Power of the Spoken Word

God's word is powerful. Two weeks ago, on a Friday, I stood by an open grave and delivered a funeral message for a lady from our church.

We were in the midst of a lot of rainy weather. If it were cloudy or raining I knew it would be a hindrance to a good service. The day before I prayed asking the Lord to send a clear sunshiny day. Sure enough it was warm and the sun was shining brightly. The ground was solid. It was not muddy or soggy as I feared it might be. Weather conditions could not have been better.

Thinking that there probably would be people there who not only were not Christians, but who simply did not believe in God or life after death I spoke on the subject, "Believe in God, Believe in Jesus," from John 14:1-6. I was thankful that the message seemed well received. However, I had no idea if God's Word had struck deeply into the heart of anyone.

Two days later on Sunday morning we were in the beginning stage of our worship service at our small church. A man burst in through the front door as we were singing the first hymn. I did not know him and was somewhat startled because he looked like a man looking for help. Usually such intruders are looking for a monetary handout. He paused momentarily and then came right down the aisle and sat down on the front row. As soon as the invitation hymn was being sung he came forward and knelt down facing the pulpit platform.

I told him that I wanted to help him. I ask him why he had come forward. He really did not know how to answer, but told me that the message in the cemetery had really made him think. He said that he was one of those who had not believed in God or afterlife. I learned that he did not know much at all about God or the Bible. I briely explained to him what it meant to be a lost person. I explained the plan of salvation in as simple words as possible. I told him that God loved him in spite of his sins. He told me that he was a horrible sinner. I further told him that he needed to ask God to forgive his sins. He needed to ask Jesus to save him. I had intended to lead him in a prayer that I hoped he would repeat after me. However, before I began the prayer, he uttered a prayer asking God to forgive him of his sins. I did not present him to the congregation for church membership, but told him that we needed to talk more. I suggested that we meet at the church on Tuesday. He agreed.

Tuesday afternoon we met for more than an hour. I learned that he had only been to church twice before in his 44 years of life. I shared with him many truths that I thought a person who knew so little about God needed to know. He was as convicted of his need for the Lord as anyone I have talked with in a long time. As much as I was able to discern I believe that he had really met the Lord and given his heart and life to Christ.

Since he did had no transportation to church I promised to pick him up for Sunday School and church the following Sunday. He is currently living a mile from our church with the husband of the lady whose funeral we had just conducted. When Peggy and I drove up at the house at about 9:40, sure enough he was ready to go. This time when he responded at the invitation I presented him to the church as a candidate for membership by baptism.

He and I have been together three times since last Sunday. Since he did not have a Bible I gave him a copy of "The Living Bible" and told him to start reading in the Gospel of John and 1 John. Yesterday when spent time together he asked me some questions about what he had read in the Bible. His life seems to be changed and he truly seems to be a new and different person.

I have promised to be his mentor and help him grow in his newfound faith. His journey of faith will not be easy. He must have the love and support of a caring church family. I am committed to helping him as much as I can. I hope others will join me in helping this man become a strong Christian.