An amazing story

Here's a true story that a member of our church told everyone at our Carol Service last week (I've changed the names). It's quite long but well worth reading properly.

Dave is a Christian, and a year ago his brother, not a Christian, Will, was diagnosed with cancer. At first Dave prayed that Will would recover, but as Will went downhill Dave began to pray that he'd get a chance to talk to his brother about Jesus, and especially explain to him a certain verse - 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life' - John 3:16.

Dave never got that chance, and Will died in September.

A few days after Will's death, Dave was in the hospice Will had died in, sorting some stuff out, and was just leaving when the hospice chaplain bumped into him. The chaplain found out who Dave was, and told him this:
A couple of days before Will's death, he'd asked the chaplain to explain a particular verse to him. It was John 3:16. The chaplain explained who Jesus is and what he could do for Will, and Will trusted in Jesus and was saved. The chaplain asked Will why that particular verse? Will replied that months before, when he was walking around a big town, some total stranger had come up to him in the street, said that verse to him, and then walked off. He'd wanted it explained to him ever since, but hadn't asked.
Dave hadn't found the chance to talk to Will about John 3:16 - but God had arranged that he would be saved through understanding that verse.

Just think about that story - and then think about how good God is, not only for saving Will in that amazing way but also for making sure that Dave found out that his brother is now waiting for him in heaven. Think about how amazing God's plans are, and how wonderfully he saved Will, and the hairs on the back of your neck should stand on end. Think about how wonderful it is, that you, if you're a Christian, are part of God's eternal plan to save people. Think about who you can tell about Jesus this week - you may never see the results of what you've said until you get to heaven and find that person there! That man who told Will the verse is somewhere right now not knowing that God used him to save Will - what a wonderful surprise that will be when he gets to heaven and finds Will waiting to thank him there!