Real Life
This is something I wrote on March 25, 2008. I think it's worth publishing again…
What changes our lives? If you watch much TV or read many printed advertisements everything claims to. People, places, pills, and parks will all, “change your life”. Everything clamors for our attention and all seem to have our best interest in mind when, in fact, very few are actually thinking beyond your dollar. I think of this because I did a funeral today of a man that I have known only since January 29th of this year. Here is his story, it’s a little longer than usual but worth it when you have time:
I received information from a friend at my church that one of his peers in his karate class’s dad was sick in the hospital and he wanted me to pray for him. I told him of course but I would do one better and go visit if his friend would send me the information. She sent me the info via email and at the bottom she put, “He's 60 years old (61 in March), mean, ornary, and the best dad a girl could ever want”. So I set out as any good pastor would do ready to notch my belt with another “salvation”.
As I entered the hospital I remembered his daughter’s last words in the email and began to have second thoughts about whether I wanted to actually see him or not. Now, I am human so don’t be too upset with my honesty. When I got to the door, the courage and excitement were gone and I just wanted him to be asleep so I could pray and leave. Or, maybe be gone for tests and I could leave a card with a nice “God bless you” on it. Real spiritual huh? Without boring you with the details, I went in to his room. This small, old, mean looking man was sitting in a chair and I am sure he was glaring at me. At this point you must realize that I have coached hundreds of kids in basketball and baseball and when I see fear in their eyes I have always told them, “Now remember, they can’t eat you. Go in there and do what you do!” I don’t know what the kids see when they are scared but I was sure if I got too close he would eat me.
As I walked in I introduced myself and explained how I ended up coming to see him and asked if I could pray with him. He said yes and I did. When I finished praying a very general prayer I asked him how he was and his response told me why I was there.
He said, “Preacher, I don’t know why God did this.” He was sincere, angry, hurt, disappointed, frustrated, but I think more importantly, genuine in wanting to know. Ever been there? Maybe not in a hospital but maybe so. Maybe in a living room, bedroom, or restaurant wanting to know how your life got to this point and which way is out?
I explained my life and the sicknesses that haven’t been healed in loved ones and that I wasn’t sure how it all worked but I loved God and Jesus so much that I trust them. I gave a great speech/sermon/message and then dropped the big question when I saw his eyes tear up. Are you ready to pray for salvation? His answer broke my preacher front. His answer was one that a few years back would have made me mad at him and think that he was doomed for hell.
He said “No”. Can you believe that after I drove all the way over there, and prayed with a complete stranger and gave a moving message about trusting God that he said NO? Rude!
But I think my response to his response surprised me the most. I told him that I understood. And I did. I didn’t want him to make an emotional decision based on a good story. I wanted him to trust Jesus and he really didn’t know Him. So I explained that he didn’t need a preacher and when he was ready to pray that he could on his own. Then I told him that I would come back and see him.
Here is his daughter’s email to me later that week:
“There are not enough words in this world to express my gratitude for all that you have done. I can see in dad's face the effect of your visits. He's more calm, more accepting of the prognosis, and is coming to terms with alot. The next time you see him, he will be looking different. I have cut his hair (more of a military type cut now), and his facial hair is gone as well.”
I went to see him the next week and when I walked into the room this time he looked different, acted different, and seemed to think different. He didn’t even realize that he was saved till I explained the scriptures to him about believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is the Son of God (whether that fits your theology or not it is the Word). I found out that he had trusted Jesus with His future, believed that Jesus was the Son of God and was ready for whatever the doctor needed to tell him. The doctor told him that he was already living on borrowed time and he needed to get his things in order. He told the doctor that they were and he was ready.
In all my years of ministry I had never experienced this with my own eyes as plain as it happened with him. He had repented (turned from sin toward the cross) and was a different person. He never went to Sunday school, discipleship classes, or a church service, for that matter, but he was saved. He had a revelation of Jesus as a Savior instead of just a Healer. After I gave him my explanation of Jesus he connected the dots on his own. Jesus is our Savior first and our Healer later. Our Savior first and financial counselor later. Savior first everything else later; in His time.
Have we gotten it wrong all of this time? Not on purpose, I mean, but well meaning missing the Savior while looking for everything else. I am a pastor and I want to say I get it right all of the time but sometimes I need a re-focus. This week, I got it.
As I stood beside his casket today and told the family his story, I told it to myself all over again. I genuinely loved this man because he was what I want for everyone. Someone who had a revelation of Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of man. A man that loved talking about God, Jesus, and family. May we all learn that there is really only one true “Life Changing” event worth talking about. Accepting Jesus as a personal Savior.
As I re-read this I cried this morning. Another class, another dollar, another anything isn’t the answer. Spending time with Jesus is. I did. I hope you will also today.
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