We recently had a long-lost friend stop by our home for a brief lunch together. We hadn’t seen him in over 15 years. His mother and wife also joined us. It was an enjoyable visit.
The most delightful thing about the visit was to hear of the impact that my father, my wife and I had on his life. When we met him he was a “a very lost college student” (to use his words). We heard of his ups and downs and sins over the years. But, most of all, we heard of how he has experienced forgiveness of his sins through Jesus Christ. It’s obvious that he is passionate to live his life for the glory of God.
He told us of how my father was so gracious and kind to him. He told us of ways that my wife and I had ministered to him–things that we had long since forgotten. He made a point to tell our children of the ways that we had loved him and cared for him, even when he was filled only with himself.
It was good for us to hear of the seeds that we had sown years earlier that had come to fruition. I can’t help but to think of how many other encounters we have had in life that are similar, only we will never know how they turned out until eternity.
John wrote, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (3 John 4). Indeed, we could have found no greater joy that day than in the visit of our friend.
Enjoying His Grace 