The little chapel is empty because it is very late. A lone figure is kneeling at the
richly carved wooden alter. He has been praying for a long, long time; since early
afternoon.
The man is dressed modestly but his clothes are clean and he is well groomed. A
small silver cross hangs from a simple silver necklace around his neck. He is bowed so
low his face is hidden. All you see is his black hair with silver gray mixed in.
Chad prays aloud, "Lord, please grant my request. My son, Blake, still has not
accepted your love and asked for your forgiveness. I know I've been praying for many
years for his salvation… for him to turn from his life of rebellion and turn to you. Please
don't give up on him, Lord.
It's not that he doesn't know about you. We took him to church until he
graduated from high school. He thought he didn't have to listen to us or go to church
anymore. He kind of wandered off and has gotten involved with drugs and a bad crowd.
He's married now and has a beautiful wife and little girl. Give him another chance to
come to his senses… Don't give up on him, Jesus… please."
********
Blake is sitting with two of his buddies at a restaurant in a small town. It is late at
night as they have just completed watching their favorite professional basketball team
win their game with the local team. The three friends have driven five hours to see the
game. They will have a late snack before driving back tonight; they have to work
tomorrow.
They are rehashing the game, play by play as they wait for their food to arrive.
Blake is laughing at his two friends as they are debating whether the referees were
completely crazy on a particular call. He feels a touch on his arm and he turns in his seat.
He sees a man about his age standing beside his chair.
The man says, "I want to see you in church Sunday."
Thinking this man is a religious nut and not wanting to make a scene, Blake says
quietly, "I don't live here in your town. I'm not going to come to your church."
The man replies, "I didn't say what church… I want to see you in church."
Blake is embarrassed as this man is very persistent. He looks back toward his
friends, who are still engaged in their debate and don't seem to have witnessed the
intruder nor his conversation with Blake. In fact, no one at the other tables seem to have
witnessed the event.
Blake turns back to tell the young man to leave them alone. He is surprised that
the man has disappeared. Blake looks everywhere and although the man didn't have time
to leave the building, he is nowhere in sight.
One of Blake's friends asks, "What do you think, Blake?" Which one of us is
right?"
Blake scratches his head and replies, "I don't know… I didn't hear you. Didn't
you see me talking to this guy who came to our table?"
The two friends look at each other and shake their heads. One says, "I guess we
were too busy talking and didn't notice."
After arriving home in the early hours of the morning, Blake awakens his wife,
Sarah. After telling her the strange story, he says, "I think God is trying to tell me
something. If he goes to the trouble of sending an angel to give me a message, I think I
should listen. I'm going to church with you and Maria Sunday."
Sarah is so happy, she embraces her husband and says, "That makes me so happy,
Blake. I've been praying you would come with us. It would mean so much to Maria and
Thad also."
********
Blake is true to his word and starts going to church. It has been six months since
the stranger talked to Blake and he has faithfully attended church with Sarah and his children.
He has even given up drugs and alcohol and is attempting to be a model husband and
father.
One day, Sarah asks, "Blake, have you given your life to Christ? You know, did
you ask Him into your heart… maybe when you were little… growing up?"
"Nah… I just didn't see that it was necessary. I went to church all my life and I
was a good guy. Mom and Dad stayed after me to… you know… get saved, but I told
them I'd get saved when I was older. Even when I moved out and got my own place,
Dad was always bringing it up. He didn't want me to die and not go to heaven."
Sarah says, "Well, I don't want that to happen either. I don't want to go to heaven
and not have you with me. Don't you think it's time to get it right with God?"
"Right with God? What more do I need to do? I'm going to church and
everything… I've given up my old habits and friends and I'm working at being the best I
can for you and the kids. I think I'm pretty right with God. Now, I'm going out and work
on the car."
Blake gets his tools and starts working under his car. He drops the drive shaft and
gets ready to change out the universal joint. In his haste, he failed to block the tires and
without the drive shaft being connected, the car starts to roll down the slight incline of the
driveway.
Blake scrambles out from under the car and almost make it completely. His left
foot gets caught under the back tire. The tire bends his foot back toward his ankle and his
foot acts as a block. He is caught. The car's pressure on his foot causes severe pain. If
the tire could have rolled over his foot it would have been better. As it was, all he can do
is scream for help. Sarah comes outside when she hears his cries. She attempts to get the
car off his foot, but she is not strong enough.
A number of neighbors come running when they hear Blake. They all try to lift
the car off his foot, but each time the car moves a little further and makes the pain worse.
Someone calls emergency on his cell phone and says help is on the way.
Blake is in terrible pain but he glances across the street and sees a muscular man running toward him. As
the man arrives, he immediately grabs the back bumper and starts to lift the car. Blake
thinks the man crazy as he knows how high the car must be lifted to do any good. He is
amazed as the car body keeps moving upward and finally the wheel pressure is released
and Blake removes his foot. He doesn't know whether the man says the words as it is
more like a message in his head, but the words 'get right with God' are heard.
He looks around and the big man is nowhere in sight. His wife and neighbors are
excited that he got his foot out from under the car. He asks his wife, "Did you see the big
guy come and lift the car off my foot?"
"No, Blake, I thought you pulled it out yourself. Where is the man?"
"I don't see him. See if anyone knows of him or saw where he went. I'd like to
thank him myself."
Sarah asks the neighbors, but no one saw the big man or know anyone by that
description in the neighborhood. They also thought that Blake had rescued himself.
The emergency crew arrives and examines Blake. They can't believe from
Blake's description of the circumstances that his foot is not broken or the ankle ligaments
torn. He should be experiencing a huge amount of pain, but he isn't. It's as if nothing
happened.
After everyone has gone back home, Blake says to Sarah, "You know… you'll
think I'm crazy, but I know that God sent that big guy to deliver a message that I need to
get right with Him. I know… you told me that also, but this event got it though my thick
head. I'm calling Brother Al… I'm going to get this settled right now."
********
Chad is still praying at the alter when he feels a gentle touch on his arm. He looks
up into Jesus' face. Jesus says, "Your prayers are answered, my son. Blake will be
coming to live with us. Your faithfulness and patience have been rewarded."
Chad embraces his Lord and replies, "Thank you, Jesus, for not giving up on
him."
Jesus says, "How could I? Your love never gave up."
********
He who listens to a life-giving rebuke
will be at home among the wise.
Proverbs 15:31 NIV
