Gone Fishin' SixIhe Atụ

Gone Fishin'

He's A Very Funny Guy!

While walking with a friend, we had a brief conversation with L about how things were going. It sounded like he might have been sick, so I asked him if he had been sick, and he said he hadn't.

"If you died, do you think He'd let you into heaven, L?" I asked with a mischievous grin.

He held his hand up and wiggled it side-to-side like, that's pretty questionable.

I responded, "I'll have to come back sometime and discuss that with you!" as we walked off.

I've been praying about this and finally decided to knock on his door this morning. At first, I was nervous as I walked the mile toward it. Then God gave me peace, and it didn't matter what I did or said as long as I was loving. If God meant anything positive to happen related to the Gospel, He would make it happen, and it wasn't up to me.

We had some casual talk for about 10 minutes. He's a very funny guy.

I felt the Lord was telling me it was an appropriate time, so I said, "So, L, I'm here for a reason." He made another funny joke.

I relayed what happened last time and that I've desired to come and tell him my story. I asked him if he would be willing at this time or perhaps another time soon to listen to my story because I used to be an agnostic myself.

"Not really," he shyly said, but he reiterated that he doesn't feel anybody can know that they will go to heaven. "I ask for forgiveness every day," he asserted.

I said, "Well, that's one of the reasons I wanted to share my story with you, L. The Bible says that it is written so we would KNOW if we're going to heaven." 1 John 5:11 to 13

He said with a grin, "Well, you know all those guys who wrote the Bible? They were just sitting around sipping on wine, half drunk, when they wrote it, right?" (See what I mean with the humor?)

I replied with a grin. "Hey! All of Jesus's apostles were killed for believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was serious business for them."

"Do you think they would have died for that belief if it wasn't true?"

I could see he was thinking about it, but he didn't say anything.

Then, he reiterated that he asks for forgiveness all the time. And does believe in a God.

I said, "L, can you imagine if God graded on the curve? How insecure would we all be?"

"What you're talking about ties right into my story about becoming a follower of Christ." Hoping he'd let me share my story. He said, "No, that's okay."

I said, "Have you had something terrible happen in your background that closes you to this stuff?" He joked, "Well my last church burned down." I didn't ask if that was true. But see what I mean? Always the jokester!!

Then he told me about the resentment he carries for having fought in the Vietnam War and coming back and being spat upon by Americans.

I empathized with anger at such atrocities.

I realized today would not be the day and told L, "I just love chatting with you because you are so funny!" And we pressed knuckles, and I left.

"Lord, stir in L's heart the recognition that he needs a for-sure Savior, not a maybe one."​

Can you see what happened there? Apparently, I had no success, right? Of course, we know that's not true - seeds.

But what did happen was that I intentionally acted on the Lord's prompting, prayed, obeyed, prayed some more, and—hey, taking a step of faith is a totally different world from just watching the news, reading a good book, or whatever! Amen? Amen.

Please say a prayer for L right now that he'd be stirred within to want to know God personally.

Be Encouraged. Be Inspired.
Have GOALS. Go. Open Your Mouth. Ask Questions. Love. Share your story.

Your brother in Christ, Drake
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