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He apprehensively held the pistol to his head. “Just do it,” he argued within himself. He closed his eyes, breathing rapidly. His entire life flashed before his eyes as he slowly forced his finger on the trigger.
He joyfully grew up in a family that faithfully attended church. He was baptized at age twelve, gave his first Gospel lesson at thirteen, and went on his first Tanzanian mission trip at age fourteen. At sixteen, peer pressure succeeded in altering his life. He spent his day’s drug dealing, drinking and partying. It seemed exciting at first, but it became destructive. He didn’t enjoy life anymore and decided to end it.
He put pressure on the trigger. Suddenly, a distracting noise made him jump and the gun fired. He opened his eyes and through the smoke-filled vapor, he realized the abrupt jolt had caused him to miss.
One year later, he was back in Tanzania fulfilling God’s command. Walking down a dusty road, he saw a troubled youth. He hesitated, but remembered Phillip approaching the Ethiopian eunuch as “he preached Jesus to him.” Had Jesus not said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me?” (John 14:21)
His love compelled him, “Just do it.”
He smiled as he turned toward the boy. He thought how those words were used to encourage him to end his life. Now God was using the exact words to persuade him to tell a wandering boy in Africa of God’s commands.
He joyfully grew up in a family that faithfully attended church. He was baptized at age twelve, gave his first Gospel lesson at thirteen, and went on his first Tanzanian mission trip at age fourteen. At sixteen, peer pressure succeeded in altering his life. He spent his day’s drug dealing, drinking and partying. It seemed exciting at first, but it became destructive. He didn’t enjoy life anymore and decided to end it.
He put pressure on the trigger. Suddenly, a distracting noise made him jump and the gun fired. He opened his eyes and through the smoke-filled vapor, he realized the abrupt jolt had caused him to miss.
One year later, he was back in Tanzania fulfilling God’s command. Walking down a dusty road, he saw a troubled youth. He hesitated, but remembered Phillip approaching the Ethiopian eunuch as “he preached Jesus to him.” Had Jesus not said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me?” (John 14:21)
His love compelled him, “Just do it.”
He smiled as he turned toward the boy. He thought how those words were used to encourage him to end his life. Now God was using the exact words to persuade him to tell a wandering boy in Africa of God’s commands.
{note: this article was written for the Lads to Leaders Mass Media competition this year. it won first place in my age division. it was also published here over the summer}
4 comments:
what an incredible story!
Loved reading this post! Also thanks for sweet comment, I was nervous to put myself out there!
Wow, Mem, that was amazing! I can see why it won first place! You have such an amazing gift with words! Keep em coming!
Wonderful! :] It is amazing how the meaning of words changes so much in different situations.
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