The airport lounge was crowded with travelers waiting to board flights that would carry some to familiar destinations—their accustomed venues for business or pleasure.  In addition to these commuters were those being ferried to exotic locales of picturesque beauty and idyllic climes, the nearest thing to paradise on earth, and the perfect spot for that once-in-a-lifetime vacation.  Rounding out the manifests were those on missions of particular purpose—a job interview, a family emergency, a military deployment, a special occasion.

One of these pending passengers, Alex by name, squeezed into the last empty seat in a common area filled with the overflow of those gathered around various gates.  Lots of over-excited or painfully bored people packed together with nothing to do, left no escape and no refuge from the incessant chatter of fellow sojourners.  For anyone fond of being able to hear themselves think, this was pure unalloyed torture.

As a precaution against going completely and irrevocably mad, most of those trapped listened to music or attempted to distract themselves with work, games, messages, news, videos, and myriad other pastimes.  Some made manful efforts to doze despite the din, failing miserably, yet stubbornly refusing to concede defeat.  A few were successful in blunting the general assault on their mental switchboards, but could not filter out the conversation of those nearest themselves.  There were limits, it seemed, to the self-defense capabilities of the human brain.

So it was that the aforementioned Alex found himself involuntarily eavesdropping on a dialogue between 30-something Timothy, and late forties Phillip.  Tim was doing most of the talking.  No telling how their strange conversation had started or how long it had been going on.  But the subject matter was clearly sensitive and seemed rather personal.  Tim was earnest and intense, and appeared to be wrapping up.  Phillip was silent, allowing Tim the floor.  When he had yielded, Phil responded gently, in a tone that sounded both patient and bemused.

“Thank you—Tim, was it?—for your concern.  I think I understand what you said about the Gospel and “God’s Plan of Salvation,” how he sent Jesus to suffer and die on the cross, punished for our sins in our place, so that we could go free, debt paid-in-full, and all that.  And I’m glad you found something that works for you.  Really, I am.  But it doesn’t work for me, and I’ll tell you why.

“You claim that God did all this because he loves the world so much, that in his eyes no sacrifice was too great, no price too high to save humanity from spiritual death and hell.  Because he loves me as an individual, He wants a personal relationship with me, isn’t that right?  Isn’t that what you said?  Well, my friend, If he loves me so much, how come I don’t feel it, haven’t experienced it?  Why haven’t Christians shown me God’s love?  How come I can’t make it work when I play by his rules, no matter how hard I try?  If God loves me so much, why doesn’t he answer my prayers?”

“Look, Phil—may I call you Phil?” asked Tim.

“Sure, just as long as you don’t think you can guilt me into becoming a Christian.  I’m not perfect, God knows, but I’ve tried to live a good life.  If I am a sinner, I’m not a spectacular one.

“I can’t—I won’t—be herded into heaven by fear of judgment or the wrath of God or whatever.    So don’t bother asking, ‘What if the plane goes down before you get right with God?’

“And while we’re on the subject, don’t think you can talk me into a life-changing decision on the basis of one conversation, stuck in an airport, waiting to catch a flight.  As expectations go, that’s pretty unrealistic, don’t you think?”

Alex, still unable to avoid overhearing, was impressed.  The older fellow was certainly not swallowing the younger man’s pitch.   It might be interesting to find out who would persuade whom before this little drama was over.

“Yes, Phil, it would be unrealistic to hope that a single conversation could result in forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God, IF He were not the subject of the hope and the party responsible for guaranteeing the promise.  ‘…With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.’ (Mark 10:27)  All means all, and that includes revealing the truth to you, so that you can believe and be saved even here, even now.

“And as it happens, I agree with you.  Sharing the good news of the salvation freely available through Jesus Christ, should never involve manipulation, whether through guilt, fear, human arguments or persuasive speech.  And it doesn’t need to.  The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote: ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believeth…’ (Romans 1:16). The Gospel carries God’s own power to save every single person who believes it.  Everyone means everyone, Phil—even you.  In fact, at this moment I would say particularly you.”

“Why do you say that?” Phillip interjected.  “Why me in particular?”

“Because,” answered Tim, “God is fully capable of orchestrating every circumstance of our lives to put the two of us together in this airport, in these seats, at this time, for me to share His message with you today.  I don’t believe in coincidences.  Never could.   Not enough faith.  No, Phil.  This odd conversation between two strangers is a divine appointment.  God is reaching out to you through me, right now, this very minute.  I’d tell you why, only… it seems unlikely you’d believe me, if I did.”

“Try me,” Phillip challenged.  “Why is the creator of the universe especially interested in giving me the gospel this afternoon?  I can’t wait to hear the answer to this one.”

“Me, too!” thought Alex.  Captive audience though he was, he was taking sudden interest.

“Isn’t it obvious, Phil?” Tim chided.  “Haven’t you figured it out, yet?”  The older man must have shaken his head, as he emitted no sound that Alex, seated directly behind, could hear.

“You’re here because God loves you.  He truly wants you to know Him and He wants to know you, as a friend and as a member of His family, adopted by faith.  Think about it.  He knows that you need Him, because He made you for Himself.  He knows that you have never accepted the pardon Jesus died to give you and that as a result, you’re at risk of permanent separation from God every moment of every day.  He has compassion on you and wants to show you His mercy and affection.  He longs to answer your prayers, but you have never humbled yourself, confessed your sins and turned from them, to follow Jesus.  He yearns to bless you, but you have never surrendered your heart to Him and asked Him to direct your life.

“I’m sorry to hear that you’ve seldom seen or felt the love of Jesus radiating from my fellow Christians.  On behalf of all, I apologize for any who may have let you down.  But the fact is, that I reached out to you today because I love you, in Christ, though I had never met you before.  You matter to my heavenly Father, and therefore, you matter to me.  Can you see that?”

Phillip nodded his head.  Alex, sitting back-to-back behind him, unconsciously did the same.  “I never realized,” Phil said, his voice a bit thick.  “Guess I never thought of it that way.  Maybe God really does care about me. That would be good news.  It may have been a bit premature to give up on God.  Maybe He hasn’t counted me out, either.”

“Of course not,” Timothy reassured him.  There was a brief silence before he asked expectantly, “Are you ready to take the next step, Phil?  Ready to start a personal relationship with God?”

Phillip glanced at the hopeful face turned toward him, eyes locked on his.  After an awkward pause, he sighed and admitted he wasn’t.  “No offense,” he said.  “It’s just a lot to take in all at once.  I don’t want to rush into anything.”

The younger man nodded and asked without disappointment, “If I give you my contact information, just in case, would you use it?”

Phillip winced.  “Probably not,” he confessed.  Timothy nodded once more and felt a firm tap on his shoulder.

“I’ll take it,” Alex heard himself say.  Startled, Phil and Tim twisted in their seats.  “Hi, I’m Alex.  Couldn’t help overhearing.  I have some questions.”

“Of course,” said Tim, writing neatly on a page he then tore from a small notepad and placed in Alex’ outstretched hand.  “At your service, anytime.”

Phillip’s eyes widened in surprise.  “Maybe there’s something to this divine appointment stuff after all,” he observed drily.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words, and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams, and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  (Romans 10:9-10)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)