Persistence

Some time ago I moved to the Keys and almost immediately became good friends with a guy who lives in my neighborhood. Through the years I’ve come to know and like him very much. He’s very kind and gentle and is the type person who would give you the shirt off his back.

He has an inquisitive mind and an above average interest in science. He’s an environmentalist with a “live and let live” philosophy that is of the highest “bunny hugger” tradition. He’s positive that everything has its place in the world order and he would not kill a scorpion if one crawled across his bed. He doesn’t want to upset the balance of anything in the natural order of things in what he refers to as “Mother Earth”.

At times he carries his peace and harmony philosophy to the extreme. One day he noticed a wasp nest had been built on his fork lift. Instead of spraying them with wasp and hornet spray, he decided he would let them live, “After all, he said, they eat mosquitoes” and serve a good purpose for Mother Earth.

Soon thereafter he was working on his lift and hit a bump in the road which jostled the wasps off their nest. They proceeded to swarm him and sting him all about his head, neck, and upper body. I laughed until I cried at his swollen head where those beneficial mosquito catchers stung his face, and even his right ear which swelled so badly that it looked like a catcher’s mitt. Apparently no one had explained to the wasps that the natural order of things on Mother Earth is to be at peace with one and all.

Without delay he went to the hardware store and got some spray and killed every last one of them. I told him that I wished that he hadn’t done that because I had begun to notice a dramatic increase in the number of mosquitoes lately. I laughed heartily as he gave me a baleful malevolent stare and muttered a few choice words that neither his mother, nor “Mother Earth” would have liked.

My friend and I have had many long discussions about Jesus Christ. His belief system in Mother Earth precluded him from becoming a believer because he did not think the Christian religion was “inclusive” enough. He could not believe that a loving God or Goddess of “Mother Earth” would allow all those billions of Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and others who have rejected the sacrifice of Jesus Christ with His death, burial, and resurrection to be judged, found guilty of sin, and then separated from God and sent to hell for eternity as punishment for those sins.

We’ve had deep philosophical discussions on this subject literally for years. He steadfastly refused to accept Christ and nothing I could say or do would sway him. I cannot adequately express to you how it has grieved me that this person has rejected Christ. He is not in good health and the vision of him dying and going to hell has weighed heavy on my mind. I have prayed for my friend and prayed for him to come around, all to no avail.

Last winter we were having just such a discussion and I asked him specifically why he didn’t believe. He responded with a bunch of malarkey that is not even in the Bible. I told him as much and asked if he had ever even read the Bible for himself. He had not. I asked him if he would read it if I gave him one. He said yes, and I went home right then and got him one and came back and gave it to him and told him to read Romans and then the New Testament and then the Old Testament.

I’ve been gone all summer but saw him this weekend and I learned that he has accepted Christ as his Savior and is attending church regularly. Right now he is gathering supplies to send to a mission in Nicaragua.

Wow!

I had all but given up on my friend, but it just goes to show that we should never give up on anyone. The power of God cannot be measured and where our persuasive skills are lacking, God’s are unlimited.

I look forward to exploring all of heaven with my buddy some day. I’m very happy for him and I’m delighted that I decided to have that conversation with him and then took the time to go find an extra Bible at my house and bring it back and give it to him and encourage him to read it every day. I planted a seed and the Lord harvested a soul.

Have you given up on anyone? Don’t give up. There is an old German proverb that states: “Begin to weave and God will give you the thread.”

Lots of people gave up on me

You just never know

Gal 6:9
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.