This post really has nothing to do with me or my family and it isn't even something that I've written. But, I was reading this today and God touched my heart with several things from this story. Please read it; it challenged me and I hope you can learn from it too.
Roger
Simms had just left the military and was anxious to take his uniform off once and for all. He was hitchhiking home, and his heavy duffel bag made the trip even more arduous than normal. Flashing his thumb to an oncoming car, he had just about given up hope when he saw the taillights flash on a shiny, black, expensive car, so new that it had a temporary license in the back window... hardly the kind of car that would stop for a hitchhiker. But to his amazement, the car stopped and the passenger door opened. He ran toward the car, placed his duffel carefully in the back, and slid into the leather-covered front seat. He was greeted by the friendly smile of a handsome older gentleman with distinguished gray hair and a deep tan.
“Hello, son. Are you on leave or are you going home for good?”
“I just got out of the army, and I’m going home for the first time in several years,” answered Roger.
“Well, you’re in luck in if you’re going to Chicago.”
“Not quite that far,” said Roger, “but my home is on the way.
Do you live there, mister?”
“Yes, I have a business there.”
And with that, they were on their way. After giving each other brief life histories, and talking about everything under the sun, Roger (who was a Christian) felt a strong compulsion to witness to the gentleman about Christ. But witnessing to an older, wealthy businessman who obviously had everything he should ever want was a scary prospect indeed. Roger kept putting if off, but as he neared his destination, he realized that it was now or never.
“Mr. Hanover,” began Roger, “I would like to talk to you about something very important.” He then proceeded to explain the way of salvation, ultimately asking Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his Savior. To Roger’s astonishment, the high car pulled over to the side of the road; Roger thought for a moment that Mr. Hanover was about to throw him out. Then a strange and wonderful thing happened: the businessman began to cry while affirming that he did in fact want to accept Christ into his heart. He thanked Roger for talking to him, saying that “This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.” He then dropped Roger at his house and traveled on toward Chicago.
Five years went by, and Roger
Simms married, had a child, and started a business of his own. One day, while packing for a business trip to Chicago, he came across a small, gold-embossed business card which Mr. Hanover had given him years earlier.
When Roger arrived in Chicago, he looked up Hanover Enterprises, and found it downtown in a very tall and important-looking building. The receptionist told him that it would be impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but that if he was on old friend, he should be able to see Mrs. Hanover. A little disappointed, he was led into a posh office where an elegant looking woman was sitting at a huge oak desk.
She extended her hand, “You knew my husband?”
Roger explained how Mr. Hanover had been kind enough to give him a ride home.
A look of interest passed across her face. “Can you tell what date that was?” “Sure,” said Roger, “It was May 7
th, five years ago, the day I was discharged from the army.”
Roger hesitated. Should he mention giving his witness? Had it been a source of contention between the two, which resulted in a marital breakup or separation? But once again, he felt the prompting of the Lord. “Mrs. Hanover, I must tell you, your husband accepted the Lord into his heart that day. I explained the gospel message to him, and he pulled to the side of the road and wept, and then he prayed a prayer for salvation.”
Suddenly she began to sob uncontrollably. After several minutes, she regained enough control to explain what had happened: “I grew up in a Christian home, but my husband did not. I had prayed for my husband’s salvation for many years, and I believed God would save him. But just after he let you out of his car, on May 7
th, he was killed in a horrible head-on collision. He never arrived home. I thought God had not kept His promise, and I stopped living for the Lord five years ago.”
The truth is, friends, Mrs. Hanover quit, but God
didn’t! She failed to realize that as the great eternal God, He does ever watch over His Word to perform it.
I really want you to be able to draw your own conclusions from the story, and to let God speak to your heart. But I just wanted to write a couple things about what God placed on my heart from reading this: first of all, it reminded me how fleeting is this life. This life is so temporary; there are few guarantees. But there is one guarantee: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) The second thing that this story abruptly reminded me is the same thing that Mr.
Simms realized right before Mr. Hanover dropped him off. He realized that if he wanted to share the gospel, it was "now or never." So often I forget this. So often I'm content to just to wait to share the gospel with people. But aren't we commanded to "go"? Aren't we commanded to try to reach people now, with the time God has given us? This is a big challenge and something I was thankful to be reminded of. The final thing that I learned from this story is how God's plans are perfect, because He is perfect. Mrs. Hanover quit on God, but God never failed to keep His promises. God is awesome!! I hope that this story touched you as much as it did me. God bless you, friends.
Oh my. I have but one pardon for my facial expression: no one is perfect. Yep, that's the best I can come up with...
I love the look on Curtis's face! AND... Haley, trying to wink and put up two fingers at the same time. She's so talented!
Oh my word. This is so my favorite. We're a mighty gloomy looking bunch, are we not?!?