Walking in the Neighborhood

Walking in the Neighborhood - Fishing

by Rob-roy (USA, August 2007)

All,

Please pray for a stranger I met today named Gregory. I do not know much about him. As I was walking around the neighborhood just about an hour ago to exercise I decided to head out toward the main street to do a full lap around my area. As I did so I saw a young man up ahead walking a slowly. As I came up to him he asked if I had a cigarette or some money. I had none of the above. I asked his name and where he was headed. He said he was not really sure although he seemed headed toward the drug store on the corner up ahead.

I asked him how old he was. He said 29. I told him I am 41. Then I asked how old he thought he would be when he died? He said maybe in his seventies. I asked him what will happen when he dies? He looked me right in the eye and softly said "I will go to Hell."

I immediately sensed this conversation was going to be a little bit different. He had a look of confusion, confidence and hopelessness all rolled in to one. He seemed resigned to his fate and without hope and yet satisfied and ok with it.

I asked him if Hell really exists? He said yes. I told him that a number of people do not believe Hell exists at all so why is it that he is so sure it does? He said he just knows it exists. To him Hell seemed reasonable. Almost as if for me to question whether it existed was to question whether or not oxygen existed. He looked at me as if Hell is the most obvious thing in the world. I asked if he believed in Heaven. He said he did. The big question I had for Gregory was why? Why is he going to Hell?

Gregory told me it is because he refuses to repent (his words). He went on to say that he deserves to go to Hell because of sin and because he does not want to repent of sin. I asked him if it is because he enjoys his sin(s) that he is not interested in repenting. He said yes. To him sin is his life. And yet it is the very thing that is stealing life from him.

I asked him if he likes it when people lie to him. He said no, I don't like that. As I asked him if he would like it if someone stole from him? We were just walking up to the corner across from the drug store and he interrupted and said "I gotta go." Usually when this happens, which is not often, I let who I am talking to go. If they do not want to talk further I trust God and leave it in His hands. So in this case I reluctantly did the same as I shook Gregory's hand and thanked him for the talk and let him go. Then I turned back to him after a couple steps and called his name. As he turned around I told him that it does not have to be this way. He does not have to go to Hell.

Then I continued to do my lap around the neighborhood. You can imagine the mix of thoughts. I was praying for Gregory. I was second guessing what I said. Second guessing letting him go before sharing the good news. Maybe I could have pleaded with him more. Before I knew it I had completed my lap (about 10-15 minutes). And that is when I saw someone up ahead returning from the drug store... Gregory!

As we walked toward each other I asked him if he found what he was looking for. He held up a cigarette that he was smoking as the answer to the question. On a very hot summer day he had found what he had endured a long and tiring walk for and he held it somewhat proudly.

Then I asked him if he had a bible. He said yes. I asked if he would read Romans 5:8. When he asked why I told him that it tells how that while we were still sinners Jesus died for us. Died for him. That the price had been paid for his salvation. That he did not have to go to Hell but Heaven. As he looked at me I asked him if he heard this all before. He said yes.

He went on to tell me that he loves sin and does not want to repent. So I asked him if he would sell me both his eyes for 2 million dollars. He said maybe. Maybe for a bazillion gazillion million he mumbled. I said your sure? You would have all that money but you would not be able to see? You would really do that? Sell your eyes? And then he said... no.

And then he said those words that haunted me a bit earlier... "I gotta go." This time I softly asked if he would give me 10 more seconds. In doing so I asked him how it is that he would sell his soul for sin that is nowhere near worth the money he would never ever sell his eyes for? That it was clear his soul is precious to him and if he would repent and trust in the one who paid the fine for his sins he would have eternal life. He nodded his head and turned on his way.

After taking a few steps I called out his name one more time. As Gregory turned I said, "Romans 5:8. Remember, Romans 5:8". And that was it.

Please pray for the Holy Spirit work on him and save him. Please pray for Gregory to saved. Please praise God for bringing this young man back around to talk again. As I headed home it was as if God was pressing on my heart that He is in control. That he is good. How could I forget?

Please also pray that you would Fish for men by allowing God to use you as His hands, feet and lips to do His will. And His will is that none would perish.

In Jesus name,

Rob-roy