Thursday, July 20, 2023
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).
Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.
My friend (now 86 years old) started kindergarten in 1943, meeting a little female classmate who became his friend. It was not until after high school graduation, many years later, did he begin to date her. He took her out 19 times. However, the relationship failed and they parted ways, marrying other people. In 2005, at their 50th high school reunion, he and his wife briefly met this old girlfriend. His wife moved on to Heaven in 2013, and he has been a widow ever since. Suddenly, after over 15 years of silence, in 2021, he receives a phone call from that former girlfriend (who is also now widowed). For the past few years now, they have become close friends again, talking on the phone and visiting in-person. They both still have deep affection for each other.
On one hand, he has considered marrying her—but, on the other hand, he cannot do it because she is not a Christian as he is. See, sometime after they stopped dating all those years back, he left their works-religion cult when he trusted Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for his sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Now, having been a Christian for over 55 years, he knows he is not to marry an unbeliever (“[marry] only in the Lord;” 1 Corinthians 7:39). On numerous occasions, he has talked to this dear lady about the Scriptures and the Gospel of Grace. Unfortunately, she still belongs to her works-religion cult that she has been in all her life (almost 90 years!), and firmly resists the idea of abandoning the family religion.
This brother was asking me for advice on how to proceed with such a delicate situation. While he cares much for her spiritual wellbeing, he knows he cannot force her to believe, which makes it even more heart wrenching. Israel’s sorry spiritual condition in today’s Scripture was just as troublesome to the Apostle Paul….
333 Words of Grace 