By Claudia Koenig
I had not been talking about Jesus this week, so I wasn’t going to have a salvation story for this week’s report. I was talking to the Lord about this. He knew that the trials of my health were wearing me down, and I could hardly bring myself to engage in the effort of a conversation.
This morning we went to the usual coffee shop. There has been a new man working there recently. When I first looked into his eyes, they were cold and sharp. I really don’t like that kind of look, so I did not want to approach this man at all. I thought, “Who knows where he is coming from! His eyes look so sharp that I am just not sure about him.” Each time I saw him, I thought the same thing. I kept my distance.
Today he took my order. As I approached the cashier area, those cold, sharp eyes made me uncomfortable. He said, “Is this not a nice day? It is sunny and very nice.” I looked out the window. It was very wet from a previous rain, but was clear and sunny. “Yes, it is very beautiful,” I agreed. I looked at his nametag. It read a biblical name. I said, “Good name to have. I hope that you know Jesus. Your name is in the Bible.” He said, “I have heard that. I have been told several times.”
His sharp blue eyes were on mine. I did not want to look into his eyes. I had to take courage! I looked straight into them, asking Jesus to help me. I then asked him, “Do you know God?” He looked around and in a whisper asked me, “Are you Catholic?” I said, “No.” I noticed that he began to rub his hands together and was a little nervous. Then he asked, “Christian?” I then looked into those cold, sharp eyes again and said, “I know who Jesus is. I know that He loves me and died on the cross for me. So, I love Him back. Have you ever talked to God and asked Him to be your personal Savior?” He thought for a moment and responded, “I don’t think so.”
By now more customers had lined up. But I just couldn’t help but catch this fish for Christ!
I glanced at the manager and saw that he was aware of our conversation. The manager then took on the rest of the customers. The manager knows when I am talking to the employees about Jesus. I knew that this was his way of helping me.
I told the sharp-eyed man, “It is very easy to believe in Jesus and ask Him to be your Savior. Come on, let’s talk to Him.” I began to talk to God. He got closer to me to listen. I prayed and let God know how thankful I am for His love for me. I encouraged the cashier, “Go ahead, you say that.” He looked at me and got very quiet. I started to talk to God again. He stopped me by placing his hand up to signify for me to wait. With his hand and his head down, he let me know that he was praying what I had just prayed and that he was not finished. I waited. Then he looked at me again and said, “Okay.”
I started to pray again, asking God to forgive me of my sins. He looked at me and then up. He again put his hand up to make me wait, while he repeated what I had just prayed. I then told God that I believe that Jesus is His Son and that because I believe this in my heart and confess it with my mouth, I am saved! The man placed his hand on his heart, looked up, and prayed what I had just prayed. Then he said, “And you know why? Because He said so!” I said, “Yes, and because you believed it and confessed Him!”
He looked at me again, put his hand up, and let me know that he was praying this to God. I then prayed for God to take my life and use it for His glory, and the man said, “Yes!” Again he placed his hand up and looked at me, signaling me to wait. He looked up to God and prayed what I had just prayed. Oh my! The next thing I knew this man’s eyes were no longer cold and sharp. They were full of joy! He started smiling with such joy that he could not contain it; he started laughing. He put up his hand for a high five!
I said, “Now nothing can take you out of God’s hand! Whenever that time comes for you, you will be in Heaven! His joy grew. He put his hand up and with no fear said outright, “Take me now and get it all over with!” His smile was HUGE! He was ready!
I said, “That is one of the most amazing salvations I have ever seen!” He put out his hand for another high five. He still could not contain the joy of his salvation, so another high five!!!
“Abba, Father, whom I worship and call on every day to see me through the moments, I was afraid of cold eyes. Every time I saw them, I just couldn’t speak of Your Son.”
“Jesus, there you were in the heart of those eyes, knocking to be invited into that life. And I was afraid. But You were my only escape from doubt and fear and showed Yourself strong!”
“Holy Spirit, how could I not count on You to help me! Even when I didn’t, You were there to hold my hand with Christ’s right hand of righteousness to let Himself be known!”
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Acts 26:18
And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation. Psalm 35:9
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Psalm 56:11
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:21
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2
All scriptures KJB