Divine Appointments

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This very afternoon, I did endeavor to take my dear wife upon a brief season of repose, but alas, the pouring of the rain caught us midway, compelling us to seek shelter in a random, humble shop. It was in this appointed moment that there did appear, seemingly out of nowhere, this man—a soul given over to the sins of the flesh, specifically one whose life is consumed by the sad confusion of homosexuality—who approached us, pleading for alms. I recognized instantly that these are Divine Appointments, Heaven-sent Gospel opportunities that must not be trifled with.

To merely furnish him with coin that he might remove himself from my presence is an act of cruelty. Furthermore, it is a great vanity to fill an empty stomach without also providing the everlasting Bread of Life, just as it is often a fruitless endeavor to offer the Gospel to a man consumed by the immediate pangs of hunger. My heart was heavy, for the poor wretch did obviously desire only the transient earthly currency that he might swiftly move on. Yet, I saw with unblinking clarity that this immortal soul is in dire and profound peril. Therefore, I determined to employ not the dull, passive statement, but the piercing power of the Holy Question as my chief instrument of discourse. Thus is he compelled to exercise his mind and conscience to frame an answer, rather than merely offering a meaningless nod of agreement. Let the truth engage his soul!

Our conversation, alas, spanned but ten short minutes, and as the man departed with his small, earthly prize, my heart was immediately humbled by a grievous truth: I am utterly helpless and unable to turn any single soul to Christ by my own strength or eloquence. My solemn prayer is that the precious Gospel truth which he heard may not, by the mystery of Providence, stand as a further witness unto his condemnation. My duty, I know, extends only to the faithful act of witnessing. It remains, now and forevermore, solely the exclusive work of the Father to quicken a soul from death unto life, to grant the repentance, and to draw the sinner savingly unto His Son. In this profound limitation lies the comfort of the true servant: The outcome is His, and the Glory belongs to God alone.

Only God can make a Christian. Christ alone saves.

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