|
Powered Circuits |
He Came BackBy Dr. Jack CanadyDear Leaders Chosen of God,I had to be at least 70 years old when I walked back into a church I had attended perhaps twice before. The founder and long time pastor had gone to heaven. As an unbelieving teenager I made fun of him. I had attended once under pressure. That was enough for me. To me he was a narrow-minded old man who did not know what life was all about. The only other time I attended was at the invitation of my arch enemy Bob White. Off and on we had been enemies all through our school years. We had had several fights. I lost them all but would have fought again if he had challenged me. There was bad blood between us. He was the top athlete in the high school; at least that is what he thought. He also did a lot of bragging about his achievements with opposite sex - if you know what I mean. So, imagine my surprise when he walked into high school one day carrying a Bible. I was just getting over the shock of that when he walked up to me with a big smile on his face and shook my hand. He bowled me over with his next remark; really it was a request. "Jack, I am speaking at the Fundamental Baptist Church next Sunday night. Would you and Norma come and hear me. I sure would appreciate it." My mouth fell open in unbelief. I stared at him for several seconds. This was a guy who hated my guts and he had singled me out from all the other kids to ask me that question. I was so stunned that I was still holding his hand.
As I pulled it away in embarrassment he chuckled and asked again, "What do you say buddy? Do you think you could come?" "Well yes Bob," I finally got out; "Norma and I will be there". Without hesitation he turned the rest of the crowd that had, by that time surrounded him. "What about the rest of you? Would you come?" "Are you kidding?" someone from the crowd yelled. "Bob White preaching at church! We wouldn't miss it!" Everybody laughed and almost everybody was there that night. From the mouth of that teenager we all heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Norma and I were shaken but did not respond to his invitation. In fact we did our best to get out of there as fast as we could. We were almost to the door when I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. It was Bob. My heart was in my throat. My knees nearly buckled. "He's going to try and drag me forward," I thought in panic. Instead he took my hand and Norma's. "Thanks; thanks for coming. I really appreciated it." A month or two later, in another church, God's Spirit opened our eyes. Both Norma and I trusted Christ. Now, more than fifty years later I was preaching in that church. I told them the story; then added, "There is probably no one here who remembers my friend. He walked with God for several years. I got word that he then got away from God. He's gone now, but I have always wondered, did Bob ever come back to God?" An old man about four rows back began to cry. Later he told me, "Bob was my best friend. It broke my heart when he walked away from God. He was away for many years, but a short time before he died he came back and was once again an outspoken messenger of God's grace." Perhaps that is at least part of the story behind Psalm 122, a psalm David wrote. At last, after a long, dangerous journey, weary pilgrims, who had been in a far country, had stepped through the gates of beloved Jerusalem. They lifted their eyes, and there it was; the Temple. A cry went up from the crowd, "Let us go to the house of the LORD". I am sure a cheer went up. David was glad. I bet his voice was heard above all the others. Spontaneous joy broke loose. Troubled souls, who had been in a far country, were finally home. The first thing they wanted to do was head for the house of God. They were headed back to the God they had been away from. I was SO GLAD when I heard that about Bob. I am SO GLAD when others I know well come back to God! In His love, Pastor Jack |
Copyrights: Content (c) 2010 Circuit 'Riter Ministries. |