I’ll never forget it as long as I live.
The setting was a quant country church, and Reverend Neal was preaching to an enthusiastic group of congregants during their revival week. The topic was the armor of God.
The room was comfortable – we sat in plush maroon chairs, the recessed lighting cast a glow on the stage, and the heater was dutifully pumping warm air to keep us snug while the winter weather outside blew gusts of freezing air.
But there was something decidedly uncomfortable about the whole setting. Namely, the topic of the sermon. This preacher seemed bent (as usual) to knocking people out of their comfort zone and into the scary territory of heart examination.
Then Reverend Neal gave the final kicker – “Do you know you are truly saved?” He probed. Silence fell over the crowd like a heavy blanket. “Do you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that if you were to die tonight, you would be with him in heaven?” You could hear his heart cry – that people would come to the precious understanding of salvation just like he had.
There was a lump in my throat; I had been in this position only a few weeks earlier – questioning, wondering if I truly knew Jesus. I knew how a life of “good works” can confuse us into thinking we understand salvation. As I looked around the room of sweet, church-going people, I began to pray that Reverend Neal’s words were striking a chord in someone’s heart.
The invitation to know Christ was given, and Jake and I stood on the stage singing, “What can wash away my sins? What can make me whole again? Nothing but your blood, nothing but your blood, King Jesus...”
I had to blink twice to make sure what I saw happening was truly happening. As we sang, a little sweet Grandma from the very back of the church hobbled up to the front. She was no less than 80 years old. Her face was solemn – she was on a mission. The pastor of the church sat down with her and starting asking her questions...
“Do you know Jesus Christ is your personal Savior?”
“I don’t know.” She said plainly.
What happened next brings such joy to my heart. This sweet lady humbly bowed before the Savior and accepted Jesus Christ into her heart. Finally, she could know. Finally, her soul could be at rest. Whatever good she had done her whole life was overshadowed by the goodness of what Jesus did on the cross.
We worship such a big God. He is big enough to draw the heart of the tribal man who has never heard the name “Jesus”; He is big enough to forgive the man on death row; and He’s big enough to save the precious old lady who didn’t know how desperate she was for Him.
“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
Nor His ear to dull to hear.”
Isaiah 59:1
That is so awesome! I love how Jesus draws people.
ReplyDelete