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| The man that God hated! Parts 1&2 |
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Why should I believe? Why should i care the man asked? Your God hates me!The man said as he tipped back his bottle of wild irish rose and then offered me a drink. to protect his identity I will call him Joe for the rest of this entry. Of course I declined Joe's offer not that I wasn't tempted, for many years alcohol was a weakness for me, but those days were long behind me. So I asked Joe can to tell me why I shouldn't believe and be like you. The first several visits in the park ended with the same question "Why should I not believe in God like you don't Joe?". Joe finally said you should beieve because he has blessed you, But God has forgotten about me. Joe said prove that He hasn't. This is where we ended that days meeting.
I wish it had been today because now I know what I would of said to Joe on that day as opposed to going back and studying and looking up things in my bible first. Well you can read on.
So the next day at the appointed time at the appointed shelter down by the Ohio river i met with Joe again. I asked Joe if he had ate today. He said yes. I said see God provided you with that food. Joe said nope I was panhandling by the bridge back from Ohio to get it. I said but Joe how many cars passed you he said I donno a thousand. I asked how many stopped he said about 20 it was enough for a couple double cheeseburgers and a bottle and some money for smokes. To that I said who do you think opened those 20 peoples hearts to give you that money you were to use for food? We didn't say much after that just kind of watched the tugboats move coal up and down the river.
A few days later I met with Joe again and asked him well have you figured out who opened those twenty peoples hearts? He said so what maybe God did maybe God didn't what is your point. I said for someone who allegedly hates you He made sure you eats right? We went down by the river and Joe started fishing.I asked him where did he get the pole and he said a man walked up and said it was one of his old poles he was going to replace it and gave it to me. I said so you mean to tell me God feeds you and gives you what you need to feed yourself and you still believe he hates you? Just as I finished saying this Joe hooked into a medium sized catfish 5 or so pounds fully dressed. I started to laugh and said well Joe do you still think God hates you? He said I donno if its, he doesn't hate me or he really loves you. I said Joe he loves you, he provided for you not me the money for food and the fish. Joe he loved us all so much that he sent his son to die for us all. How can you say anyone who would send his own flesh and blood to die for me and die for you hates any of us? I left that day on that note. Its been a month now since i first met Joe.
Joe and I meet back a few days later. I remember it was raining and he was under the pavilion. So were many other homeless men. I brought my bible down to the pavilion with me. There was a mixed bag of individuals there. I started reading a few scriptures with Joe and whoever else wanted to hear. I remember the group quickly split 20 or so men said why do I want to listen to hollow promises and walked away. Joe and a few other men lingered and listened as I read John chapter 3. We then discussed it in length this meeting with Joe was the first time he was stone sober. I could see him responding to the Holy Ghost convictions in his life.
Joe had asked for a bible so he could read it. I said I would get him one.
(pt.2)
over the next month I seen some very rapid growth in Joe. I had invited Joe to church several times he was always polite and said He would see. Joe had not quit drinking but would not drink when I was going to meet with him. Interesting how God works I remember Joe coming to the church for the first time it was a Tuesday night. Home league and Men's club were there and I brought a devotional message I forget the name of it now but the message was on stewardship more specifically about gambling away or drinking up the resources God has given you. I touched on bingo and how if you won you were a thief and if you-lost you were a poor steward of God's resources. That was probably the fist time I actually believed that I was going to need a police escort to get out of the corps to safely(i am of course joking, but it hasn't been the last time there was that kind of tension after a message either). People don't wanna hear that type of message but how do you become a leader without leading by the truth of the word whether people like it or not. Joe disappeared right after the message.
On a napkin on my windshield of my van said this:
Going to check myself into rehab....... see you as soon as I get out.
Joe.
Three long months of waiting and wondering and I got a visit, It was Joe cleaned up, dressed up, no longer on the river, and was beating alcoholism day by day. Joe when he came out of rehab went to the mission and was staying there, working, saving money for his own apartment. He also did two things one I was hoping for and the second I could scarcely imagine. The first was while he was in rehab He had given his life to the Lord and vowed to serve him in any way he could. The second was he started ministering to the guys down on the river showing them by example that they could beat the alcohol. He was very successful at getting the men to go and straighten out their lives. I decided at that point to let the student become the teacher and started to back away and let Joe do what was in his heart to do.
I met with Joe no less than once a week for the next three months or so. He had attached himself to a local baptist church that he had once attended before his world got turned upside down. I was and still am proud of Joe.
One night kind of late midnight or so I ran into Joe on my way back home from a Speedway getting a coffee. I stopped and we talked I asked him how his ministry was going he said that "25 have been saved from Satan and that demon they call alcohol." Joe had been blessed he finally had his apartment, was alcohol free for months, had a job, and was ministering to the river men several times a week. He was at the top of the mountain counting his blessings and giving the honor and glory to God. He finally admitted at least for the first time to me that night that God loved him too. We said our goodbye's and I headed home and Joe had stayed at the corner to talk to someone.
I must of not been a half a block away from Joe when the semi went speeding past me with no headlights on and in black truck on 8th avenue. I started to turn as I heard the Jake brake being applied. I will say it was the sickest feeling sight and sound I ever heard when the semi hit Joe on his bike. after about 300 feet the trucker stopped the semi. I ran, the guy he was talking to ran and someone from nearby called 911. I got to Joe just as he was taking his last breath. He said "It is so peaceful". Then he was promoted to glory. Ironically the truck driver was drunk, and was driving on a suspended licence when he hit my brother in Christ.
This is Joe's story. Some would say what a waste to do all that, overcome all that, and then end up like that. I say there was 25 victories because of his battle. He not only became a believer, he became a believer who was willing to let God lead him and in turn he lead others to God. It has been an honor knowing the man named Joe. Joe can be an example to us all for he could of let his past and present stop him, but he didn't. He could of helped himself and not anyone else, but he didn't. He could of become saved and done like the greater majority of Christians today do and keep Jesus Christ to himself, but he didn't, he shared. Joe's message is simple it is:
3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
and
12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. 12:31 And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
God loves us all no matter our condition. If you truly love your neighbor as yourself you will not hide Jesus Christ from him. Our challenge is to let God have what is his, namely our lives of service to him and our neighbors. This is what will make a difference in our churches, our communities, our counties, our states, our nations and our World and what will make a difference to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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