Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Soul (07/13/06)
-
TITLE: And some have compassion, making a difference | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jerry Ware
07/14/06 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“John, I won’t step foot in a church as long as I live!”
With anger in his voice and pain deep in his heart Mike began to walk away from John.
“Wait Mike, why are you so bent on not going to church?”
Stopping immediately, Mike, in a hurt voice and tears coming out of his eyes said, “I don’t want to go some place where they worship a God who allows good people to die.”
“Mike, you’re mad at God for your wife’s death? Don't you remember that it was the cancer and not God? God is not a taker of life, but a giver of life.”
“Then why did He let a faithful woman, a good woman like my Sarah die? Why is it that a criminal can kill people and go to jail for the rest of their lives and someone like Sarah die of cancer? Why?”
Mike started to walk away again as John stepped forward to try and comfort a friend.
“Mike, I can’t answer that, I don’t know, only God knows. I do know that God has a purpose for every thing He does. We may not always understand it, but He knows what He is doing. I do know in Psalm 116:15 the Bible states, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Also Mike, in Deut. 29:29 it states, “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
“Then why did He have to take her now, why couldn’t He wait? Doesn’t He know that I love and miss her? Doesn’t He know I can’t live without her?”
Mikes body became limp and heavy like his heart. He sat down on the floor with his head in his hands and began to weep softly Mike was feeling all hope was lost and John walked over and put his hand on Mike’s shoulder.
“Yes Mike, He does. And I know that He loves her even more than you possibly could. You see, He gave His only begotten Son for her and for you, Mike. God took Sarah home to be with Him because He loves her and didn’t want her to suffer any more. And now He is calling to you. He wants to save your soul, Mike. So that one day you too may go home to be with God and Sarah. He loves you, Mike, He truly knows and understands what you are going through. All He wants you to do is realize you’re a sinner, understand you can’t go to heaven except through the blood of Christ, and accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior. He wants to save your soul, Mike. But it is up to you to accept Him or reject Him.”
“I don’t know John. I don’t understand the entire faith thing. I have done a lot of terrible things in my life. Sarah was always a good woman and I know I haven’t been that good in any stretch of the word. I just don’t know.”
“God says in Rom 3:23 ~ “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” but in Rom 5:8 it says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” You see, Mike, God loves you even in spite of your sin. All He wants is for you to turn from your sin and turn toward Him.”
Mike slowly sat up straight. Wiping the tears from his eyes and looked at John with a smile on his face.
“John, God loves me even though I did all those bad things in my life? Will you pray with me? I am not much of a praying man. I don’t really know what to say or how to say it.”
“Mike, I would love to. I would love to.”
John knelt beside Mike and they together prayed and God on that day saved another soul from the ever-burning fires of hell. All glory and praise to our Heavenly Father above.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Your article is an easy read, flowing from one thought to the next. The presentation of the gospel, in this way, would be easy to give and to receive.