This past Sunday turned out to be an interesting day for a couple of ladies in New Jersey. They had recently purchased Bibles thinking that they needed something new, different in their lives. They went back to their old church Catholic last Sunday but when they left felt that it offered nothing to fill the need of their lives. A few blocks from their home they had seen a sign for a Baptist church. While at work one of the ladies decided to check it out on the Internet. She looked at the church’s web site. She thought it was a little “stern and old fashioned” but they decided to visit.
Arriving at the church a bit late they saw a couple of emergency vehicles in the parking lot, lights blazing. Amazingly they still came inside. As they entered, one said to the other, “this is probably some kind of cult.” They were helped to their seats by an usher, but the service was temporarily halted while the emergency crew helped a man who had passed out with a medical problem. Had this not happened they likely would have missed most of the message. Soon the service resumed and I began preaching about ten minutes to noon. I preached quickly knowing that we had lost some time. I promised if they listened fast, I would preach fast. They did. I did. I announced my text and mentioned it might not be your typical mission message text as I began to preach from Exodus 20:3 on the first commandment. “No other gods.” Ten minutes past noon I gave the invitation. A number of people responded including one of the visiting ladies. As the service ended she and the other lady were taken aside by two from the church and they both with tears in their eyes and joyful hearts accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
They stayed around to fellowship after the services. They were so joyful. They told us how they had decided to come to church that day. We all realized had the medical incident not happened they would have missed most of the message. Even with their fears that they might be entering “some kind of cult”, they came inside. It was their divine appointment. God is good. ”The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
