I was invited to have lunch with Bob and his wife last week, and I accepted. We had a real nice time over the Bible.
When I was ready to leave for home, Bob’s wife said, “Vern, you just have to go and visit Al. Did you know he is dying of cancer?”
Well, I knew the man—at least, I knew him to be an atheist or the same as one. So Bob said, “Let’s pray about your going.”
We got on our knees and earnestly asked the Lord to give courage and wisdom. So when we rose from prayer, Bob said, “Vern, I’m going to stay home and keep praying for you. You go, and I’ll pray.”
I realized then that I was on the spot, and could not refuse to go. I knew too that this man had been visited by a number of persons interested in his welfare. He was reported to be a terrible character, cruel to his family, and had even chased his wife from the room because she tried to read the Bible to him. He would have nothing to do with God in any way.
To make a long story short, I went to Al’s home. His wife greeted me very coolly at the door. I said, “May I visit your husband for a few minutes?”
She said, “Yes, I guess you can; he is in the back room.”
I went in, and what a sight! Al was just skin and bones—a terrible sight to look at.
Al greeted me with an oath, and kept on cursing. He was not going to give me a chance to say even a word. So I thought, “How am I ever going to speak to this man about his soul?”
Then I thought of Bob at home praying, and I just said very timidly to myself, “Lord, please help me.”
The man stopped talking! His cursing ceased, and I spoke to him very gently and tenderly about the love of the Lord Jesus.
At first there was a look of hatred on his face. His eyes were cold and steely—he even made a terrible face at me! But he never spoke a word, and I kept on talking. After some minutes of this he looked up at me, and such a helpless look it was!
Before long Al began to cry. He confessed what a terrible man he had been. I could only quote some Bible verses, especially part of Romans 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22): For there is no difference, and the first part of verse 23, for all have sinned.
Soon I left him, but not before he made me promise that I would see him again the next day. I knew that the Spirit of God would do the rest, and I need not press him further.
The next day I went back and his wife greeted me at the door, all smiles. She at once invited me to his room. Al took my hand and, with tears flowing down his cheeks, said, “At three o’clock this morning I took your Saviour as my Saviour.”
Such a change had come over this man. No fear of death anymore. No more cursing and blaspheming, but just simply trusting in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus. I was with him for about two hours, and we read and talked together. I went back the next day and took Bob with me to see this work of God. Even his wife said it was a miracle. People who lived nearby who knew him could not understand the change that had come over him—that is, the unsaved ones, but we know that it was the Lord’s work and it was marvelous in our eyes.
He lived only a few days after this, and went to be with the Lord, rejoicing in his new-found Saviour. How wonderful to know that we shall see Al again when the assembling shout gathers all the redeemed ones home!