Seeing Jesus by John William Smith

My wife sent me this story in an email and I thought it would be good to share it here.  Enjoy... - Rick

An Excellent Christmas Story

SEEING JESUS - By John William Smith

In 1962 I was preaching in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was single, and it was Christmas time. I was headed home to Michigan to enjoy the holidays with my family. It was an extremely cold day, and it was snowing.
The wind was howling out of the North, blowing thick clouds of fine flakes across the road - it looked like a blizzard. The roads were icy in places, and there was little traffic. Somewhere near Ft. Wayne, Indiana, I saw a soldier standing under an overpass. He had a green army cap pulled as tight and low as possible over his head, his collar was pulled up around his ears, his hands were shoved down in his pockets, and he had a stuffed duffel bag standing beside him.

I was driving a Chevrolet Corvette, and I was going very fast - faster than I should have been, considering the road conditions.  As I sped by, the soldier jerked one hand out of his pocket and raised his thumb. My Corvette had two seats - not a front and back seat, but two seats side by side - and I was in one of them. The trunk was big enough to hold three loaves of bread and a pound of lunch meat. Not only was my limited trunk space stuffed full with the clothes and boots I would need for my stay in Michigan, the front seat was stacked high as well, with the presents that I had purchased for my folks and my nieces and nephews.

When I saw the soldier, I was going much too fast to stop, and I was well down the highway before I gave it much thought. I told myself that I couldn't possibly get him and his duffel bag in the car - I debated about the terrible inconvenience and delay it would cause if I did, and by the time I decided that perhaps I ought to at least offer to help, I was two miles down the road and out of sight. But my Christian
Conscience really went to work on me.

It was so cold, traffic was almost nonexistent - he was a soldier - and it was Christmas. The inner battle raged for another three miles.
Finally, I decided I would never get any peace unless I offered to help, so I made a U-turn and went back.  I hoped with all my heart that someone else had picked him up.

That way, I could satisfy my conscience and not be inconvenienced - wouldn't that be great?  But he was still there, looking more forlorn, lonely, and cold than ever.  I was disgusted. I pulled up and rolled down the window. He came running, stumbling on his numb feet, dragging the duffel bag. He leaned over and stuck his head in the window. His face was bluish, his teeth were chattering,  his eyebrows and eyelashes were matted with frozen snow, and he could scarcely speak intelligibly.

"Thanks so much for stopping", he said. "I had about given up hope."  That was not what I wanted to hear.

"Where are you going?" I asked, hoping that it was in some direction that would alleviate me from further responsibility.  "I live in Michigan,in Taylor Township," he said hopefully. That was really discouraging. It wasn't directly on my way, but it wasn't too much out of my way either.

"I'm going to Royal Oak," I said reluctantly. "Oh, " he said, "I know where that is. That's great!  If I could just ride with you to Ann Arbor, it would mean a lot to me. I'm almost frozen; I can't feel my ears or feet any more," he said plaintively.

"I don't think I can possibly get both you and your things in," I said.

"If you'll let me, I'll get in - I promise you. I've been standing here for three hours."

I told him to try getting in, and we began rearranging things.  The duffel bag was almost as big as he was, and there was only one place for it - the passenger seat. No matter how he put it in the car, he couldn't get in himself. I suggested that maybe he could hide it somewhere and come back for it later. He said he couldn't possibly do that; it had his kids' Christmas presents in it, and he wasn't going anywhere without it. I finally got out, walked around the car, and told him to sit down in the passenger seat.  As he sat there, I wedged the duffel bag between his legs and between the floor and the roof of the car, I sandwiched all of my presents around him - and I slammed the door. He couldn't move, he couldn't see out either the windshield or his side window - but he was in. I still don't know how we did it.

Once he began to get warm, he began to talk. I found out he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri "Didn't I see you go by about five minutes ago?" he asked. I really felt stupid.

"Ummm, yes," I said.  "You mean you turned around and came back?!" I nodded an affirmative.

"Why would you do that?"
I paused a long moment.

"Well, you see, I was raised in a home where helping people who were in need was very important. In addition, I'm a minister - actually, it's more than that - I'm a Christian, and if it weren't for that, I'd probably still be going. I have as hard a time doing the right thing as most folks. I fought with this decision for five miles - it's Jesus who makes me do things like turn around and come back. When I don't do the right thing, I have this feeling He's looking at me, and He's so disappointed that I can't stand it.

"Oh!" he said. "you don't know how that convicts me. I'm going to tell you something I never thought I'd tell anybody. I'm no Christian, but my wife is the best person in the whole world, and she goes to church all the time and takes the kids. Truthfully, I've done everything I could to discourage her, but she just keeps going.  She's all the time trying to get me to go, telling me that someday I'm going to wish I had.

"Do you know why I'm here hitchhiking? Let me tell you a little story. I was turned down for holiday leave because I got drunk and caused some trouble at the base. I was sick about it. I haven't seen my wife and kids for six months. A friend of mine, who's single, found out at the last minute that his folks were coming to visit some relatives who live close to the base during the holidays. He went to our commanding officer and volunteered to take my duty, if he would let me go home.

He gave me permission, but I had spent all my money buying presents, which I was going to mail home, so I decided to start hitchhiking. My family doesn't even know I'm coming. I wasn't sure I'd make it, and I didn't want to disappoint them. I've been standing there for three hours, thinking. I watched folks drive by, and it occurred to me that some of them must be Christians, and it made me feel pretty bitter - until I got to thinking about what a lousy person I am, and I knew if I was them, that I probably wouldn't stop either

"Let me tell you something embarrassing - I got so cold, so lonely, and so desperate that I started to pray - honest to God I did - it was so humiliating. I told God that if he would help me, I'd do better. And you know what? About that time you showed up, and you told me that you came back because of Jesus - now what do you make of that?"

"Well, first I'd say that maybe there's more to Christianity than either of us thought, and second, I'd say you'd better start doing better."  I found out exactly where he lived, and we agreed that I could get him pretty close before I had to go in another direction. I think I knew what I was going to do long before I actually said anything. As we approached the intersection where I was going to let him out, I told him that I had made up my mind to take him home.

About two hours later, we pulled up in his driveway. It was almost dark.

He was really excited. He asked me to blow my horn, and I did. A few minutes passed, and the inside door opened slowly. The glass in the outside door was frosted over, and whoever was looking out could only tell that there was a car in the driveway. The outside door opened, and a five-or six-year old, barefooted boy peeked around the door. When he saw my sports car, he came out on the porch and peered intently at us. His dad opened the door and stepped out.

"Hi, David, it's Daddy; I'm home for Christmas!" He started to say more, but the boy had seen the uniform and heard the voice.

The boy's face lit up, and he turned back into the house. I could hear him distinctly - "Mama, Daddy's home," he yelled shrilly.  "Daddy's Home! Mama! Mama! Daddy's home for Christmas!"

The door opened again, and it didn't open slowly this time - it was thrown open. A woman dressed in a bathrobe and house slippers came running down the steps, her hair flying in the wind, oblivious to the snow and the cold, eyes and mouth opened wide with excitement, with joy etched in every line of  her face. "Oh, Carl," she said, "Oh, Carl, you're home/ Praise God, you're home.

The kids and I have been praying every day that, somehow, God would send you home."

She was followed by a skinny, fair-haired, ten-year-old girl and finally by a towheaded, blanket-toting, two - or three-year-old girl. They kissed and hugged and laughed and cried, and they danced in the cold and the snow until the soldier finally disentangled himself from them long enough to introduce me.

"This is John," he said. "He's a minister and he's also a Christian; and if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here. And I'm going to tell you something honey, right here and now. I told John that I had promised God that I was going to do better, and I am. I'm going to stop drinking, be a better husband, a better father - a better man - and we're going to start going to church together."

I have never witnessed such gratitude in my life. They all had to hug me and kiss me - even the two-year-old - and they told me what a blessing I was to them and that they owed me a debt they could never pay. I was so embarrassed, because I was so unworthy.  I had grudged the whole thing until after we had started talking.  I wanted to tell them that I didn't deserve any thanks.

I tried to leave, but they simply wouldn't allow it. I had to go in the house. I had to eat something and drink something; I had to accept a gift from them - yes, I had to. They would not allow me not to, and the more they did, the better and the worse I felt.

I was so embarrassed. You know why? I had just witnessed something private - a family thing - something I wasn't part of - something not meant for outsiders - and, yes, I was - I was embarrassed. And you know what else?

I envied Carl. I thought that it must be wonderful beyond description to be loved by a woman like that and missed like that and to be so unworthy - and I think Carl was just beginning to understand what he had. I have learned since then that only those who have come to know and feel the love of God can love the unworthy - and I have also learned that we are all unworthy.

Carl was home. I think that at that moment, home meant more to him, perhaps, than it would ever mean again. And when I got to my home and saw my folks and told them why I was late, they were so proud of me - and I was a little proud of myself. Home was somehow brighter, warmer,more dear to me than it had ever been before. Every human longing - bound up in the inherent yearning to be loved and to be "home" and to experience the peace and security that "home" signifies - has found its fulfillment in Jesus who said, " I go to prepare a place for you." Everything we ever dreamed of home being - what it was or was not - is in that place. Jesus has given purpose, even to the dream of death, because for those who know God - that is the way home.

"How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given.
So God imparts to human hearts,
the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
the dear Christ enters in."

Jesus comes to us in many ways. He came to me in the form of a freezing soldier trying to get home for Christmas. He came to a freezing soldier in the form of a young minister trying to find his way to God. Either one of us could have missed Him.

Jesus will come to you this Christmas too, and His coming will be in an unexpected way - don't miss Him.

A Lack Of Vision

Lately I've been attending a lot of different churches because of the ministry work we've been doing.  It's a blessing to get amongst God's people and to visit with and minister to the body of Christ.  I've been to some big churches.  I've been to some small churches.  I've been to churches at all points in between.

I've never been one to believe that a bigger church is automatically more effective or "better" than a smaller church.  I have seen mighty moves of God in both.  A bigger church may be considered better because it has more drawing power and more things to entice visitors, but a small church may be considered better because it has a personal feel that many people desire.

In my travels recently though a stark clarity has presented itself  One thing that makes a church effective or not is  Proper Vision.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Proverbs 29:18)

There are over 160 churches in the area in which I live. 160.  That's one hundred and sixty.  I'm a firm believer in planting churches.  I'm a firm believer in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.  However....
160?   My city has 35,000 people.  The rest of the county may have another 10,000.  That's 45,000 people. Considering if 10% of them attend church regularly, that is 4500 people.  Divide that by 160 churches and that gives us an average of 28 members per each church.   I've been to churches who obviously have more than 28 members.   I've been to a LOT of churches that have less than 28 members.  This seems disjointed to me....

Now, side note, I'm the type of minister and pastor that would rather have 10 Holy Ghost filled, dedicated and faithful people than 200 rebellious, hard headed people with dull hearing.  However I say all of this to say one thing.  Without vision, the people perish.

If you want to challenge the importance of vision, blind fold yourself and then take off running through the woods.  After a couple shin whacks and a head on collision with a tree, you will value being able to see much more.  It could even be said that if you are blind and running you have a good chance of "perishing."

Jesus said, "Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall in the ditch?" Sadly, this describes the state of many churches.

One of the first questions I ask a new pastor when we meet is, "What's the vision for your church?"  You honestly would not believe how many pastors can't tell me the vision for their own church! They wonder why the people aren't growing spiritually, why the Spirit of God isn't moving in their midst, why new converts aren't joining the church etc...  If the shepherd isn't leading...how can the sheep follow?

It is imperative that you make sure you are in a church that has a pastor with strong vision.  If he/she has strong vision, he has strong purpose.  If he has strong purpose he has strong desire.  With strong desire comes strong follow through.

The most important factor is to always be sure you are exactly where God wants you.  We must never attend a church just because a grandparent or parent attended there.  Just because your friend goes there, is not reason enough.  You must make sure that God has placed you in a church that will allow your vision, giftings and passions to be used effectively for the Kingdom of God.

There are churches that are started in rebellion...I know churches that have "split" over the color of the carpet.  People get mad and leave and start a church of their "own" so they can do things "their" way.  No vision.  No purpose.  Just rebellion.  When this happens those churches simply do not prosper, do not grow and eventually fail.  I can not stress hard enough that this is not the church for you.

You must find a church whose pastor has a vision.  A pastor who is leading.  It's much easier to follow someone who is actually going somewhere.

Overcoming Frustration When Sharing The Gospel

Admittedly I'm not a great fan of door to door "witnessing."  I've had representatives of as many as 5 churches in a week come by and "invite" me and tell me why they are such a great church.  Sadly, if I don't attend, I never see them again.  Did they really care?

However, this does not negate the fact that our commission is to "go forth" and share the gospel of Jesus.  The need to witness is there.  The processes we use leaves much to be desired.

It's easy to get frustrated when witnessing for Christ.  First off, it seems as though every one you ask is a Christian or "goes to church."  To quickly share a funny story, I was at a local grocery store one evening. Upon leaving, I noticed a group of teen-agers standing out side.   God began to deal with me to speak to them.  (I won't tell you that I used my ice cream as a reason to not do as God was speaking.  I won't tell you that I actually started to drive away.  I won't tell you that God was pressing on me so hard that I had to turn around and go back.)  I will tell you I went and spoke to them.

As I pulled up, I rolled down my window and simply asked where they were going to church that coming Sunday.  One young man quickly spoke up and named the church he attended.  I asked how long he had been going there.  "2 years" was his reply.  I then asked if he was involved with the youth group.  "Very," he said.  He then proceeded to tell me how often he went and involved he was.  You should have seen his face when I told him I was the youth pastor at the church he named (I was) and that I had never seen him before.  I thought his friends were going to pass out laughing at him...

Unfortunately this was a rarity in witnessing.  Usually you are met with self professing Christians who know everything you have to say or you are met with those who are simply not interested.  It can become frustrating and very unproductive.

In order to not become frustrated, we must remember why they are, the way they are.  Look at this following Scripture...

2 Corinthians 4:4

(4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Doesn't that speak volumes?  Satan has unbelievers blinded to their need of Christ.  A person's natural reaction to needing something is to attempt to meet that need.  If you have a headache, you try to get something to relieve the pain.  If you are hungry, you will go get something to eat.  If you are thirsty...

It's important to understand this when witnessing to the lost.  They don't agree with you because they don't see what you see.  They won't just roll over and accept what you are saying because to them they are not "lost" nor "unsaved."  Though we can see the need, they simply cannot.

Through prayer, not always through witnessing, we can break the blindness off.  When a person sees the need for Christ, most times they will accept Him.  We are made to have Him in our lives. We are programmed to feel complete only in Him, therefore once the need is presented it carries the desire to satisfy the need.

This simple truth alone can help you not become frustrated when trying to lead others to Christ.  You must remember they are blind and do not see as you see.  Patience, consistency and the love of Christ will help them to see their own need.

A couple of points;

   Understanding the need of Harvest and being willing to go after it is the first step.  However, as I have already stated, not all that hear will receive.

   This Scripture tells us that there are those with “blinded” minds.  They are kept this way, through sin, and the “light of the glorious gospel of Christ” cannot reach their hearts.

o   This is why we do not see conviction in the church today the way we used to.  Those who are in sin, do not think they are in sin, therefore the Word of God has no effect on their hearts.  These are churched people.

o   How much worse can we imagine it is on those who have no Godly influence in their lives?

Is this a new problem?

   Hardly.  Jesus spoke several times of those who would not “hear” the gospel and who would not receive Him as Savior.  He also spoke of the last days when “false Christ” would arise and even the very “elect” would be deceived. 

   When Christ was alive the Jews wouldn’t receive Him for who He was.  No different is it today when people won’t receive Him.  But!  It doesn’t make Him any less Him…

What does this mean to ministry?

   It’s making our task very difficult.  It’s virtually impossible to get people to want to come to church.  “Church” is taboo.  Weird things happen to people who go to church.  This is the excuse the world gives.

   We must first ask ourselves: “Am I really a good witness for Christ?”  “Do I have Him deep in my heart so that He shows?”  Sadly, many so called Christians would have to say no to these questions.  How will we ever pull anyone out of darkness if we don’t have the light on ourselves?  Jesus taught that if a blind person led a blind person that both would fall in the ditch...

Conclusion:

   Witnessing is great, inviting people to church, going after kids on the van and trying to build the Kingdom of God is very important and necessary.  However, we must make sure that we are what we say we are.  In order to not become frustrated you must remember that you once were blinded to your own need.  Someone prayed for you, someone was patient with you and/or someone loved you enough to help you see your need.  Turn that love towards someone who needs Him today.

Are we ready for a spiritual harvest?

For quite some time now I've heard pastors say that they desire a "harvest" which in spiritual terms is a "reaping" of those who are not Christians.  

As I've talked to many pastors though, it seems that not very many are preparing for the harvest they desire.  In order to bring a harvest in, you must have a place prepared for it.  In example, you don't go to the grocery and buy a bunch of canned goods if the pantry is full or if you have no place to store them.

Because of this I have a lesson I wish to share with you in this post.

John 4:35

(35)  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

     Before we can become effective in the “Harvesting” of souls, we must understand a couple of problems that make it difficult in this day and age to glean those from the fields that are ready for Christ to come into their hearts.

o   The first problem is with the church itself.   Only a few hundred feet from any church there are lost, homeless and hurting people. Yet the church has become solely focused on itself and/or the members have waxed cold. One of the saddest things you can ask many pastors is when the last time was a new convert joined the church.  Blank stares, stammering lips....or worse, the "pastors" who reply, "Well, we don't really reach out that way."  What?

     Christians are to be the representatives of Jesus Christ on this earth.  The Lord wants so much to love those in this world and He wants His love to flow through us to all the people of this world.  In order to do this, however, we need to awaken and allow the Lord to complete His work in us first and then He can work in this world!  Often the Lord’s witness is limited by us.

o     When “Christians” themselves don’t live according to the gospel of Christ, how then can we lead those that are lost?  By this admission, it’s evident that the church must first be “revived” in order for us to effectively share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We need to prepare our lives and our hearts before we witness to others.

      The second problem is the "world" itself.

o   This may seem hard to believe but the world really is a sinful place.  Everything in the world that is not “Godly” is sinful, and it gets worse every day.  This is a problem for ministry simply because people are becoming de-sensitized to sin, its effect and the results.  Things that we see, and combat, today are things that the patrons and saint of old never had to deal with.  We are seeing wickedness on new levels.  For example..

§  I’m amazed at how often I hear on the news now that someone can be attacked on the streets and others stand and watch.

§   Young men and women are beating each other up and recording it just to post it on “You Tube.”

§  40 years ago what is seen on TV today would have gotten the station shut down.  Sexual content, alcoholism, drug addictions are not only viewable but promoted as healthy and productive life styles.

§  Younger and younger are kids getting started on alcohol, drugs and sex.  Teen pregnancy is no longer an issue; it’s the pre-teens that are getting pregnant. 

      Sadly, as a minister of this Gospel, you can’t over come the effects of this by simply knocking on a door and inviting someone to church. It takes investment.  It takes passion.  It takes the Spirit of God burning within.  Sadly, the fire has gone out in many of our churches and even in the personal lives of many church attenders.  Even more sad is the fact that those whose life Christ no longer affects can't even be labeled Christians...simply, church attenders.  How can we hope to lead someone out of darkness if we are there ourselves?

      Bottom Line:

o   If you hope to be effective in leading others to Christ, you must:

§  Make sure you are there yourself and that His Spirit is burning within you, leading you and empowering you.

§  You’ve got to make sure your light is plugged in!

Matthew 5:16

(16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

§  And finally, be sure you live what you teach/preach.  Don’t teach others to be faithful if you are not.  Those that we need to reach aren’t dumb.  It won’t take them long to figure out if you are teaching something that you yourself aren’t living.

      The fields are white and ready to harvest, but first we must sharpen our tools and prepare our barns in order to bring it in.  

At long last...

At long last I am resurrecting this blog. I will continue my rambles, more along a spiritual context, but also touching on world events and what ever ramblings come to mind.

I'd appreciate if you would sign up to follow...not for any credit on my part but simply to know that someone still listens to me when my children do not. :)

So here we go...