I was on an escalator in the subway station at 59th St. and Lexington. About eight steps above me was an elderly gentleman who didn't seem very steady on his feet. As he reached the top, he wasn't able to move quickly enough to plant his feet on the floor, and he started falling backward.
My first thought was to rush up the intervening steps and prevent him from falling. However, I quickly realized that I didn't know whether God's plan for this man was for him to live or to die, and it's not my place to play God with other persons' lives. So, instead of moving to rescue him, I shouted to him, "Ask Jesus for forgiveness!" After all, what's more important, saving a life or saving a soul?
Well, there was a guy right behind me on the escalator. When he saw that I wasn't moving to keep the elderly man from falling, he shouted "Jesus Christ!," pushed me aside, ran up, and supported the falling man, undoubtedly saving his life. This proves that God's plan for the man at the top of the stairs was for him to be rescued that day by the Good Samaritan behind me.
All in all, it turned out well. Not only was a man's life saved, but he also had a chance to contemplate the need for forgiveness at a time of mortal peril, which may well make the difference between Heaven and Hell when he does pass away. It is wonderful the way that God used me and the man behind me as a team to achieve the most desirable outcome possible.
Anyway, as I reached the top of the escalator, the man who had pushed me aside glowered at me. As you can imagine, I gave him a piece of my mind for taking the Lord's name in vain!
My first thought was to rush up the intervening steps and prevent him from falling. However, I quickly realized that I didn't know whether God's plan for this man was for him to live or to die, and it's not my place to play God with other persons' lives. So, instead of moving to rescue him, I shouted to him, "Ask Jesus for forgiveness!" After all, what's more important, saving a life or saving a soul?
Well, there was a guy right behind me on the escalator. When he saw that I wasn't moving to keep the elderly man from falling, he shouted "Jesus Christ!," pushed me aside, ran up, and supported the falling man, undoubtedly saving his life. This proves that God's plan for the man at the top of the stairs was for him to be rescued that day by the Good Samaritan behind me.
All in all, it turned out well. Not only was a man's life saved, but he also had a chance to contemplate the need for forgiveness at a time of mortal peril, which may well make the difference between Heaven and Hell when he does pass away. It is wonderful the way that God used me and the man behind me as a team to achieve the most desirable outcome possible.
Anyway, as I reached the top of the escalator, the man who had pushed me aside glowered at me. As you can imagine, I gave him a piece of my mind for taking the Lord's name in vain!
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