A conversation

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The other day I was leaving my church after doing some computer work, and a gentleman was waiting outside and asked me if I could give him a ride home. He was not somebody I knew, but was with another group that was using our facility that evening. I asked him where he needed to go, and it was about 2 miles in the opposite direction of where I was going. I sent an arrow prayer, and felt that I should give this guy a ride.

We got moving, and I tried to strike up a conversation. He asked some questions about the meeting that evening, which I knew very little about. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he said, "You know, I have a lot of fear issues."

"Really?" I asked. "What kinds of things are you afraid of?"

"I really can't put explain it. I am just afraid"

"We all have some fears" I said.

"You have fear too?"

"Well sure, everyone fears some things. I try to trust God to watch over me and protect, but sometimes I fear quite a bit. It is always a battle to remember that God is in control"

A few minutes passed.

"Am I going to Die?" my passenger asked.

He was a pretty clean cut guy. Tall, lean and well dressed. I could tell he smoked a lot of cigarettes, but other than that he seemed pretty healthy.

"We all die" I replied. "But you look like a pretty healthy guy, you probably still have quite a long life ahead of you. Is there something wrong?"

"No, I can't really explain it, I just think I am going to die."

He asked more questions about the meeting.. I told him a little about our church.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked.

"Not that I heard about" I assured him.

As we neared his neighborhood, I got quite confused as to where he lived. He didn't give me very good directions.

He asked me again about fear, and I told him that I though the best way to deal with fear was to pray.

"You pray?" He asked.

"Yes I do."

"Who do you pray to?"

This question through me off a bit. I am not sure why. "I pray to my heavenly father, God. And my Savior Jesus. Do you know Jesus?"

"Yes" he said.

I was lost.. "Do you live on the other side of the river?" I asked. We where pretty much stuck on a one way road going across the river.

"No"

"Oops, I will turn around as soon as I can"

"Now I am getting worried." He replied. "Are you going to kill me?"

"No sir, I am your friend, Just trying to get you home safe."

Unsure that he really understood the point of our earlier conversation, I told him that if he trusted in Christ, he really didn't need to fear death. I told him that this life is hard, but God has work for us to do here. After we pass away in this world, we will live in a world without sin and disease, and our eternal life would be wonderful.

Shortly after this we arrived at his place, and parted ways.

Obviously this guy was a bit confused, but after reflecting and praying about this encounter a bit, I came to realize that his questions are the same as everyone else's.

"Did I do something wrong?" All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23

"Am I going to die?" For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23

"Who do you pray to?" - You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14

"I am afraid" - Perfect love drives out fear - 1 John 4:18

"Are you going to kill me?" Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. - Heb 12:14

Most people don't ask these questions, but they certainly are thinking them. To be honest, that last question crossed my mind a time or two during that trip.

God certainly used this gentleman to prepare me to be ready to answer these questions. I wonder who He will send my way next?

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This page contains a single entry by Josh Reighley published on March 28, 2006 3:58 AM.

Student spends spring break at Wal Mart was the previous entry in this blog.

Purity is not welcome? is the next entry in this blog.

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