Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Jimmy sat up in bed, stretched, and rolled out with a groan. Last night’s church service had been wonderful. The power of the holy spirit had been very evident, numerous people were at the altar singing, praying, and worshipping God. It had been a long service, and he had come home very tired.
His pastor had made a statement during the service that he couldn’t get out of his mind.
“You’re an alien and this world is not your home,” his pastor had said.
“An alien! Me?” he muttered while getting dressed. “No way! I’ve lived here all my life. How can I be an alien?”
Heading towards the bathroom he happened to glance in the mirror on the back of his bedroom door. What he saw made him stop and stare at the apparition that stared back. Instead of wearing shorts, a tee shirt, and sneakers, he was wearing a suit of armor! Looking downward he could see his clothing, but when he looked into the mirror again, he still wore armor.
“What’s happening to me?” he asked as he sat down on his bed to gather his thoughts. While sitting there, he began to hear a gentle, small voice in his spirit.
“Jimmy, do you hear me?” the voice asked. “Don’t be afraid and listen to me. I’ll explain what is going on and why you see yourself wearing armor.”
“God, is it you?” Jimmy nervously asked.
“Yes, my son, it is I. The statement your pastor made is correct. You are an alien. You’ve been one ever since the night at church camp when you asked me into your heart. From that moment on you have belonged to me, and now heaven is your new home. I’ve prepared a place for you there and it’s awaiting your arrival,” God answered.
“An alien! Wow! But what about this suit of armor I keep seeing in the mirror? And why haven’t I seen it before? I don’t understand.”
“Jimmy, I’m allowing you to see what you look like as an alien. I want you to get your Bible and turn to Ephesians, Chapter 6, verses 11 through 17. When you get there you will understand what you are seeing.”
He got his Bible and did what he was told. As he began to read it became apparent what the armor was. As he read each verse he compared it with what he wore.
“Put on the whole armor of God,” he read aloud, “that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Gird your loins with truth and have the breastplate of righteousness. Shod your feet with the gospel of peace, and take up the shield of faith. and wear the helmet of salvation. Furthermore, carry the sword of the spirit.”
“This is what an alien from my realm wears,” God added. “Now go in front of the mirror with your Bible in your hand.”
Jimmy did so and to his amazement instead of holding his Bible, he was holding a large, two-edged sword.
“And this is my word. More powerful than any earthly weapons could ever be. From it goes forth truth, peace, and the greatest of all, my love,” God added.
Rather overwhelmed with what was happening, Jimmy sat on his bed again in total amazement. It began to dawn on him that he really was an alien after all!
“I’m an alien!” Jimmy began to sing and shout as he pranced around his room.
“Jimmy, do you understand now? If you do, I have a mission for you. I know you love to read superhero comic books and dream about being able to do what they can do. But I tell you now that you have a power far greater than any imaginary superhero. My children have access to all of my power. They have the ability to heal the sick, cast out demons, and help the poor and needy. They share my love with everyone they meet. In a way, they are superheroes from my world. Jimmy, will you be a superhero for me?” God gently asked.
“But God, I’m just a little kid!” replied Jimmy. “I don’t know if I can be what you ask.”
“Jimmy, some of my greatest servants are children. Their faith hasn’t been corrupted by the world and its evils. I allowed you to see yourself in armor because I wanted you to see the power that you have. I wouldn’t have done this if I thought you couldn’t handle it. I will help you through any situation you encounter. Will you trust me?” asked God.
Jimmy thought long and hard before answering God. The thought of being a superhero for God was an incredible temptation, but he also had some doubts.
“Ok, but what can I do and how will I do it?” he nervously asked.
“Jimmy, I’ll give you a small assignment to begin with. As you grow and learn to trust me, I’ll send you on more. Will you accept a mission?”
“I think so. No, I know so! What do you want me to do?” Jimmy answered.
“It’s almost time for school. On your way, there will be someone I want you to talk to. You know this person very well. I want you to tell him about me.”
“Who is it?” Jimmy asked.
“You’ll know,” God answered.
Jimmy finished getting ready for school. The whole time he wondered who this person was. It was all he could do to keep silent as he ate breakfast, kissed his mother goodbye, and headed off to school. The school was within easy walking distance as long as he took the direct route. But this morning, pumped up with newfound courage, he took the shortcut.
Tommy Turner was the local bully and he was a lot bigger than Jimmy. He had beaten up Jimmy on several occasions and always watched for the opportunity to do it again. Jimmy was afraid of him, as were most of the kids at school. Tommy hung out on the street corner across from the school and did most of his fighting there. He had learned, the hard way, not to fight on the school grounds as it only brought a trip to the principal's office. As Jimmy approached the corner, he could see Tommy watching him.
“God, is this who I’m supposed to talk to? If so, then please help me!” prayed Jimmy.
“Ready for another punch in the nose?” challenged Tommy as he stepped directly into Jimmy’s path.
“Tommy, I don’t want to fight you,” he answered nervously.
“That’s just too bad,” replied the bully as he lifted his fists to hit Jimmy.
“I have to tell you something. God told me to tell you that he loves you.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Tommy at the same moment his fist connected with Jimmy’s nose.
“God loves you and wants you to talk to Him,” Jimmy answered as his eyes watered and his nose started bleeding.
“Huh! Does He now!” answered Tommy as he hit Jimmy in the eye twice and the stomach once.
Doubled over in pain, Jimmy answered, “Yes, and He wants you to know that He’ll help you at home. He knows that your dad beats you every day. He also knows that your dad doesn’t know how to handle his anger and takes it out on you. And now you’re taking your anger out on us. God wants to help if you will let him.”
Tommy stopped in mid-swing and stared at Jimmy. A tear began to slide down his cheek as he stood there. He began to tremble and tears cascaded down his face.
“How did you know? I haven’t told anybody. How did you know?” he sobbed.
Jimmy didn’t know how to answer him. The words had popped into his head and he had blurted them out. He had no idea where they came from.
“I don’t know. I do know that God told me that there was someone I was supposed to talk to. I didn’t know it was you. All of a sudden the words were there and I said them,” he answered.
Tommy suddenly seemed like a different person. He no longer had the menacing look he had before. In fact, he looked rather meek.
“I don’t know anything about God. Will you help me?” asked Tommy.
“Sure, why don’t you go to church with me Wednesday night? It's youth night and we have lots of fun. There’s stuff to eat and drink and then our youth pastor will have a lesson about Jesus. Will you come?” asked Jimmy.
“I’ll have to ask my dad.”
“Ok, let me know for sure tomorrow so that I can watch for you.”
The rest of the day went uneventfully. Jimmy cleaned the blood off his face as well as he could and after a while his stomach quit hurting. On the way home God began to speak to him again.
“Well done. You listened to me and said exactly what I wanted.”
Jimmy was relieved to hear this but he still had a question, “God, did I have to be a punching bag to talk to Tommy/“
“We’ll talk more later,” came the reply.
Jimmy arrived home and went straight to his room. Changing his clothes, he glanced in the mirror again. Again he was amazed. This time he could see very distinct dents in his armor. His breastplate had a large dent and his helmet was sitting crookedly on top of his head. As he stood there God began to speak.
“Jimmy, I didn’t say it was going to be easy. Nothing on earth is easy. But you took the first step today and I’m very proud of you. Now let’s see about patching up your armor. I want you to take your Bible again and turn to Matthew, Chapter 5, verse 44. Read this and your armor will begin to mend.”
Jimmy did as instructed and read the following. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
“Jimmy, this is the answer to every situation I will put you in. I want you to pray for Tommy on a daily basis. He needs a friend to talk to. Now I want you to turn to Matthew, Chapter 18, verses 21 and 22.”
Again Jimmy did as instructed, and as he read he began to understand more.
“Then came Peter to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven.”
“Jimmy, I want you to forgive Tommy for always picking on you. He just needs someone to give him some affection. He’s afraid and doesn’t know what to do. When he comes Wednesday, I will start softening his heart. Be his friend please,” God asked.
Tears welling in his eyes, Jimmy softly replied, “Yes, Lord.”
“You allowed me to use you today and I love you for it. Just wait until tomorrow. I just might have another mission for my good and faithful little Jimmy alien!”
August 6, 2020