A Man Named Bill

 "Today, if only you would hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." Psalm 95: 7-8

    Before I left for an appointment, I prayed that God would lead me to someone who needs Him. To encourage the matter, I wore my "Jesus is King" tee shirt, which did indeed spark a conversation with a man named Bill and his smiling wife, Laura. They complimented me on my apparel, so I sat next to them.

    As God would have it, a software glitch caused a delay in our appointments allowing time to talk. Soon, Bill was telling me that, though he has searched for God in various kinds of churches, though he has been told many times over that there is a God and though he sees it for himself in creation, and though his wife is a Christian, he still cannot take that last step of faith. Physically, he was up in years and down on health, even close to dying at one point last year. His wife pleads for him in prayer, but, as Bill said, "I have to see to believe, and I just don't see it."

    Praying for guidance, I told him of the grace of our Lord Jesus who showed Doubting Thomas his hands and side (John 20:27), and that it is even merciful of God to allow us free will. We do not have to come to Him, but are gently and lovingly invited. Yet, any verse or tenet of my faith I offered, Bill had heard before and remained unconvinced. With tears in his eyes, his frustration was apparent, so I looked at him in love and said, "Jesus loves you and He always will."

    An old adage my mom often used says, "Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today." To delay a haircut or procrastinate over an oil change, these do not begin to compare with the putting off of one's eternal destination, for as Solomon wrote, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring." (Proverbs 27:1) The words of the Apostle Paul further expound: "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

    Bill weighs heavily on my heart, as do a host of loved ones who are going their own way, so I kneel in prayer for them. God is patient, He does not want anyone to perish as He demonstrated on the cross, but one of these days will be our last one. Then what? 

If only you would hear His voice.

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1: 8-9