A conversation
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?