i Went Looking for Lincoln and Found a New Life in Jesus Christ
Do you believe that you have an influence in the lives of those you come in contact with? Do you believe that living out your faith everyday can change lives?
Growing up, I was always at church and engaged in many activates and programs where my Father was a pastor. I enjoyed being the “Pastor’s Kid” and knew a lot of the answers in Sunday school, and the Bible was read daily in our home. Both my Father and Mother were excellent examples of what true Christians looked like; but unfortunately it took many years for me to start watching and learning from them. At a young age I had prayed the sinner’s prayer, but I continued to live in sin. All through my young adulthood I continued to believe that I was okay—although deep down I knew something was wrong. I had no peace and would get angry frequently; I was also very insecure and depressed. It was as if sin was weighing me down, and I was sinking deeper and deeper in its grasp. But after all, I had prayed the prayer—many times— so, why did I feel the way I did?
Growing up, I was always at church and engaged in many activates and programs where my Father was a pastor. I enjoyed being the “Pastor’s Kid” and knew a lot of the answers in Sunday school, and the Bible was read daily in our home. Both my Father and Mother were excellent examples of what true Christians looked like; but unfortunately it took many years for me to start watching and learning from them. At a young age I had prayed the sinner’s prayer, but I continued to live in sin. All through my young adulthood I continued to believe that I was okay—although deep down I knew something was wrong. I had no peace and would get angry frequently; I was also very insecure and depressed. It was as if sin was weighing me down, and I was sinking deeper and deeper in its grasp. But after all, I had prayed the prayer—many times— so, why did I feel the way I did?
As a young adult, I tried my hand at drawing multiple times, but gave it up in anger when a portrait for a friend’s wedding turned out badly. I promised myself (and my family) that I would never draw again. I filled my spare time pouring over books and magazines about crafts and home decor, and my love: American history. Sadly, my Bible went unopened all week long, only to be brought to church on Sunday morning. I found Bible reading and sermons boring and uninspiring. I hardly ever prayed, and when I did it was selfish and filled with requests only for me. At our daily Bible time my mind would wander to other more important things… like my hero Abraham Lincoln. My family and I had visited the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois one summer and I was hooked. I became obsessed with everything Lincoln and I soaked up everything I could about Lincoln’s life and words. I even embroidered a pillow for my bed with Lincoln’s face and signature. I was crazy about the Civil War. One day at the Lincoln Home I bought a postcard of the beloved President, intending to draw Old Abe. I had forgotten all about the promise I had made several months before - that I would never draw again! But God had been working in my life that year; and I thought I’d try something different this time- so I prayed, and prayed, and prayed!
I asked God to give me the ability to draw, and that I would tell others about His gift. God was gracious to me and gave me the gift; and I saw God move in my own life! Here was something I could point to and say; “Look what God did!” Incredibly, my portrait turned out looking like Abraham Lincoln!
One Spring day in 2015 as I was drawing at a local coffee house, a middle aged man dressed as Abraham Lincoln stepped through the door.
He was dressed in a somber black suit complete with the tall stovepipe hat; announcing to all that he was “Mr. Lincoln”. He looked at my art for a long time and listened to my story. He was still Mr. Lincoln- telling jokes and talking in the 1860s lingo; telling me how much I had captured “his likeness” and pointing out flaws and giving me pointers. As our conversation progressed, he pointed to another of my new art prints that depicted Jesus holding the world in His hands, with the verse underneath, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.’ (Psalm 19:1 NKJV)
He was dressed in a somber black suit complete with the tall stovepipe hat; announcing to all that he was “Mr. Lincoln”. He looked at my art for a long time and listened to my story. He was still Mr. Lincoln- telling jokes and talking in the 1860s lingo; telling me how much I had captured “his likeness” and pointing out flaws and giving me pointers. As our conversation progressed, he pointed to another of my new art prints that depicted Jesus holding the world in His hands, with the verse underneath, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.’ (Psalm 19:1 NKJV)
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Before long the actor had forgotten his assumed role as Mr. Lincoln and was earnestly engaging me in conversation about the Scriptures. This man had such a love for God’s word and he knew, really knew his Bible. Our conversation turned to Psalm twenty-two, and before long I was handing over my tablet for “Mr. Lincoln” to read the Psalm. He even told me that he couldn’t read about Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion without crying. Inside the coffee house that afternoon with the smell of aromatic coffee filling the air, I heard a sermon from a man who resembled Abraham Lincoln. He talked passionately about the tortures of crucifixion and how Jesus’ death on the cross fulfilled this Messianic Psalm. I was blown away. Here was someone who cared deeply about Jesus Christ. Here was someone willing to take time in public to share Jesus with a stranger. This actor was ‘on the clock’ and yet, he didn’t care what people might be thinking. He just obeyed God. I was deeply moved by our conversation. Here was someone who knew what God’s Word said. Here was someone who truly loved Jesus. Here was someone who shared his faith openly and without shame.
I wanted that for myself. |
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I went home and dusted off my Bible and read Psalm twenty-two over and over, trying to picture the sufferings of Christ. I started staying up long past bedtime studying all the Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament! But I didn’t stop there; I continued to read my Bible every day and started studying the Gospels. I became a changed person. All those years I had starved myself spiritually and I hadn’t even known how hungry I was for the truth. I finally understood that to become a Christian, one must do more than utter a simple prayer. To truly be a child of God I must give my life, my WHOLE life, heart, mind, and soul to Jesus Christ. I must acknowledge that He is LORD. That was what I had missed all those years! I realized that I must lay down my life and pick up the cross, and only then would I find my life again. Believe me, I’ve found a life that I never fully realized I could have!
My most precious times of the day now are spent with God in His Word and in prayer. It is truly wonderful when God changes you, because the things that you once loved no longer have a hold of you! For almost an entire year I hardly picked up a home decor magazine or a novel. I just read my Bible. This was something completely different from what I would naturally do! It was obviously God’s hand in my life.
Do I still admire Abraham Lincoln? Yes, I do, but I have found something so much more thrilling than our sixteenth President. I have found that studying the life and words of Jesus Christ is more compelling than the finest historic novel. Am I perfect? No. But God is, and He used my love for everything Lincoln to point me back to the Savior. I went looking for Lincoln and found a new life in Jesus Christ. Now I have a story to tell of God’s goodness and grace. What a gift!
My most precious times of the day now are spent with God in His Word and in prayer. It is truly wonderful when God changes you, because the things that you once loved no longer have a hold of you! For almost an entire year I hardly picked up a home decor magazine or a novel. I just read my Bible. This was something completely different from what I would naturally do! It was obviously God’s hand in my life.
Do I still admire Abraham Lincoln? Yes, I do, but I have found something so much more thrilling than our sixteenth President. I have found that studying the life and words of Jesus Christ is more compelling than the finest historic novel. Am I perfect? No. But God is, and He used my love for everything Lincoln to point me back to the Savior. I went looking for Lincoln and found a new life in Jesus Christ. Now I have a story to tell of God’s goodness and grace. What a gift!
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Do you have an impact on those around you? I am living proof that you do. I even had the privilege of personally thanking that Lincoln actor over a year later, and I had the opportunity to tell him what an impact our conversation had on my life. He was touched and humbled that God had used him. Will you have someone thanking you here in this life or in heaven because you let your love for Jesus shine through you and unknowingly left an impact on them? I hope you do.
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