Reaching the Marketplace for Jesus

A Trip to Detroit 

I was feeling down in the dumps.  A trip to Detroit was the last thing I wanted, but work called me, and I had to be there.  I arrived on a cold, dreary morning, feeling sorry for myself, praying for the strength to just make it through the day.  I missed my family, felt lonely and dejected, and just wanted to go home.

It's not easy getting a taxi in Detroit.  Years of economic decline has resulted in a city on the brink.  Where there was once a thriving downtown filled with glittering new cars from the "Big 3" automakers was now a downtown where jaywalking in the middle of the day was safe because of the virtually nonexistent traffic.  Very few cars drive by the quiet streets of this city that was once the envy of the world.  Fortunately, when you get to the airport, there usually are some taxis waiting.

Sure enough, a taxi was sitting by the curb, with a driver standing outside, just looking for a customer, no doubt craving a tip that might help put food on the table that night.  I hopped in, just wanting a ride downtown, finish work for the day, and get to my hotel.  The driver, Eric was his name, seemed down, and I chalked it up to a slow business day.  But, I never skip an opportunity to witness, and I struck up a conversation with him.  It turned out that this was his first day on the job.  He'd had a good job, making a good living, with good benefits and what he thought was a steady means to provide for his family.  Like so many others in Detroit, however, he had been laid off.  He became a cab driver out of desperation, trying to be a good husband and father, no doubt feeling that he had let his family down.

Since I was saved, it has occurred to me on countless occasions that the Lord wants us to give comfort to those who are suffering, lonely, and sad.  Here I was, whining about having to be in Detroit, and this poor man couldn't support his family.  I have a good job, make a good living, and am able to provide a comfortable life for my family, but I was focused only on myself.  So, here was an opportunity to help out another person, give him some encouragement, and find out if he had made the most important decision of his life - to accept Christ as his Savior, to know that he had a place in Heaven, and to know that he could be forgiven of all his sins.

So, I asked the question when the time was right..."Eric, if you were to die today, do you know 100% for sure that you would go to Heaven?"  He paused, talked a bit about his sporadic visits to Church, and then truthfully answered, "no."  If you've never asked anyone that question, it's hard to describe how difficult it is for people to answer, and the courage it takes to respond truthfully.  I asked him if he wanted to know how he could be 100% sure, and he, of course, said "yes."  I prayed with him, asking the Lord to give him comfort, and thanking Jesus for giving him the strength to answer truthfully, and for allowing me to present the Gospel to him.  Once we got to my destination, he pulled over, and asked me to teach him.  I took him down the Romans Road, Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, and 10:13, and asked him whether he would was ready to accept Christ into his heart.  He said "yes" with no hesitation, and repeated a sinner's prayer after me.

With tears in his eyes, he told me that he couldn't wait to tell his wife.  I gave him a small New Testament and a tract for his wife.  He got out of the car with me, hugged me hard, and said, "God put you in my path today."  And I said, "no, He put you in my path."  God has a way of teaching us when we least expect it.

I'll never forget him, and look forward to spending time with this friend in Heaven.

                                                                                                                            ~ Mike Khoury