Thoughts for another day

January 22, 2007

Today's verse: Lk. 19:8. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Last week I was watching a spiritual channel and I chanced upon an interview with an Irish Volunteer Force (IVF - a revolutionary organisation whose main aim was to loot and kill the Catholics in Ireland many years ago) leader who reformed and is today working with Catholics to spread the love of Jesus Christ among millions of people around the world. This man spoke of another person, Nicky Cruz, a murderer and thug whose sole aim was to reign supreme by hook or by crook.

Nicky was a man full of hatred, on a one-way ticket to jail, the electric chair and hell. Leader, of a dangerous gang. There was no hope for him. Then something happened that changed his life. David Wilkerson, a preacher, was in Nicky's neighborhood preaching when Nicky ran into him. They exchanged some words and Nicky threatened to kill him. That afternoon the preacher showed up in Nicky's gang's headquarters and was slapped by Nicky. Two weeks later, David was back in the neighborhood, met Nicky and told him ‘Jesus loves you’. Nicky threatened to kill him when he spoke of Jesus Christ. Then David told him something very disturbing. He said, ‘even if you were to cut me into a thousand pieces and throw them on the street, every one of them would still say, ‘Jesus loves you.’

Nicky was disturbed because love was something nobody had ever given him. He could not understand it. A man most despised, he was told, somebody loved him!!! Then Nicky crashed into Jesus’ arms and let Him love him. He surendered to the police and turned in all of his weapons and began studying the Bible. Later he himself became a preacher and returned to the same place he was a gangster and spoke to his old acquaintances about Christ and His love. Many of them transformed, including the gang’s new leader.

My friend, when you read the above and then picture Zacchaeus before Jesus and the statement he makes, doesn’t your heart fill with love for our blessed savior? You know, sometimes I think of those blood-stained arms on the cross and I imagine myself a sinner far from Him. But when I look at His face, He beckons me, blood flowing down and all and you know what He says, ‘Even if you were the only one earth I needed to save, I’d still die for you my child.’ Love is all I can feel and of course, down flow the tears… tears…tears…