爱的故事 （中英文对照）

　　One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise.

　　Ah the beauty of God's creation is beyond description.

　　As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work.

　　As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me.

　　He asked me, "Do you love me?" I answered, "Of course, God!

　　You are my Lord and Savior!"

　　Then He asked, "If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?"

　　I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't; be able to do, the things that I took for granted. And I answered, "It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You."

　　Then the Lord said, "If you were blind, would you still love my creation?"

　　How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation. So I answered, "It's hard to think of it, but I would still love you."

　　The Lord then asked me, "If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?"

　　How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God's Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered, "It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word." The Lord then asked,

　　"If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?" How could I praise without a voice?

　　Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul.

　　It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered, "Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name."

　　And the Lord asked, "Do you really love Me?" With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, "Yes Lord! I love You ause You are the one and true God!" I thought I had answered well, but...

　　God asked,

　　"THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?"

　　I answered, "ause I am only human. I am not perfect."

　　"THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST?

　　WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?"

　　No answers. Only tears.

　　The Lord continued: "Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship?

　　Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?"

　　The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.

　　"Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?"

　　I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.

　　"You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge.

　　I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all."

　　"DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME?"

　　I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief.

　　I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, "Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child." The Lord answered, "That is My Grace, My Child." I asked, "Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?"

　　The Lord answered, " ause you are My Creation. You are my Child. I will never abandon you.

　　When you cry, I will have compassion and cry ! with you.

　　When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you! When you are down, I will encourage you.

　　When you fall, I will raise you up. When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever."

　　Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold?

　　How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God, "How much do You love me?"

　　The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior. And for the first time, I truly prayed.

　　一天清晨，我早早醒来去看日出。

　　啊！神的创造之美远远超过人所能描述的。在观看时，我为主如此美丽的创造之工而赞 美。我坐在那儿，感到主就在我的身旁。

　　主问我："你爱我吗？"我答道："当然，我的神！您是我的主，我的救赎者。"

　　他又问我："如果你身体有残疾，是否仍旧爱我？"我有些糊涂。于是低头看看我的胳 膊、腿和其他部分，我怀疑有多少事我原以为是理所当然的却不一定能做到。但我还是 回答说，"主啊，这是很难的，但我仍旧爱您。"

　　主接着问我："如果你是瞎眼的，你仍爱我的创造之物吗？"我该如何去爱那些我无法 看见的东西呢？ 然而我又想到世上那些失明的人们，他们中间有许多人仍爱着神和他 的创造之物！于是我回答说：" 想起来很难，但主啊，我还是愿意爱您。"

　　主又问我："如果你是一个聋子，你是否仍愿意听我的话语？"耳聋的如何能够听见呢 ？然而我明白 了。听神的话语并不仅仅用我们的耳朵，而是用我们的心。我回答说： "主啊，会很难，但我愿意听 您的话语。"

　　然后主问我："如果你是一个哑巴，你是否仍愿意赞美我的名？"没有声音我如何能赞 美呢？然而一 句话启示了我：神希望我们从心底和灵魂的最深处发出赞美，他并不在 乎我们的声音如何。于是我回 答说："即使我不能发声，我仍将赞美您的名。"

　　主又问我："你真的爱我吗？"带着勇气和信心，我大胆地回答说："是的，主啊！我 爱您是因您是那唯一的真神。" 我想我已经回答得很好了，但是......

　　神继续问我："那么为什么你还犯罪？"我回答说："因为我是人，我不完全。"

　　"那为什么在平安无事的时候你迷失得那么远？在遭遇难处的时候你又那么殷勤地祷告 ？"

　　......没有回答，有的只是眼泪。

　　主又继续："为什么你只在团契和教会中歌唱？为什么你只在敬拜的时候寻求我？为什 么你每次都如此自私地只为自己求？为什么你求的时候没有信心？"

　　......我的眼泪 顺着我的脖子一直往下流。

　　"为什么你以我为羞耻？为什么你不传福音？为什么在受逼 迫的时候，你不靠着我的肩膀去哭泣却去靠着人的？为什么我给你机会去为我的名服事 的时候，你总是找借口？"

　　我尝试着去回答，但却无言以对。

　　"你的生活如此蒙。是我不让你把如此好的救恩礼物扔掉。我保守你拥有聪明才智 是为了让你服事我，但你却继续逃离我。我用我的话语启示你，但你却不在知识上追求 长进。我向你讲话，但你的耳朵却闭着。我把我的倾注在你的身上，但你的眼目却 离开这。我派使者帮助你，但你却懒散地坐着把他们赶跑。我却听了你的祷告并都 作了回答。"

　　"你真的爱我吗？"

　　我无法回答。我该如何回答呢？我在信仰上是如此的羞愧。我别无借口。我能说些什么 呢？我的心 开始哭泣，泪水涌出来，我说："主啊，求能饶恕我。我不配作你的孩 子。"

　　主回答说："那是我的恩典，孩子。"

　　我问道："那么您为什么一再原谅我呢 ？为什么您会如此爱我呢？"

　　主答道："因为你是我所创造的，你是我的孩子。我永远不会撇弃你。当你哭泣的时候 ，我怜悯你， 我与你同哭泣。当你高兴地高呼时，我与你同笑。当你泄气时，我鼓励 你。当你跌倒时，我扶起你。 当你疲惫时，我背着你。我将与你同在直到最后的日子 ，并且我将永远爱你。"

　　我前所未有地伤心痛哭着。我怎能如此心硬呢？我怎么如此这般地伤神的心呢？

　　最后我很想问神："那么，您爱我有多深呢？"

　　主伸出他的臂膀，我看到他那钉痕的双手。

　　我在基督--我的救主脚下深深地伏服下来。

　　第一次，我发自内心地祷告。