Llano to “East End” Deputies …
Chaplain Bill Wolfe
Llano County Sheriff’s Department
Hello, and welcome to the Chaplain’s Corner. Here it is March 2005 already! It doesn’t seem like it could be almost two years since I first went 10-8 for the Family Badge. I have enjoyed getting to spend time with y’all and I appreciate you bearing with me. Breck, thanks for taking a step of faith and extending the invitation to become part of the Family Badge family. Now, now, don’t jump to conclusions. I’m not winding up for a farewell address, I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks for “riding along.”
I was trying to decide which county road to take us down this time when I received an email that mentioned that Easter happens in March this year. So, let’s see if I can make this analogy work:
I was working “west end” patrol this past weekend. That means I had the entire west half of the county to myself. As I was passing through town mid-afternoon the call came “Llano to East End deputies…I have a 9-1-1 call at **** County Road 216…” After listening to 753 and 746 acknowledge the call and remembering where CR 216 was, I confirmed that I was closer to the location than they were and off I went. (I’m sure running Code 3 through Llano isn’t near as exciting as it would be in a big city, but it still gets the adrenalin going.) The upshot of it was that the actor was GOA and nothing serious had transpired at the scene. As we all left the scene I reflected on the fact that the persons at the residence are, shall we say, not unknown to law enforcement and yet we responded just as if it were anyone else. I actually thought at the time that this would make a good Easter illustration. J
Everyone hears the word Easter, and for most it conjures up images of bunnies and Easter Egg hunts. For a lot of people, it means giving up things for Lent. But what Easter is really all about is God responding to “call for service” at a “residence” where the residents didn’t “deserve” His intervention.
The Bible makes it clear that mankind, as a whole, hasn’t sought to serve God or to do what was pleasing to Him. Romans 3:23 says “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” That simply means that we all have fallen short of the standards and expectations that God has set. It’s been that way ever since the Garden of Eden. Their sin has kept and is still keeping people from a personal relationship with God. God knew something had to be done, and so He dispatched His Son to deal with the problem. Unlike my illustration, when Jesus “made the scene,” the “actor,” sin, was still in full control. There was only one way this actor could be dealt with, and so it was planned from the very beginning that Jesus should suffer a “line of duty” death. The writer of the Book of Romans makes it clear by saying that “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) Even though He had done nothing wrong, out of love for us, Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified on a Roman cross in payment for the things we had done (Romans 5:8). He was then buried without honors. They didn’t understand His sacrifice.
But the Good News about Easter is that Jesus didn’t remain in the grave. On Easter morning, the stone that sealed His tomb was rolled away so that all could see that He was no longer there. Through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, Jesus was resurrected. Now, because of Easter, we have a way of reestablishing a personal relationship with God. 1st John 1:9 promises that if we will confess our sins He will forgive us. J
Have a happy Easter and make time to celebrate the Risen Christ by attending the church of your choice with those you love. Blessings to you and yours.
Chaplain Bill
chappy@chaplainscorner.org
