"Unique Stories"

 

“Unique Stories”

 

I’m writing these thoughts on Saturday, January 22. Just yesterday I received a mailing from Jews for Jesus praising God for the salvation of a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor and her son through the witness of a JFJ worker in a large European city. And last Sunday an 81-year-old man was baptized in our church after accepting Christ earlier that week. In both these cases those God used as instruments weren’t deterred by the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” (As Jay Adams observed, “People aren’t dogs!”) Among the last words Jesus spoke before returning to Heaven are Mark’s rendering of what’s been called “The Great Commission”: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.” (Mark 16:15, NLT, emphasis added). That’s a command, not a suggestion, to all who identify as Christians.

Each of our stories of coming to Christ is different. In my case I received Him in a Sunday School class at the age of six. Others met the Master at home, camp, small group and in countless other contexts. Here are three unique situations in which I was used in some way:

*A 30-something businessman saw himself as a religious and good guy who thought he’d checked all the right boxes but didn’t know Jesus personally. Then he heard a David Jeremiah message in his car, realized his works weren’t enough and put his faith in Christ. I later baptized him and his family and saw him grow rapidly in the ensuing years.

*A 20-something young man purchased our NH town house, attended our church shortly after the closing, received Christ and was baptized. Why? He was impressed that Karen and I left the condo so clean. (“Little” things do matter.)

*During my final on-call hospital week last March I was called to the bedside of a patient who was anxious over his fast-approaching death. By God’s grace I saw him put his trust in Christ and witnessed his demeanor change to calmness. He stepped into Heaven the next night.

In Scripture we read of some who came to faith whom many of us would have seen as hopeless: King Manasseh of Judah after a godless reign (2 Chronicles 33); King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple (Daniel 4); Saul of Tarsus whom Jesus transformed from a menace to a missionary (Acts 9). What’s your faith story? If you don’t have one you can. “…To all who received (Jesus)…who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:12). Trust Him to keep His word—He will!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan