The Most Beautiful Woman

James had been transferred in as warehouse manager on his 55th birthday. The prayer line passed around the e-mail announcing his promotion and celebrated God’s answer to his prayer for a new job. In his small Bible Church, James and his wife were highly respected for their faithful attendance and dedication to ministry. He was often the first one who his fellow believers called when they needed wisdom from the word to make a life decision. He was also known at his job, among his fellow workers as one of those rare Christians, the kind that lived what he believed and said. James had been very wise about his conduct in the world and had used the law of love to protect his credibility as a Christian.

He had inherited the supervision of a small group of worldly and playful young men in their early 20’s. They knew his reputation as a Christian and were a little hesitant about getting to know him. They called him “Boss”. He heard them laughing one day in the back of the warehouse as they sat around, taking their break. He decided to take this opportunity to break the ice with them. As he walked up, one of “the boys” (his name for them) named Robbie, held up a magazine and opened the centerfold. What do you think about that Boss, he asked as the other boys sat silently waiting to see how he would react. James looked briefly at the picture of the naked, shapely young woman, smiled and said, not bad, but my wife is better looking. They all busted out laughing. Robbie said, No way Boss, how old is your wife? She just turned 49 and she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, he said. Robbie looked up at James shaking his head and said, Boss, ther is no 49 year-old woman in the world who looks better than this girl and they all nodded in agreement. James just smiled as he began to walk away and said, sorry boys, my wife makes her look plain. The doubt about his taste in women was evident on their faces as they watched him walk away.

It was several weeks later that they got their first glimpse of his wife. She was definitely a nice looking older woman, a little overweight in their opinion but it was clear she had been attractive when she was younger. They all laughed and agreed that old James was sentimental but not really playing with a full deck when it came to attractive women. Robbie said to the boys, I guess since he is stuck with his semi-attractive wife, he has decided to make the best of it and convince himself she is beautiful. Willis, another of the workers who was more thoughtful said, I don’t know, he seemed very genuine in his view that his wife is the most beautiful woman he knows. As the group broke up to go back to work, Robbie pulled out the magazine and took a last look at his imaginary girlfriend.

At the end of the day, as James was checking everyone out, Robbie said, Hey Boss, we finally saw your wife today. Oh yeah?, James said quietly looking at Robbie over his reading glasses. Yeah, and we all agreed she is a nice looking lady but not near as good looking as my centerfold girl. How can you possibly say that your wife more attractive than Miss September?

As James listened to Robbie, he felt something in his chest that he had only felt once before, ever. The other time that he had felt this, it had turned into a strange, silent rage and could have turned out very bad. These boys DID NOT need to be looking at his wife and they especially didn’t need to be scoring her with their worldly ranking system. James, looking dead at Robbie couldn’t help wondering how this boy had lived for 22 years. Then another voice in his soul spoke to him. The Holy Spirit began telling him, “calm down, this is the opportunity you have been praying for. Let me speak to them. You stay out of My way with your jealousy and your human logic and I will change their lives today.”

James took a deep breath, smiled and looked directly at Robbie. He said, first of all Robbie, Christians have an ability to manage their minds in ways that non-Christians don’t. He paused to let that sink in. He went on and said quietly, I imagine my wife as the most beautiful woman I have ever seen because God has enabled me to do so. Years ago, I discovered the part of my soul that loves beauty in a woman and I attached it to her. I told myself everyday that she was the greatest beauty of my life and I imagined myself in love with her heart, face and body. After a time, I didn’t have to say it anymore, it became a fixed idea in my mind. My wife is my idea of beauty. As she has changed over the years, I keep her face as my ideal of beauty and I am more excited and in love with her as never before. I recognize that other women are pretty but I hardly look at them like that any more. My desire for beauty is totally satisfied by my wife. Boys, let me assure you, being in love with the most beautiful woman you have ever met and having her love you back is one of God’s greatest gifts. James finished talking and sat quietly looking at the boys. None of them knew what to say so they sat there looking back at James in silence.

Finally, Willis, the thoughtful one, asked, Boss, what do you mean that church people can manage their minds in ways that unchurched people can’t? Good question James thought. Not church people Willis, Christians. There is a difference. Willis sat silent waiting for him to continue. As James looked at Willis, the Holy Spirit said to James, this is the one, Willis is ready for the gospel. James began his presentation. Willis, the bible explains that every person has been condemned because of the sin of the first man Adam and that every man and woman needs to be forgiven for their sins. Being given this forgiveness for Adam’s sin and for your own sins is what the bible calls being saved. James paused to see their reaction. I have heard about being saved, Willis said with great interest in his eyes. The other boys were also glued to the conversation, except Robbie who seemed very uneasy and restless. Willis, do you have any idea who Jesus was or what He did when he was on earth? He was a very good man I have heard and did many good things for people, Willis replied. I have heard that He took care of the poor and needy and that kind of thing. Yes, He did indeed care for those who couldn’t care for themselves, James said, but he did something else that was His most important good deed. When they hung Him on the cross, while he was hanging there, God in heaven, took all of our sins, yours, mine and the sins of everyone who has ever lived or ever will live, and placed them on Jesus. God-Father who is the Righteous Judge, connected all the sins of the world to Jesus and then while He hung there, he punished His own Son for those sins. Jesus, during that 3-hour period took the eternal punishment for all sins upon Himself and paid your sin debt for you, in your place. Willis, everything you have ever done wrong or ever will do wrong, everything that would keep you from going to heaven, was paid for on the cross by Jesus Christ.

Willis’ eyes were so big that James thought they might pop out of his head. James saw his eyes look toward the ceiling as if he were looking at some invisible scene going on above him. James could see him trying to grasp what he had just heard. Suddenly Willis stood up, walked in a circle around his chair, looked straight at James and said, so that is what the cross thing is all about. I never understood that until now. Wow!! James was elated as he saw Willis starting to get it. Robbie looked miserable and stood up suddenly. Are we through? I am ready to go. No, we aren’t through Robbie, sit down! James said in his stern voice. Robbie sat back down looking like a trapped animal. You understand what He did for you on the cross Willis, James asked? I do, finally, Willis responded, He paid for all the stupid stuff I did. Yes, James said and all the stupid stuff you haven’t even done yet, but that is not all. Not all?! Willis said as he stood up again, overwhelmed with emotion, what can you add to that? Look, what I mean is that I have been wondering how I would ever make up for all the wrong things I have done. I had almost decided it wasn’t possible and my guilt is overwhelming at times. Now you tell me that all of that has been paid already? I feel so relieved!! and there is more? More indeed, son, James said. After He had paid for all the sins of all people, he said, tetlestai! which means it is finished. He had finished paying for the sins and then He willed Himself to die.

Willis was so focused he had almost stopped breathing. The others were also fascinated with the exchange except for Robbie who had pulled his feet up into his chair almost in a fetal position. After He died Willis, He was put into a tomb and everyone even His disciples thought it was over, but it wasn’t, not by a long shot. His body laid in that tomb for 3 days and 3 nights and then His soul and spirit returned to His body and He came back to life. He was resurrected from the dead. Oh, come on! Robbie shouted as he shot up out of his chair. You gotta be kidding me! You say the guy was dead and then came back to life after 3 days? Yes Robbie, James said quietly looking dead in his eyes, after He defeated your sins on the cross, He defeated death itself through His resurrection. He wiped out everything that stands between you and God except your unbelief. Robbie looked like he was going to burst into tears as he looked into his boss’ eyes and sat back down silently. James turned back to Willis and saw a light in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. Willis looked at Robbie and said, Robbie, for the first time in my life I feel like I understand what this is all about. I have been overwhelmed by my “sins” and felt so guilty and afraid because of all the wrong I have done, even what we did last night. Robbie looked down and said nothing. Now Boss is telling me that it is not hopeless, that I can be forgiven and I haven’t even done anything to deserve it.

Willis turned to James and said, Boss, what you just said puts everything in perspective for me. Somehow, I don’t know how, but I know what you said is right. Can you tell me what I have to do now to be right with God? James sat back in his chair and said, Willis all God requires of you to receive the benefits of what Jesus did for you in His death, burial & resurrection is to believe it, nothing else. In fact, He won’t allow you to do anything else or add anything to His work. God did all the work and we simply believe it, attach our faith to it like I attached my desire for beauty to my wife. All I have to do is believe it? Willis asked, I think I already believe it. I believed it as I heard you saying it. I think so too, James said. Willis, I believe you just got saved sitting right here. I feel different inside Willis said. I feel peaceful inside, like somehow everything is right now. It is son, James said as he walked around his desk and embraced Willis like a brother.

Time to go boys, even you can go now Robbie. See you tomorrow. Robbie moved quickly out the door and the others followed slowly. Ricky, another of the boys shook James’ hand and said thank you Boss, that was interesting. I would like to hear more about this. You got it Rick, I’ll see you tomorrow. Willis just stood there waiting for the others to leave. When they were gone, he turned to James and asked, I really just got saved? James smiled and said, does it seem too easy? Yes! Willis exclaimed, I thought religion was supposed to be much more difficult and involved. Religion is son, but what you believed is not religion, it is a relationship with God through the grace of Jesus Christ. Would you like to hear more about the Lord’s plan for your life? Willis looked puzzled and said, strangely, yes. I have never been that interested in the bible before but suddenly I feel like I want to know everything about God. James opened the bible on his desk to James 3:3 and said, let me explain what you are feeling.

John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Willis, just no when you believed that Jesus died, was buried and resurrected to provide you with eternal life, you were “born again”. The Holy Spirit gave you spiritual life and you were born into God’s family as a newborn spiritual baby. Every newborn spiritual baby is born hungry for God’s word, which is the spiritual food that we need to grow into our spiritual life. Then James turned to 1Peter 2:2 and read,

1 Peter 2:2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation

This sudden interest is the spiritual hunger of a newborn spiritual baby. Why don’t you come to the house tonight and we will talk some more. Really, Willis said humbly? Really! James said!. I will be there Willis said.
This story was written to illustrate the spiritual mechanics of “Spirit guided imagination”. James used his imagination to see his wife as the loveliest woman in the world. Willis used his imagination to visualize the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This concept is taught through the Greek word hegeomai found in James 1:2 translated “consider” in the NIV. Once the biblical concept is seen in the soul, the choice must be made as to whether we will believe what we see in our souls.

Stay tuned as the story of James and the boys continues in upcoming articles.