Avoiding

One night after the presentation on the beast of Revelation 13, the speaker was bidding farewell to those attending. After all had left, or so he thought, he noticed one lone man still sitting in the pew.

His head was bowed down like a bulrush and his shoulders jerked giving evidence that the man was crying. Gently approaching the gentlemen, the speaker asked, “Are you all right?” Still with his head bowed he nodded in the affirmative. “Can I do anything for you?”

Was the expressed concern. “No,” was the short answer. “May I pray with you?” Again, moving his head up and down he signed in the affirmative.

The preacher prayed. Then the man rose up and began making his exit.

“I would like to come and visit you. Would that be all right?” Asked the pastor. Turning around the man gave a nod of consent and left.

The next day the evangelist mentioned to the intern pastor that he needed to visit the man. “Oh, we can’t,” said the intern. “Why not?” Asked the evangelist.

“I called him, and he said that he had family problems and preferred that we not visit,” was the reply. “I know what he said, but we must go and visit him.

The Holy Spirit is working on his heart, and he is strongly under conviction.” When they arrived at the home, all the window blinds were pulled, and the car was parked in the driveway.

Approaching the door, the pastor began to knock, but there was no answer. “He must not be home,” stated the intern. “No,” responded the evangelist. “He is home.”

He continued to knock. Finally, the door went ajar and the man said, “Alright, come on in.”

Once they were inside, it was obvious that the man was a bachelor. As they sat down, the man began crying again, and he did so for about half an hour. Once he gained his composure, he opened his heart to the pastor. He confessed that he wanted to avoid him because he feared that he would have to make a decision; one that he did not want to make.

But now, he realized that it was the best thing to do. So together, he, the intern, and the pastor knelt and prayed. He made his commitment to the Lord and was later baptized. Two years later the evangelist returned to Australia.

After the morning sermon, the man met the evangelist at the social hall where they were serving food. He approached the surprised pastor and said, “I just had to come and see you.” Then turning to the men standing around he said, “I want you to hear this.

Two years ago the pastor was in the adjacent town giving a series of meetings that I attended. At that time I was destitute of my family, had no job, and expected to die from terminal cancer. The only refuge of support and comfort I had was my church. The night I heard the subject on the antichrist, I was devastated.

Now, knowing what I heard, I felt that I was being deprived of the only peace that I had. I was torn. It was then that I decided not to hear any more.

When the young pastor called me, I told him not to come. Then to my surprise, the pastor was at my door.

I determined not to open, but he kept on knocking as if he knew I was home. I finally gave in and opened the door.

He led me to understand that I must place my confidence in God and not in a church. He was right, and I did. “At my baptism something miraculous happened. My sickness disappeared!

I found the greatest peace ever, and I found a church that embraced me with loving arms. How thankful I am that the pastor came after me.”

And then, turning to the evangelist, he embraced him in a hug and said, “I love you.”