel, as they were to get ready for their upcoming kingdom that had been forecasted to them since the days of the book of Genesis. That's great news for them. It's great for us to study, but it's not our news. It's their news.

Once the Lord Jesus died on the cross, pays for our sins, is buried and rises from the dead, he reveals what that all means to the Apostle Paul. Now, through means of progressive revelation on God's timeline, this becomes the "updated, latest and greatest" good news. Remember, at one point in time, the "good news" was to build an ark because a giant flood was coming!

As 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 continues, what exactly is the core news that's so great? It's in verses 3 and 4. "how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures".

Once we believe this, without doing anything, and stop making it about ourselves, and all about the work that Jesus did FOR us, and that his work is fully sufficient for all of our sins, (past, present, and even the future ones we're going to be doing next week, next month, next year until our dying day) we now have that confidence and assurance that all the work has been accomplished because it's not about ourselves, our confession, our works, what we think we can do, if our good works outweigh our bad works, and so on.

It's not about our water baptism, our religion, our denominational church attendance, our self-righteousness, and so many things that gets twisted into our eternal salvation. Look at how sincere and well meaning everyone in this story has been trying to bring a bible verse to a terminally ill woman who can do nothing of her own! Literal interpretation and context matters, and millions of people forget this every single sunday as they gloss over the words of their bibles to dismiss God's words for the words of their religious leaders! It's no different than what Israel was doing in their day!

As Emma absorbed Mrs. Reynolds' words, a profound clarity washed over her. The essence of the Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus—began to reshape her understanding of her inner man. Suddenly, she felt a wave of confidence surge within her. It was the stark simplicity of those truths that cut through the complexities and confusions of life; they made sense of her journey, grounding her in a reality that transcended her present pain.

"Mrs. Reynolds," Emma said, her voice steady with newfound conviction. "This makes everything so much easier to understand. Jesus died and rose again, and all I need to do is trust in the historical literal facts that he did all the work on my behalf? It seems almost too simple when I've been wrestling with the burdens and doctrines of my past."

Mrs. Reynolds' smile broadened, reflecting the joy that once was familiar to Emma. "Yes! It is that simple. And yet, it's also profoundly deep. His sacrifice for us is not asking for perfection but faith. Simply belief in what he did for us and that his work is indeed fully sufficient. By default, our work would never be enough to satisfy God, when it comes to salvation."

Tears brimmed in Emma's eyes, but this time they were cathartic. The weight of her uncertainties began to lift, replaced by hope and understanding. "I think I've been focused so much on jumping through hoops of faith rather than stepping into a genuine doctrinal literal understanding. I see that now. Right application and context makes sense."

"Yes, dear one," Mrs. Reynolds affirmed gently. "It's about embracing His grace, not just for ourselves but for others in our lives as well. This journey may still be hard, but you aren't alone, and you have a Savior who loves you."

In that moment, the bond between Mrs. Reynolds and Emma felt fortified. The essence of friendship, rooted in faith, blossomed anew as Emma contemplated the simplicity and beauty of the Gospel—an anchor amid the turbulence of life, inviting her to trust in a love that always prevailed.