Every year in December, a group of people from our church go out and visit various nursing homes in the area to spread the joy of Christmas and Jesus Christ. It is such a wonderful time, as we have so much fun singing many of the classic songs they all know and love. Seeing their faces light up and hearing them sing along really just makes your heart smile. Even the staff loves getting involved. We have been doing it for many years now and it just never gets old.
About halfway through our visit, one of us will share with them about the true meaning of Christmas and then lead into The Gospel of Jesus Christ. They always listen so attentively. Over the years, we have seen people come up and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and many come up asking for prayer. It is such a blessing to witness and be a part of.
Last week, after having the opportunity to share The Gospel with them, one gentleman came up to me and we prayed about rededicating his life to God. He sounded very sincere and even got a little emotional. We talked for a few minutes and he thanked us for coming and then gave me a big hug. It was definitely one of those “divine appointments.”
These annual visits to the local senior centers serve as a reminder that it’s never too late to become one of God’s children this side of Heaven. Whether you’re 8 or 80, the opportunity is there. The truth is that God doesn’t care about where we’ve been as much as He cares about where we’re going. All of us have a past, but praise The Lord that our slate gets wiped clean the moment we truly believe God’s redemptive work on the cross. That’s the heart of our God. A completely selfless act of Jesus Christ to set us free and inherit The Kingdom.
Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This truth should inspire us to never stop praying for those we know and love who do not know Jesus. It may be difficult, at times, and it may be many years in the making, but we need to stay diligent in our prayers. You just never know when that moment of realization comes. So keep on interceding, keep on sharing, and keep on being a living example. One day, Lord willing, they may become one of His children!
Merry Christmas!
Wayne Errig