By Rex Herndon
One afternoon, while serving as Pastor, l left my office and stepping through the doors of the Church, on my way to my car, I saw a young man with a backpack and sleeping bag on his back standing near my car.
He appeared to be about twenty-five years old. He was disheveled and dirty, with a shaggy beard and long hair.
I cautiously approached him, but before I could say anything, he, with a troubled countenance quietly spoke to me. He said, “Excuse me, Sir, I was just wondering if you would be willing to help me? I am really hungry and have no money to buy a sandwich.”
Having Pastored for many years, I have encountered dozens of homeless and hungry people, both young and old, but on this occasion, I felt a fatherly compassion and sense of pity for this young unknown beggar who was obviously struggling to survive on the dangerous and unforgiving streets of Los Angeles.
Walking closer, I extended my hand, introducing myself. I said, “I am Pastor Herndon, what is your name?” He seemed surprised I was interested in knowing his name, but he quietly responded, “my name is Daniel.” Then pausing a moment, he said, “I’m sorry to bother you, but I really need something to eat.”
I assured him he was no bother, and I would be glad to help him if at all possible. Seeing a feeling of relief break through his unkempt beard, I asked, “Daniel, do you have a family?” He was somewhat hesitant to answer, but he said, “Yes, in fact, my parents live in this area, but we had problems in the past, and I haven’t spoken to them for a couple of years.
Upon hearing his parents were nearby, I told him, if he had their phone number I would be glad to call them, asking them, if they would be willing to meet with us and possibly find a way to help him.
Reaching into his back pack, he pulled out a paper on which he had written his parents phone number. Taking the paper, I invited him to go with me back into my office. He seemed very uneasy and uncertain about it, but he followed me, and once we were seated, I told him, I would try and reach his parents from whom he had been estranged.
Picking up my phone, I dialed the number, he gave me. I turned my phone on, ‘speaker,’ so Daniel could hear what was being said.
My call was immediately answered by a gentleman, and I identified myself as a Pastor from a Church in the community. I told him his son was in my office, homeless and hungry, and I wondered if he and his wife would be willing to meet with us to see if we, together, could find a way to help him get off the street and out of his miserable and dangerous lifestyle?
His father’s response was immediate. With an angry and dismissive tone of voice, he said, “We are not interested in helping him and we want absolutely nothing to do with him!” With that, he abruptly hung up the phone ending the call.
Looking across my desk at Daniel, I saw tears coming from his eyes. Grasping for words with which I might encourage and comfort him, it was he, who broke the silence saying, “Pastor, please understand, being homeless and walking the streets, hungry, cold and afraid is painful, but, that pain is nothing compared to the pain I feel knowing my Mom and Dad don’t love me and want nothing to do with me.”
Standing up from my desk, I walked over to this troubled young man and taking hold of his hands, I told him God Loved him and Jesus died for him. I then began to pray, asking God to help him in his time of need; to bring comfort and a sense of value into his life. I prayed his family would forgive and make a place for him in their hearts and home. As I prayed, I felt his shoulders shake as his tears flowed from a broken heart.
Looking into his troubled countenance, I assured him there was forgiveness and a better life waiting him at the Cross. He gripped my hand tightly, and I suddenly felt led to sing. ….
“No one ever cared for me like Jesus,
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me,
O, how much He cared for me.
All my life was filled with sin,
When Jesus found me.
All my heart was full of misery and woe;
Jesus placed His strong and loving arms around me,
And He led me in the way I ought to go.”
In the quiet of my office, I asked him if he would receive Jesus Christ into his heart and life? Without hesitation, he said yes. So I then, led him in the sinners prayer.
In a moment’s time, I witnessed the greatest miracle any man could ever witness…A soul, lost in the darkness of sin, was instantly lifted by God’s Amazing Grace and unlimited Power, from the darkness of sin, into “His Marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
After giving thanks to God for hearing our prayer, I gave him twenty dollars so he would be able to eat. Giving him a hug, I walked with him back to the parking lot, where he started on his way.
I stood watching him as he walked down the street. After a few hundred feet, he turned and lifting his hands toward heaven, he gave me a wonderful smile. It was the smile of a man whose life would be different because of God’s amazing Grace and the cleansing of the Blood of Christ. I thought, how his smile was like that of the blind man who received his sight in Scripture. It was the smile of one, who was the recipient of, “The Greatest Miracle.”
May we, who, have gathered at the foot of the Cross and been cleansed from sin by the Blood that flowed from our crucified Lord, never forget that life-changing Day, when we, like Daniel, became, “A new creation, old things passed away and behold all things became new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Getting in my car, the words of John Peterson’s great song came to my mind. “I believe in miracles, I’ve seen a soul set free. Miraculous, the change in one, Redeemed through Calvary. “
Although, Daniel could no longer hear me, l stood firmly on God’s promise, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out,”
(John 6;37)
On that beautiful Southern California day, the sun seemed much brighter and a powerful sense of assurance filled my heart and mind. I was thrilled to say, “Welcome Daniel, to the family of God!”
If you, like Daniel, “Are lost and undone without God or His Son, there’s room at the cross for you.” Just pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, I am a sinner, and I pray asking for forgiveness. I believe Christ died for me and was raised from the dead. Please, Jesus, come into my heart. I accept you as Lord and Master. Thank you, Jesus, for hearing my prayer. Amen”. If you prayed that prayer and believe, you too, will receive, “The Greatest Miracle!”
The Shepherd's Staff 