It’s fascinating to me how the Lord can create such a strong bond between His children who have never met, but have communicated from the heart in phone conversations. I’ve been blessed now for nearly 20 years to develop deep friendships with many who call the 3ABN pastoral prayer line.
Calvin* was one of my first callers after I arrived at 3ABN. Twenty years ago, he was a troubled 50-year old man who had grown up in a very large, and very religious family. He had taken a detour from God’s path of life and was trying to find his way back to Jesus. Vacillating between being spiritually hot and cold, he called weekly to share his weaknesses and ask for prayer. I admired his transparency, and the gentleness of his soul.
Calvin is a deep thinker. As he grew in the grace and knowledge of our Lord over a period of eight years, he matured to an intimate relationship with Jesus and became a true prayer warrior for God. He didn’t need the same kind of prayer support, so his phone calls dwindled to bi-monthly, and finally to about every six months for the last few years. So when my phone rang last week, I was pleased to recognize his familiar soft voice. Calvin and I have a deep respect for one another.
“Oh, J. D., I’m so glad it’s you. I was praying, asking God to let this call be answered by you.”
“It’s good to hear your voice, again, Calvin. I’m glad God arranged for me to receive your call. It’s like a family reunion. How are you, my dear brother?”
“J. D., I’m calling to ask you to pray for God’s favor. False charges were brought against me, and it’s resulted in a court case. I just want to be freed of this legal burden. I’m already there in my mind. I feel free because I didn’t do the thing I’ve been accused of. God has given me His mercy and grace, and I know He never leaves me, nor forsakes me.”
“You’re right, Calvin. And God will fight this battle for you. Is there anything else we can pray for?”
“Well, I want to tell you of a miracle God performed last month. I was walking home from my first court appearance, and as I passed by a hospital, I was strongly impressed to go into that building. I looked up on a board, and was surprised to see my cousin Harrison’s name there. Remember, I’ve got 60 cousins. All of them are pretty spiritual, but Harrison was an ordained minister of a Sunday-keeping church. He had a real fall from grace, and wound up on drugs. I got his room number and went up to visit him, but he was a red-hot mess, J. D. He was being treated for a fentanyl addiction.
“Harrison and I didn’t really have a deep relationship. Normally, I would have made small talk, but the first thing that came out of my mouth was, ‘What are you doing here, Harrison? Your walk with the Lord was so strong. You brought so many people into the church because of your love for Him and your faith in Him. You have frustrated the grace of God, and now you’re in hand-to-hand combat with the devil.
“I said, ‘Harrison, you are ‘kicking against the goads.’ You have abandoned God, but He still loves you and has never left your side. Remember your favorite Scripture text? 1 John 1:9 says ‘if we confess our sins, God forgives us and cleanses us of all unrighteousness.’
“Then, J. D., I was surprised to find myself quoting 2 Peter 1:9–11. I told Harrison, ‘You have forgotten that He cleansed you of your old sins. You need to confess and repent, and be diligent to make your call and election sure, so that God can grant you entrance into His everlasting kingdom.’
“J. D., his eyes suddenly came into focus and filled with tears. He confessed his sins, asking for forgiveness, and his whole countenance changed. It was like he was filled with supernatural strength. Harrison looked straight at me and said, ‘Praise God! My strength is coming back. I know the Lord is with me.’”
Hearing Calvin’s account of this encounter made my eyes brim with tears. “Wow!” I exclaimed. “Wow, wow, wow! Praise Jesus! How is Harrison doing today? Was his heart change lasting?”
“Here’s the rest of the story, J. D. Harrison died two days later. I know God divinely directed me to that hospital that day and gave me the holy boldness to speak—all because He wanted Harrison to be in His kingdom. So, he rests in peace, and I believe he will come up in the first resurrection of the Lord.”
God’s love is amazing. He is so faithful in His attempts to save us. I think Calvin and I both experienced a surge of renewed faith that day and prayed for God’s favor in court—thanking Him for it in advance.
God’s call and His election are His gifts to us. Have you answered His call? Are you making certain your election is sure through fruitful growth in the Faith? Peter tells us how we can do so through God’s divine power. Let us meditate on 2 Peter 1:3–11 to ensure we do not frustrate the grace of God, and do those things which will keep us from stumbling. May we all meet in His kingdom, face to face.
* A pseudonym.
