Most of us have heard the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.” The same can be said for human beings. You can lead them to living water, but you cannot make them drink.
Jesus said, “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). By that he meant that we all thirst for clarity, hope and consolation. Although we thirst for the life-giving water that He offers, many refuse to drink for one reason or another.
Although my friend Bill at the pier has let me give him countless rides home and let me pray for him, he doesn’t seem to be responding to my promptings and asks no questions. Maybe he thinks he’s something special because I always encourage, overlook a person’s foibles and treat them like a friend. Like I said in the past, Bill is a highly educated man and I respect him for that. Also, he was a drummer and writer for a music magazine back in the day (I enjoy talking to intelligent people), but like I said in my last article, I, in essence, called him a fool for not believing in God by quoting the scripture that says, “The fool has said in his heart: there is no God.”
There seems to be something about drug-addled liberals that take pride in not believing in God, and they let you know it. The next time we meet up, I will have to lay it all on the line once and for all, not knowing what to expect. After all, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make them drink. Bill saw me yesterday from a distance walking out onto the pier, and he went around behind the snack bar to avoid bumping into me. I’ll just have to leave him in God’s hands as always.
As most of you know, I’ve been an evangelical Christian for many years and have led numerous people to faith in Christ. Unlike some who keep score, I never felt it was gaining me any brownie points in doing so, and I seldom if ever use the Roman Road tactic, but instead I rely on God’s prompting.
After receiving Christ, I made it a point to learn all I could about this living water, which for me was very gratifying. With this mindset, I’ve been able to lead all seven of my siblings to faith in Christ and mentor them in understanding scripture, since we were brought up in a broken home devoid of Godly things. I, being the eldest, had to set the pattern for right behavior even though I faltered at times. I even baptized my baby sister in the ocean when she thought she had cancer, which later proved to be malignant. She made her way to Florida from Michigan to have me baptize her after I led her to faith in Christ.
Today I found out that a nephew had just had an operation for stomach cancer, but the doctors couldn’t get it all taken out, so he will have to undergo chemotherapy. Amazingly, I had just been thinking about him this morning when I received the call from my “born-again” younger brother who had received Christ ten years ago after much prompting by me.
The first thing to enter my mind is – was this nephew saved? He claims to be a Christian, but although he doesn’t smoke, drink or use drugs and is a good man, I was skeptical since he never talked about God nor went to church. Knowing this, I phoned him at the hospital, but he was indisposed. Since he is over a hundred miles away and that region is in lockdown because of Covid 19, I had to leave him a message. I made it a priority that he should know how to be saved, step-by-step, and told him I would be praying for him. I’m sure he was glad to hear from me, since I’m his favorite uncle.
(At his urging, I had portrayed Fagin in the musical “Oliver” for his drama class in the new auditorium in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, for graduation. Everyone was elated that a professional would step into that role, in that place, and the whole town turned out. I received a standing ovation for the closing spotlight number. It was very gratifying for me too.)
In any case, I hope my nephew will receive Christ and that his children follow suit, but I have yet to hear back from him.
Yesterday was an unfruitful day, or so I thought. I had met a group of young people as I was preparing my gear to do some serious fishing and walked out onto the pier. After a few short minutes, I saw the young lady with a teenaged group coming my way. When she finally reached me, I said, “What are you doing out here by yourself?”
“They’re on the beach and swimming,” she said as she sauntered over to me.
“Looks like you just wanted to be alone with your thoughts,” I replied.
As she approached, I could tell something was bothering her, “Do you want to tell me about it; maybe there’s something I can do?”
“Nobody can do anything for me,” She whimpered as she began to cry.
“God can help you with anything.”
“My boyfriend dropped me yesterday – and I am deeply hurt.”
“Let me pray for you.”
“Please do,” she said as tears fell from her eyes.
I said a short prayer for the healing of her broken heart; and after a few minutes, she began telling me her life’s story – how that no one in her family had ever prayed for anything, that her grandmother was a Jehovah’s Witness, and that her boyfriend worked for the Lutheran church. I knew then that this was a spiritual battle, a divine appointment after I discerned what was happening. After talking awhile, she regained her composure. Now, I was concerned for the state of her soul.
“These are perilous times in which we live, and who knows what will happen next. Maybe even the rapture.” I asked her about her spiritual life, and she said she had none. I told her about God and Jesus Christ and quoted scripture. Soon I asked if she would like to receive Christ as her Savior, and she replied, “Yes, but I’ve never prayed before and don’t know how.”
“Just repeat after me – if you feel led.” – Father in heaven, I confess that I have ignored you. Please forgive me. I now receive Jesus Christ into my heart and life, so change me and give me peace.”
YBIC
Jim Towers
You can write me at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com
Visit my webpage www.propheticsignsandwonders.com
Or visit me at www.dropzonedelta.com