It was a Monday night and my friend Tom came over with two teens to help me with some “Honey-Do” projects around the house. After the work was done we all sat down to chat because Ashley and Cameron (their real names, used with permission), had some questions that they wanted to ask a pastor. I had chicken wings on the barby and the timer was set so I wouldn’t burn them while we conversed.
Ashley asked if she needed to be baptized in order to go to Heaven. I explained that she did not need to be baptized to go to Heaven, but that she should be baptized in obedience to Christ’s command after she was “born-again”. Then I asked, “By the way Ashley, are you born-again? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?”
She replied, “I believe I did when I was little…”
“If you were to die today, would you go to Heaven or Hell?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Would you like to be sure?”
“Yes, I would.”
The timer went off, and I excused myself to check on the chicken. When I returned I continued, “Let me explain about what happened in the Garden of Eden a long time ago. Adam disobeyed God and sin entered into the world. Because of his sin we are all sinners condemned to Hell. The only way to have our sins forgiven is to believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried for three days and rose again. When we believe this, God cancels out our sin and then we have a guaranteed future in Heaven when we die and a relationship with God now while we live. Do you believe this Ashley?”
“Yes I do.”
Cameron and Tom had been listening quietly so I asked Cameron, “Do you believe this Cameron?” (Tom was already saved.)
He replied, “Yes I do.”
Then I cautioned him, “Now you don’t want to do this because Ashley is doing it, you have to really believe. It’s hard to be a Christian. People will make fun of you, avoid you… in fact, everything they did to Jesus they will probably do to you.”
Cameron said, “I understand.”
“Then let’s bow our heads and pray, you guys.”
The dang timer went off again. “Hang on. I’ll be right back.”
Heaven hung in the balance. The eternal destiny of two young souls sat in limbo while I fulfilled my family commitment to have tasty meat cooked just right. I wondered if Billy Graham started out like this?
When I returned to pray, Cameron confessed that he wasn’t really sure about all of this and decided to wait.
I warned him though, “If you were to die on the way home tonight, you realize that you would go to Hell?” He said he understood.
So I prayed with Ashley and she left a Christian.
The timer went off again.
I burned the chicken.
Look out and speak up,
By: Pastor Steve Sanchez