Be Careful How You Live
Written by Administrator Saturday, 25 February 2006 19:00
One of our Elders, Ernie Bednar, sent this story to me a few weeks ago. Though it has made its rounds on the Internet, it’s a wonderful illustration. Read it carefully and thoughtfully.
One of our Elders, Ernie Bednar, sent this story to me a few weeks ago. Though it has made its rounds on the Internet, it’s a wonderful illustration. Read it carefully and thoughtfully.
Bill wore a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. The lad was brilliant, but he was not a Christian.
Across the street from the campus was a well-dressed, very conservative church. They wanted to develop a ministry to the students but were not sure how to go about it.
One day Bill decided to visit the church. He walked in wearing his jeans and T-shirt, his feet bare, and his hair tussled. The service had already started, and so Bill started down the aisle looking for a place to sit. The church was completely packed, and he couldn’t find a seat. Heads turned and noticed the young man, and many were looking a bit uncomfortable at his appearance. But no one said anything. Bill came closer … and closer … and closer to the pulpit, and when he realized there were no seats, he simply plopped down on the carpet at the front of the church.
By now the people were really uptight, and the tension in the air was thick. About this time, the minister realized that from way at the back of the church, a deacon was slowly making his way toward Bill.
The deacon was in his eighties, carried a cane, had silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man … he was very refined, very dignified, and very distinguished. As hestarted walking toward this boy, everyone reasoned to themselves that you can’t blame the man for what he is about to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?
Seemingly, it took a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church was utterly silent except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes were focused on the scene. You couldn’t even hear anyone breathing. The minister hesitated to begin preaching waiting for the inevitable to happen. As the elderly deacon came alongside the young man, he dropped his cane to the floor. With great difficulty, he lowered himself and sat down next to Bill and worshipped with him so he wouldn’t be alone.
The incident took everyone by surprise. The congregation choked up with emotion. When the minister regained control of himself, he said, “What I’m about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget.” Subsequently, the young man supposedly became a Christian.
The lesson is a powerful one. “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read.” May God help us to be that kind of person … that kind of church.
Sparky