This last Christmas, we traveled to spend a few weeks in California to be with family. One afternoon, realizing that Christmas was upon us, and we weren’t quite ready, we all piled in the car to go to Big Lots in Pasadena. In the joyful nonsense of allowing the children to choose presents for each other, and maintain the delicious secrecy between us all, I heard a man in the store say loudly, “NASTY!” Now, this is a somewhat urban store, in not the nicest part of town. I quickly dismissed it thinking someone had seen something gross on the floor. (And that, hooray, it wasn’t the fault of my children.) This pierced man, dressed in black, bearded, and covered in tatoos, repeated this several times through the fairly small store. Partially in my own little world of Christmas shopping with my children, I heard him, but I did not percieve that he was directing his comment at me. As I passed directly in front of him about the fourth or fifth time of hearing this, he said outloud again, “Nasty!” His comment had been directed at me the whole time!
I was appalled and disturbed when it continued. I told Efrain, and he told me to take the kids to the car. As I left, I passed his eyeline once more. “NASTY!,” he says to me. “Be quiet!,” I said.
Later, I shared the experience with my mother who told me, “He sees the blood of Jesus covering you. A red, bloody, fuzzy mess. He doesn’t know what it means. It’s just…nasty.” I mulled this over for a while. He couldn’t see ME…he saw the blood of Jesus. Then I had a revelation. (Sometimes I’m a little slow.) I started to get happy. REALLY happy. I began to think about past sins. Dark moments of regretful decisions, that the devil throws up before my face at moments of opportunity; robbing me of my authority in Christ. This guy, with his spiritual eyes, and demonic “rider” on his shoulder, identified NOT my sin, but the BLOOD OF JESUS! I was covered in it!! I’m covered!! Yippee! I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! Even the demons perceive it! God has removed my sin from me as far as the east is from the west. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! It was like the joy of my salvation washed over me all over again, and I begin to celebrate in this recent evidence of my status. I stopped being disturbed and began to pray for this man, who in a demonic attack, reminded me of who I am in Christ. I prayed for him. “If it’s not too late, if there’s any avenue of escape left for him, Jesus be merciful to him; free and save him.” I’m still praying for “Tatoo Man.” One day, I hope he understands the beauty of the cross. And I pray I’ll be more vigilant in carring that message with me…even into Big Lots.
1 Corinthians 1:18
The message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.
1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
Ephesians 6
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
(bold mine)
Corner in the Castle 