Another Reason to Celebrate Christmas

Yesterday was a busy day. Prayer service at 6:00 and Bible study at 7:00. I went several hours early to buy some groceries and to mow the lawn. I really wanted to go to the grocery store first, before the crowds got too bad. However, it looked like rain, so I opted to mow the lawn first, then face the crowd of last minute shoppers.
As is common when I work at the mission, I am normally interrupted by people on the street, begging, looking for odd jobs, or just wanting to practice their English. Yesterday was no exception. I had just returned to my work after one such interruption, only to be called away by another. A man in his mid-thirties was insistent that he wanted to talk to me. I approached him and inquired as to the nature of his need.
“Are you the pastor?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Can you pray for me?” he inquired.
“What for?” I queried.
“I am going to hang myself, and I hope God will receive me.” He responded grimly.
“That won’t do you much good, but why don’t you come in and tell me about it.” I invited.
Eliseo shared that at age 11 his father had molested him. Since his mother would not believe it, and his father continued to do it, he ran away from home and ended up in the streets of Santo Domingo. For the next ten years he lived on the streets, in a life of gangs and crime.
He interrupted his story to ask, “Can God forgive any sin?”
“He certainly can.” I assured him.
Around the age of twenty-one, he was shot in a foiled robbery attempt. His buddies were killed, but he survived. He was sentenced to thirty years in the penitentiary for his multiple crimes. Just two months ago he was released after serving half of his term, but his criminal record and his lack of ID barred his return to society. He was sleeping in the streets and rebuffed by all. A former friend sent him away saying, “If I were you, I would hang myself.”
Eliseo decided that this was his only solution. But before ending his own life, he planned one more robbery in order to obtain a pistol, and then take his revenge on his father and mother.
Wednesday night he had a dream. He heard a voice say, “I am going to pull you out of the muddy water and place you on a rock. But, you must forgive your father.” He woke up confused but determined to carry out his plan. Again, he heard the voice. So he began to wander the streets hoping to find help.
After a half an hour of sharing about the terribleness of sin, its deadly consequences, and the mercy of a loving Savior, standing there in the church lawn, Eliseo repented of his sins and told God that he had forgiven his father. Tears trickled down his glowing face as he raised his arms and exclaimed, “I feel like I could shout!”
Although he asked for nothing, he expressed his desire to return to his family and apologize for his actions and to express his forgiveness. He has not seen them for twenty-five years. After discussing the situation with several church members, we made an exception to our standard approach and gave him enough money to get back to his family. We also gave him a Bible. He thanked me profusely for listening to him and for sharing a message he had never heard before.
The message of Christmas still brings peace and joy to all who receive it by faith. Eliseo is just a reminder that the Christ of Christmas came to seek and to save that which was lost. Please pray for Eliseo as he takes that message back to his family. Also watch for the divine “interruptions” God sends your way this Christmas season. There are many who still need to hear the Good News!
Doug