Arlene Arnold’s dark, troubled eyes looked up questioningly at the Catholic priest’s stately and imposing figure. For once, she had dared to ask the priest a question. And the twelve-year-old had to admit she felt very disappointed with the answer. It was a simple enough question—or so she thought—a question that surely the priest, if anyone, would be able to explain. But his response gave her little comfort.
The tall girl walked quickly out of the church. She tossed her straight, black hair over her shoulder with an air of disappointment. As she reached the outside of the building, she was deep in thought, reflecting on the sincere question she had made just moments before. How could somebody be sure they were going to Heaven when they died? This uncertainty had plagued her for months. At around the age of eleven, Arlene started being tormented with an overwhelming fear of dying young. Since “young” was a very relative term, she didn’t know how young that might be.
But simply, “Try real hard to do your best and wait to see what happens”, was not the answer she had been hoping for from the respected priest. She wanted a formula which, when applied, would work every time.
Arlene had grown up in a Catholic home in a Chicago suburb, and had attended weekly mass ever since she could remember. But in spite of this religious upbringing, she didn’t really know Jesus. She knew of Him, but she didn’t know Jesus personally.
Even though the priest’s advice was vague, Arlene decided it might be her only chance. So with the hope of pleasing God enough to pass the gates of Heaven, she became a very moral person. While all the teenagers around her seemed to be obsessed with drugs, sex, alcohol, and other worldly passions, Arlene decided to live what most people would consider a very moral life. She had good grades in school. She honored her parents. She got along with people. And yet Arlene knew deep down in her heart that she was not right with God.
The years passed, and Arlene continued her search for the sure way to Heaven. At age seventeen, as a senior in a private Catholic high school, she attended a senior retreat.
One of the assignments at this retreat was to write a personal letter to God. Arlene grabbed a piece of paper and a small pencil and began thinking about what she wanted to tell God. After a minute, she carefully wrote, “God, I really want to know You.”
Never could Arlene have dreamed how clearly God had heard and would answer the simple, sincere prayer of a young girl who didn’t really understand Who she was seeking. Little did she know the promise God gives to people who seek Him: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
…BUT THEN CAME JESUS
One day Arlene was out playing tennis when she met a very kind young man named Brian. She immediately felt drawn to him for several reasons. For one, she felt like she could relate to him with regard to his incredible sense of morality. She never heard him use bad language, and he had a reputation for purity. This alone was so noteworthy in a young person that they became good friends. But there was something else about Brian that surprised and pleased Arlene. In spite of the fact that she didn’t understand it, he seemed to serve a God whom he knew personally.
The months passed and their friendship continued. It became increasingly clear to Arlene that Brian really knew God. One day she finally asked, “Brian, I need to know, why it is that when I talk about God, He’s…out there somewhere. But when you talk about God, it’s as if He’s right here—like you really know Him.” Brian smiled and replied, “I’ve been waiting a long time for that question.”
That evening, Brian shared some really good news with Arlene. He began by saying, “Arlene, you’re a sinner, and you have done things to offend God.” Ok, I can believe that, she thought to herself. Accepting that she was a sinner was not hard for her. She had always felt that something was keeping her from God. Not even her moral life seemed to be able to break the barrier between her and God. Now she realized that barrier was sin, because the Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). This came as no surprise to Arlene, but what Brian said next totally amazed her. “Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins. Jesus took your place and gave His life for you. Then, God raised Him from the dead after three days. Because of that, we know God accepted His sacrifice. Arlene,” he said earnestly, “all we have to do today is believe that what Jesus did is true for us personally.”
Arlene turned to look at him with a face full of wonder and remarked, “Brian, that’s just too easy!” It seemed too miraculous to her that all she would have to do to have eternal life was to believe that Jesus had died for her sins. Brian looked at her solemnly and said, “It’s easy for us, but it wasn’t easy for Jesus.”
By this time it was getting late and Arlene realized she had better start the long drive home. As she said goodbye, Brian reached into her car and began playing with the controls of the radio. “Here,” he said, “why don’t you listen to this Christian radio station on your way home.”
Arlene made her way to the outskirts of Chicago, listening to the exact same message all over again on the radio. Every one of us is a sinner (Ps. 143:2) condemned to death. All we need to do is trust that Jesus died for our sins, that He took our place, paying the price for our redemption. Believing that, we have eternal life.
Many of the words the preacher used in his sermon that night were words Arlene knew by heart. They were words she had often repeated at Catholic mass, but never before had they penetrated her heart. Until tonight!
Arriving home, Arlene went directly to her room. She fell on her knees beside the bed and cried out, “Lord, I don’t know if this is true, but if it is, this is what I need. Please forgive me of my sins. Thank you, Jesus, for dying in my place.”
From that instant, Arlene knew she was going to Heaven. She knew that her debt was paid because Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Salvation was a free gift. Jesus had done it all for her.
She was so excited as she ran to find her mother to tell her the good news. Mrs. Arnold’s response was less than affirming. She was convinced Arlene had joined some kind of cult. She warned her to be careful.
Despite her family’s cool response, Arlene began to grow and thrive as she read the Bible every day. Before, the Bible had always been something she believed to be true, but it was a book the priest used and not one that was supposed to be part of her daily life.
The more she read the Bible, the more amazed she became with how serious her sin was before God. She had always considered herself a moral person, but she didn’t know until she began reading the Bible that God judges our thoughts and intentions. Gratitude and humility flowed from Arlene’s heart as she understood she was more sinful than she could comprehend, and even so, Jesus had died for her while she was yet a sinner.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8). He had suffered on that cross to pay what she owed. The tears flowed as she remarked, “I just can’t thank Him enough for doing that!” Now, the greatest desire of her heart was to serve Him, to show Him how much she loved Him and to finish life’s race well.
Epilogue: Arlene went on to marry Denny Norris and raise five children. In 1992, they went to Mexico as missionaries, where they were involved in church planting and evangelism. They have been faithful ambassadors of the gospel of Jesus Christ ever since. Presently she and Denny teach the gospel to Hispanics in Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Note from the Author:
The Norris and Clark families are inseparable. I had the privilege of growing up with the Norris children in Mexico. As my parents also had five children, each of us teamed up with one of the five Norris children, becoming friends for life. “Aunt” Arlene is one of the women I most admire! The beauty of the Lord is evident in her life.