By Pat Couchman

“You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from the Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:14-15)

From the time I was a little girl even to this present day I have been blessed with friends. Of course along some have come and gone, but then there are others who have been there through the good the bad and the ugly. These are faithful friends. I am sure you have them too; they are gifts in our life on this earth, gifts to be treasured.

With all of these friends you would think I would not lack for anything. Someone has always been there to encourage or to help in a situation, but I learned that there was something that I needed that no one could do except the most faithful friend of all, Jesus Christ.

I went through a very difficult time in my life, a dark time, a time of depression and loneliness that overtook me. As much as my friends wanted to help they could not get inside of me and change my heart. For you see it was my heart that needed to be healed, it was broken in pieces and the ways things looked I thought for sure no one could put me back together again. I was wrong there was someone.  His name is Jesus, the Son of God who gave His life for me. The One who paid the price that I might be free. I thought I knew Him, but during this depression, with all the hurt, anger, jealousy and resentment in my heart it was hard to believe that He loved me.

Then one night I had a dream. In my dream I saw myself being kidnapped by someone in dark clothes. There was a ransom note; a very high ransom was placed upon my life. I saw all of my friends lined up ready to pay the ransom, but the couldn’t. The price was too high. This someone in dark clothes began to laugh at me and said; “now you must go with me,” and he went to take me away. As soon as he began to grab my hand another person appeared. He was dressed in white and came walking toward us. He took my hand and said, “Follow Me.” I looked at Him and then I turned around. I saw the ransom note was signed and the person in the dark clothes was gone. I looked at this person who had me now and said, “but how did you do that, my friends couldn’t do it,” He looked at me and said, “I paid the price.” We then walked off into the distance with me standing in awe of the One who paid what no one else could pay for my life.

When I woke up I was in awe. I realized who all the people were in my dreams. Of course the one in dark clothing was the enemy of our souls, the one in pure white was Jesus Christ. He was letting me know He paid the price that no man could pay for my life, and not just my life here on this earth but my eternal life. The Bible says in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” I had read these words, I had even believed these words, but when the Lord gave me that dream that night I understood these words.

With all the friends He has blessed me with I know that He is the One who is with me always. He is here through the hard times, through lonely nights, through the good times. He is here to lift me up and to fill me up with His perfect love. I decided with all of my heart to follow Jesus that day. I have learned that following Him can be an awesome experience, as you never know where He will take you next.  But one thing He promises is to be with you through it all. He also promises to be your friend, to share with you the things of the Kingdom of God as we walk in His commandments. He is truly the Faithful Friend who will never leave and who will put the pieces of your heart back together that you may stand whole in Him every day.

I hope you know this everlasting Faithful Friend. If you don’t I pray that today you will call on His name and open your heart to receive all of His forgiveness and love. He is waiting for you. He is waiting to call you “Friend.”
 

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