Uncover Hidden Truths In The Stickle Maker's Love
In the story, the Stickle Maker, is named Emmanuel, which means God with us. One of God's biblical names is Emmanuel, because He created us and wants to share His love with us.
God is love, and He expresses His love by being with us.
When God created humanity, he would visit them each day in the Garden of Eden, where they lived. In The Stickle Maker's Love, Emmanuel looks to visit with the Stickles each day to oil them up and make sure they stay healthy and whole. The true Biblical account of God and the Emmanuel character in The Stickle Maker's Love both reveal God's desire to have a daily relationship with us.
As the story progresses, the Stickles are tempted by the visitor named Pride to leave God's loving care and do life on their own. In the Bible, humanity was also tempted by the devil to do life their own way. In both instances, the enemy's end goal is to separate God's creation from His loving care and destroy them.
When all seemed lost, the Bible teaches that God also went on a mission to save creation. Jesus came to earth in human form to redeem His creation. Humanity rejected him and put him on a cross to die. The Stickles faced a similar encounter when Emmanuel disguised himself as a Stickle and came to offer them restoration. Like humans, the Stickles rejected the offer of redemption and attacked Emmanuel.
While many reject him, there are some Stickles who accept Emmanuel's offer of forgiveness and restoration and joyfully return home with him. We see the same thing play out with humans. While many reject God's loving offer of reconciliation, there are those who joyfully receive it.
What will you choose to do with God's loving offer of forgiveness and restoration? Will you choose to reject it and continue doing life your own way? Are you tired of the dryness and weariness that come from doing life your way? God is calling you back home—not a physical home, but a spiritual one. He is inviting you back into a daily relationship with him. He wants to apply the oil of His Spirit to heal and refresh your soul.
Jesus has already made it possible for you to enter into a relationship with God. His death on the cross has cancelled out the penalty of your wrong choices. His resurrection from the dead has given Him power and authority over death. All you have to do is say yes. Yes to receiving the forgiveness Jesus died to give you, and yes to returning to a daily relationship with Him.
You can do this right now. It's as simple as talking to God in your own words. Tell Him you are sorry for the wrong choices you've made and for trying to do life without Him. Tell him you want to receive the work of His son Jesus and come home to a relationship with Him. He will receive you with open arms! In fact, the Bible tells us all of the angels in Heaven rejoice whenever one person repents and turns back to God. Your prayer will literally start a party in Heaven!