|
|
A few thoughts in retrospect... |  |
|
Countless individuals who saw my billboard and subsequent media coverage of it in April and May 2001 requesting prayer for Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh wrote me saying that they and many others were praying for his salvation. I also issued this challenge to Christians the weekend before McVeigh's June 11, 2001 execution. I'm not going to either assume I can interpret McVeigh's silence at his execution, nor can I (or any other human) tell the absolute intent of another person's heart, but I will say this much and leave it at that: the very fact that McVeigh asked for last rites three hours before his execution seems to be a major change of direction for him, in light of the numerous news articles stating that McVeigh was an agnostic. Nor will I debate the finer points of Catholic theology and last rites, for I am neither Catholic nor a Catholic scholar, nor am I going to throw myself into the endless debate of all denominations. But I will offer this thought and then let the rest of my website take it from here: If Christians can mobilize to pray for the salvation of the hardest hearts in society, or for those who are prominent in the news, or for those who are much more (or much less) "esteemed" or "important" (or whatever adjectives you want to fill in), what are we doing every day of our lives to pray for those whom we meet every day in the humdrum existence of life? Such a large portion of our lives is spent with those who are neither prominent nor especially extreme in any characteristics, whether good or bad. If, then, so much of our lives is spent around regular people with regular lives and regular problems such as we ourselves have, how much of an effort are we putting forth every day to pray for such people and to reach out to them and to meet their needs? Sound drab and boring? Maybe. But Jesus has called us into the streets, into our neighborhoods, into the places where needs are greatest: in everyday life. He will be our contentment and our peace as we immerse ourselves in His word and in prayer, but unless we start by affecting the lives of our neighbors and those whom we meet everyday, the Great Commission will fall on deaf ears. But don't take my word for it... "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"--Matthew 25:31-40 |
|
|
