The other day my mom emailed me about a recent experience she had, with some simple, but profound spiritual implications. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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Yesterday, I had a very interesting experience. Coming back from the doctor’s office, we heard a thump, thump, thump. We had just gotten new struts in the rear, and our first thought was, “Oh, no not again!” We recognized the noise from bad struts, but this noise was a bit different. It was continuous. Finally, after playing the guessing game as to what it was, we pulled over, only to discover we had a flat tire…not just flat but slashed, shredded! We drove a few feet down the road into an empty parking lot. The store it belonged to had been vacated. After calling Triple A, I realized I needed to use the restroom. A couple of doors down was a “Gentlemen’s Adult Party House!” Hey, any port in the storm, was my thinking. So off, Joe and I went!
It was a bright sunny day, but as soon as we opened the door to that particular “establishment” we were met with total darkness. I mean it was black in there! I could not see. From somewhere to my right a voice said, “Welcome!” Whoa! I couldn’t see anyone. Perhaps Joe could, all I know is that he explained to the man, who I could not see, what my need was. He was very kind, and told me to follow him. Follow him? I couldn’t even see him! All I could see was a square of light on the floor to my left, about the size of a wrestling mat! I did not follow the man, I followed his voice which led me to a door. Upon opening it, I discovered LIGHT. Yes, indeed, there was light in there. There was one wall covered with mirrors and some unmentionables lying on the shelf, but there were also some cubicles for my use!
As I sat there, I considered where I was and who would be using this room in the future. Who were these girls? What had brought them to this place? Did their mothers know what they did for a living? Had anyone ever told them about God? Was anyone praying for them? I didn’t have the answers to most of those questions, but I could answer the last one. Me! I would pray for them, and I did. I asked the Lord by His Spirit to speak to each heart that entered there. I asked Him to convict, convince and woo each girl that came in there. I asked Him to answer any prayers that had already been prayed for these girls, and to bring them Home to Himself.
When I came out, blackness assaulted me. But there was one ray of light. Some feet beyond me, there stood Joe in the light of the doorway. That’s the only way I would have seen him! I kept my eye on him and got out safely! But you know, it did cause me to think about the spiritual darkness many people are in. Just think what one ray of light will do for them! One ray of light might be the only light they’ve ever seen. One ray of light is all that is needed to bring them on Home. Can you, can I be that ray of light to those around us?
The darkness is very dark….I mean black as ink! The voice I heard could have been anyone’s. I never could have identified the owner in a line up! And these people in spiritual darkness are not any more certain of the voices they are hearing than I was. Who are they following? They haven’t a clue, for the most part. We HAVE to be their light. It doesn’t have to be showy…it just needs to be true. As I saw Joe standing in the light of the doorway, may they see Jesus standing in the little lights that we have!
Oh, later, when I was talking to my niece about the experience, I stated that I never thought to leave a tract in that room, although I had one in my purse. I said, “I didn’t leave anything. I was just glad to get out of there!” But you know what? I realized after I said that, that I was wrong. I DID leave something. I left my prayers there. I left an invitation for the Holy Spirit there! I did leave something indeed! And I feel in my heart that what I left there will reap its rewards in eternity. It wasn’t just a prayer, it was a Spirit led prayer. It was a prayer that I felt would be answered, and perhaps was on its way to an answer even as I prayed. Who knows, perhaps some grandmother had been praying for her granddaughter who worked there! Someday, I’ll know. But until then, it’s enough to know that I was where He led me and I was not alone, I was about my Father’s business.
Be a light today!