November 1 2018 – Click here to listen
I went fishing yesterday and caught some very large mahi-mahi, (dolphin fish). The weather was perfect as were the seas and my friend and I were enjoying God’s creation and blessing. At least that is what I called it; he on the other hand is an agnostic and has only a vague concept of a God somewhere out there. He attributed our tremendous day of fishing to luck.
This attitude is particularly sad because he has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is awaiting surgery in a few days. He must depend on luck to get him through the days ahead. He told me he has no problem with facing life alone, his dad abandoned his family when he was a toddler and his mother died young. He bumped around and made it on his own and it had served him well. (This is not such a true statement because he’d told me earlier his life had been a total wreck until just recently.) He has all of the same old agnostic doubts about God and an answer for every argument and there seems to be no way to dissuade him.
Though fairly young he retired to a modest pension a few years ago and spends much of his time fishing. He told me that he was having a blast in retirement and that he wanted to live for a very long time. He is determined to beat cancer and insists he will prevail. I told him I’d been praying for his full recovery and that his cancer would be completely eradicated. And then I mentioned that even if he does elude cancer, eventually he and I and every other person on the planet would die. “So, what happens then?” I asked. He said, “Well I will just face whatever is coming, that is if there is anything further.” He saw the look of concern on my face and quickly reassured me, “I’ll be fine” He then looked at me for a moment and told me he knew I was a “religious” person and that was fine for me, but he was not and preferred to stay that way.
Earlier he’d told me that he had literally never thought about his own death, but after getting the diagnosis confirmed he could not sleep for a week. In other words, he greatly feared dying. I told him according to the Bible if he did not change his tune before he died he would spend eternity separated from God in hell. He was not convinced. Sigh . . .
I related to him that I have outlived two cats and faced imminent death many times and can say with full authority that I did not fear death at all and still don’t. I’m not trying to rush it because I have more to do for the Lord, I love my family and friends and don’t want to say, “so long for now,” to them, plus there are more fish to catch. But as far as facing what is coming after this life, I greatly look forward to it. I am certain I will enter heaven and will at last meet Jesus and thank Him for what He has done in my life and spend eternity with God in heaven and those who have gone on before me.
I thought to myself that if I said any more to him at this stage it would be a waste of breath and probably make him angry; his case is hopeless . . . BUT GOD!
No one is hopeless when God is involved. I will continue with deep prayer and whatever else the Lord leads me to do, but I pray the Holy Spirit convinces this good friend of mine to change his mind and draw him to the Lord. I am deeply concerned for him.
We ended the religious context of our conversation for the rest of the day, but not before I told him I would continue to pray for him. We will remain good friends and no doubt continue to fish together at every opportunity. He has a free will and I cannot make him believe. If I could I would. Sometimes the people we want to help the most in life are the very ones who refuse it the most. I have a small inkling of how God must feel, because he loves my friend more than anyone can understand, and I know it has to sadden God as it does me to view my buddy’s rejection of His free gift of peace, joy, and love forever. It has to hurt Him beyond anything we can imagine.
Please take a moment and pray for my friend right now wherever you might be. Dear Father, please make Yourself known to my friend and lead him into repentance and Your glorious presence.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.