“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
I was walking paralyzed doggy Mr. Simeon on a pathway by a New Jersey river near where I am staying in a hotel as I seek housing in New York City to return there for my streets ministry work when I noticed an elderly woman from India dressed in her native clothes wanting for me to come sit beside her. She motioned with her hand by patting it on the bench to show me she wanted me to spend some time with her. She was desperate for company.
I pulled up Mr. Simeon’s wheelchair and sat down beside her. I knew she couldn’t understand a word I spoke. But I knew Jesus knows her language. And I sensed like so many around this world that her god is not the one true God the Lord Jesus Christ.
What would I do? How would I speak to her? The Lord showed me what to do. I used hand motions to ask if I could pray for her. She assented. I placed my hand on her and prayed God would bring her into His Kingdom through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then we sat and kept each other company for a little while.
I drew her a picture of a heart, gave it to her, used hand signals to ask if I could hug her, then hugged her and told her I LOVE YOU. When I walked away, I saw a deep, deep sadness come over her. When I passed by her a little later, she was still there. Again, I sat. Again, I loved her. This time, though I knew she couldn’t understand my human words, I spoke to her aloud about Jesus. And I know He heard me. And I trust Him to answer my prayer.
All that lonely woman wanted was a friend to sit beside her. Little did she know she needed a forever friend, forever Savior, forever Lord, Jesus Christ. So she got a friend, a paralyzed dog, a bit of company, a picture of a heart, heard the name JESUS, and was prayed for in order to spend eternity with God.
While we sat together the first time, two women and a small child came up to us. Turns out one of the women practiced a false religion. I lovingly warned her to be careful. We chatted a bit as the woman from India watched us speak without understanding. The woman from India patted the bench to invite the others to sit with her. They would not. They wanted to walk.
Eventually, we all went our separate ways. Do you realize, my friend, throughout our lives, we are continually crossing paths with people we may or may not see again. God created each and every one of them. And the only way any of us will spend forever with God instead of forever in hell and the lake of fire is by receiving Jesus as Lord. By turning from our sins and believing He died on the cross to pay our sin penalty and was raised from the dead. By truly surrendering our lives to God and His ways. By living for Jesus.
Friend, please as you go through your life day in and day out don’t miss your opportunities.
That woman wanted company and fellowship because she clearly felt alone. My company was only for minutes. What we all need is the forever intimate fellowship of THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
May we surrender our lives to Him, and may we help others to do the same. Loving God. Loving them. Telling the world about Jesus. The only way to everlasting life. Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! AMEN!