Power of God

“If I ever reach heaven I expect to find three wonders there: first, to meet some I had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had expected to see there; and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there”
~ Unknown

It's time I took a moment to reflect.

I just got off of the phone with a friend. This is a man from whom I used to buy marijuana. We would often get stoned and play chess and talk about many, many, many different things. One thing I do remember was that he was not interested in God, nor was he interested in quitting his habit. Monday night this man calls me to tell me his fiancee' is leaving him - she's tired of the drugs. He's broken, distraught, and in need of an encouraging word. He asks me if I'm still sober. We talk about alcoholism. We talk about God. He comes with me to his first AA meeting and identifies as an alcoholic - takes a "newcomer chip". We talk about Jesus Christ and his saving power.

Tonight he has a final talk with the fiancee' and they decide to split up for good. He takes back the ring. Here's the thing . . . he's OK tonight. He's finally surrendered and given up to God what is rightfully God's - that is, his will and his life. It was an amazing moment, there on the cell phone, praying with this man.

The Power of God is playing itself out mightily around me. I cannot help but notice. God is not disinterested or uncaring - He's there where He's always been . . . waiting. Waiting for His turn once we've run out of ideas. You see, this friend of mine is just like me: we're a bunch of knuckle-headed hardcases. It was not until we'd reached these low places in our lives - where we had become humble, needy, hurt - that we found the willingness, knowledge, and necessity to let go and let God. Most folks do not need this kind of pain, but I did and so did my friend. You see God was waiting the whole time - He was NOT content to let us fall by the wayside and when we said, "HELP!" God was there. He has changed my life today and that of my friend - THAT is the power of God - THAT is the miracle. I was a hopeless, lone drunk on his way to giving away everything near and dear to me, and when I said, "HELP!" God heard me. Please hear me very well my friends - God NEVER ignores the prayer of the hopeless, lonely soul.

God's last message is going out to a dying world. You see, God is not slack concerning his promises to man. He is merely giving all time to come to repentance. God is calling us home.

I want to go home. I long for a better place than this.

My prayer tonight is that He carry me through, for I am weak, and when I finally meet with Him on that day in the Kingdom, I will take off my crown, bow at His feet and say, "Thank you . . . you did for me what I could not do for myself"

And He will say, "Welcome home . . ."