I walked out of 5th hour reading the newest collection of my bookshelf "The Innocent Man." I must have looked deeply enthralled in my book, either that or he was just kidding with me. "Is that a good book?" As I turned around, I saw my friend Jon. John and I we're kind of like "stuck together" ever since kindergarden. We are in the same grade with last names that both start with K. Our lockers we're always next to each other in middle school and whenever picture day came around, it was no figure that I was always behind Jon. So, needless to say, we we're "stuck together." "Why, yes it is," I responded. A few days earlier in the week I had seen him at his locker [yes, right next to mine]. I talked to him briefly about what he believes about God. He reponded that he believed in God. I didnt have time to preach him a sermon so I quickly scrounged through my purse and handed him a tract that read "God Has A Gift For You" and asked him if he would read it. He gladly told me he would and I told him I would talk to him later. The thing is that I rarely see Jon, so, later never came. But today had... "So, did you read that thing I gave you??" I asked eagerly. "Yeah" "What did you think of it?" A question I ask often and there is an uncomfortable response from my recipient attemting to unjumble a polite answer. I think I will change my tactics on this. There was a pause and then a "it was nice." And so we got to talking and I found out a few things about my friend in whom I haven't spoken to since 7th grade. He used to attend the St.Rocks Catholic Church in Flat Rock. And so I was off, talking about how you cant get to heaven by "good works" and that they are filthy rags. And that Jesus died for us, rose again, ect., ect. So, finally I asked him who he thought Jesus was. He thought for a few seconds longer than it would originally take to conjure an answer. I quoted the begining of John 3:16 telling him that Jesus was Gods Son, that we needed a sinless propitiation, that Christ never sinned. He told me he knew where I was coming from and agreed with all I said. That wasn't satisfying enough for me. So then I told him of a sinners prayer and asked him if he had ever prayed a prayer like that. He couldn't remember ever doing that. I asked him if he would like to right then and there. He hesitated, just a little too long. He said he had been thinking about it. That wasnt good enough for me. I wanted him to say that he wanted to go to heaven and live forever with Christ. We as humans can only dream. Then came the worst part. "I really hate to cut this short, but my ride is leaving. Can we talk about this tomorrow?" My heart sunk. Sure, yeah, we can talk about this tomorrow, if you don't die before then. "Yeah! That's fine." I conjured a smile. I wanted to kick myself in the face as I watched him walk away, lost, without newfound salvation, without drinking from the eternal springs, without knowing that if he died, he would go to heaven.
So, needless to say. Please, Please, PLEASE pray for Jon. His heart is so open, but the devil has him at hesitation. Pray that he will see Christ's light shining through me. Pray for me to say the right words to portray Christ's love for him, and his need of Christ in his life.
21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
-Alina Marie |