I spoke to an elderly gentleman who listened intently as I presented the gospel. He didn’t want to make a commitment. I asked how old he was and he said he was 79. I said, “You might have maybe 20 more years at best.”
“I think you’re being generous,” he replied.
“The bottom line is, you don’t have that much time left,” I insisted.

A few minutes after this encounter, I overheard a daughter and her elderly father talking about an operation that he needed to have. I offered to help pay for the operation by giving them both a million dollar bill.
“How did you know about the operation?” the daughter asked.
“Oh,” I said, “I overheard your conversation. May I ask you the million dollar question?” They both listened as I went through the 10 Commandments. It actually looked as if “Dad” had tears in his eyes. He was 74 years old and I told him that he didn’t have much time left. “That is why you need to turn to Jesus and have him forgive your sins. God loved you so much that he sent his one and only Son…”
The daughter said, “Maybe next time God will send his daughter…” Then they both walked away.

I have no problem referencing the brevity of time left to an older person. Tomorrow is promised to no man.

-Steve Sanchez