How vast the Father's love for us

"How vast the Father's love for us..."

"It's not that I don't believe Jesus existed, it's more that he was a good guy that taught us good things.  He is one son of God, but not God's Son," said Mike as Charley and I sat on the cold grass in the middle of a small park in downtown San Diego.

"Mike," I responded "I don't believe that Jesus ever left it up to us to say that he was a good moral person. Either Jesus is who He says (that he could forgive sins because he was God), or he was a liar (which doesn't make him very moral), or he was a flat out lunatic."  I was thankful that God brought those words from CS Lewis to mind.  I saw Mike slowly begin to think more as our conversation continued on.

Over an hour later I couldn't help but be reminded of God's amazing love and grace.

You see, Mike has been homeless for 30 years.  He was sitting at the park where Charley and I met with 30 other UofA students to go out into San Diego to initiate spiritual conversations during our "Day of Faith."  Charley saw him on the way to our meeting location and offered him a sandwich he had bought for lunch.  God used Charley's heart for the homeless to bridge a gap that 15 minutes later allowed for a conversation to take place.  I truly believe that Mike could see Jesus right away in Charley.

Mike didn't decide to put his trust in Jesus, but I do believe that he is closer to making that decision.  At one point of the conversation as Mike mentioned how hard it is to let go of poor decisions he made years ago.  I looked at him and said, "Mike, you don't deserve forgiveness...............  But, I don't either.  The truth of the matter is that there is not one person on this planet who deserves what Christ has done, but He loves you so much that he offers it to you now.  You don't have to change before you come to Christ, He is meeting you right now and offering himself to you."

Charley shared part of his own testimony, or story about what God's done in his life.  He talked to Mike about the peace he has experienced in the midst of some really difficult and heart breaking situations.  I think this really resonated with Mike.  We didn't offer him a promise that if he came to know Jesus that all of his problems would be fixed (that he'd find a steady job, save money, get an apartment), but what we did offer him was hope and a joy that can't be taken away because of the forgiveness, restoration and relationship found in Christ.

When the conversation ended Mike thanked us both several times.  He told us that prior to this conversation he had been feeling really burdened, but now he felt like there was hope.  When he went to shake my hand I gave him a hug.  He really was a precious man and I feel like I saw before me a cold hardened heart begin to have some of the ice chipped away.

During our conversation I was struck several times with the overwhelming awareness of God's love for this man.  I couldn't help but see that God didn't make this conversation happen randomly as some sort of an afterthought, but that it was part of his plan all along...part of his intentional pursuit for Mike's heart.

I left also keenly aware of God's love towards me.  This was the first time in years I was able to go out on the Day of Faith, and God blessed me with this sweet conversation.

'The Lord is good and His love endures forever. Amen."