Matthias – A Gift from God
Story narrated by his grandmother, Elizabeth
Be Strong in Grace
“You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must first partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the LORD give you understanding in all things.” II Timothy 2: 1-7
Matthias is the seed of Elizabeth’s son, Ramon, and is a great athlete on the basketball and heavenly courts. They would practice basketball every day after school and at the end of his father’s work day. He has loved the sport since he was a baby. But I believe it was more than the game; it was time with his father, which he loved most. He was so excited when his father returned from work. I would hear him saying, “Dad, Dad, Dad, watch this!” Shooting a three-pointer from afar! I could listen to my son’s praises like music.
Furthermore, Matthias would bow every night and pray to God. However, one day, his father never returned home; his body was found dead on the side of his work truck. Matthias was too young to comprehend that his daddy was gone and he wouldn’t see him again; how could a child grasp the magnitude of the loss of their father? Even a child who had no relationship with their father suffers great loss! But now, LORD, Your servant, since birth, needs Your divine intervention and intercession!
As time went on, Matthias’ heart began to harden toward God; he wanted to know what his dad did wrong and why God would take his father away from him. No one could answer, not even his grandmother, who he considered a spiritual woman. Slowly, he begins drifting from the heavenly courts, and everything around him starts to feel the affection of his heart turn cold and callous. His studies begin to fail, and after a fight in school, he is suspended from his team.
However, God listens to Elizabeth with love and compassion in His eyes toward her and her grandson, whom she is talking to God about. Elizabeth tells the story to God as though He didn’t know what was happening. She cries out to God for her grandson, and He hears her prayers like those of Lois and Eunice for Timothy to make him a vessel for honor. Elizebeth bows her head in prayer for Matthias,
Heavenly Father, LORD of all creation, created the earth, the sea, and everything in and beneath them. LORD, MIGHTY GOD, the enemy of our souls, is trying to steal Your Beloved child Matthias from Your Hands; is his name not written on the Palm of Your Hand, Almighty God? Is he not a Gift from You, as my son was to me and his father, now my grandson; the seed of my son, his offspring are being attacked relentlessly; RISE, O COMMANDER AND CHIEF OF THE LORD’S ARMY, and defend Your cause. Did You not say, “Anyone who harms a child, such as these, is better off tying a rope around a stone and themselves and being thrown in a lake? Cast the preditor into the pit of his own making, in Jesus Mighty Name, Let no weapon of spiritual, physical, mental, or emotional warfare succeed against him. Draw him closer; let him feel Your loving embrace, and comfort him in his grief for his earthly father. LORD, surround him with godly friends and mentors who can minister to him in spirit and truth. LORD, assign Your angels to protect and provide everything he needs according to the abundance of Your mercy, grace, steadfast love, and enduring faithfulness.
Moreover, as Elizabeth is praying for her grandson, Matthias, Matthias is drawn to God as the universe obeys God and brings Matthias into the circle of God’s loving embrace through the prayers of Elizabeth and the Holy Spirit. Matthias cries out to God,
“O LORD, God of my salvation, I have cried out to You day and night, don’t turn away from my prayers; let Your ear incline to my voice; my soul grieves for my earthly father, who You have taken. My life is full of troubles, and I have no one to lead me on Your path of Righteousness and deliver me from my sins. Don’t let my life draw near to the grave, dear God, save me from the iniquities of my father and mother and their fathers and mothers. Without You, I have no strength; although I am in my youth, don’t cut me off from Your hand. For Your mercy is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches the clouds; You delivered me, Your beloved, with Your right hand. You have delivered me from my enemies. Through God, we will do valiantly, and You tread down the enemies of Your beloved. I will sing a new song, the LORD exalted above all things!
When Elizabeth finished praying, her heart was filled with the peace and knowledge that God heard her and delivered the little warrior, although he was much taller than she. She knows that his journey will not be easy, and his victory is already won through Christ Jesus. God sent His army and surrounded Matthias. Matthias felt a cool breeze encircle him and refresh him with strength for the day and a renewed faith; he will do great things for God and the good of others and bring Him glory.