“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13 KJV)
We were next in line to be called to the cashier’s area. The number above the counter ahead of us started flashing. From where my husband and I were standing, I could not see the cashier. I wondered who it would be that the Lord would have me tell about Him.
As we approached the area, I saw that it was a young woman. She was tall and pretty. She had beautiful curly hair. Her eyes were dark brown. She was wearing a mask. We were as well. There was clear plexiglass between us. She will not be able to hear me, Lord, I thought.
I started placing the groceries on the conveyor belt. I took a look at her nametag. It had a foreign spelling to it. I leaned a little to the side of the glass to address her by name.
“How are you?”
“I’m alright.”
“You have the prettiest curly hair.”
Her eyes smiled. “Thank you.”
“What nationality is your name?”
“I’m from Morocco.”
“What do you have to say about this virus?”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“Are you tired of wearing that mask?”
“I have gotten used to it.”
“I don’t know what your faith is, but what do you practice?”
“I am Muslim, but I am rather agnostic.”
“Well, that’s good; this way you don’t have a set belief, and you can hear the truth about God.”
“Really? How would I do that?”
“Well, you have to believe in the true God. You must know that He has a Son and that He is coming again. This is why this virus has happened. After this, something else will happen and then something else, because His return is near. These are the signs. You must be ready. You surely don’t want to stay here, when things get worse. You want to go to heaven with Him when He comes.”
“What religion do you practice?”
“I don’t. I simply believe what God says in the Bible. I was very young when I asked God who He is, and He spoke to me Himself. I told Him not to send me anyone to tell me about Him, that He would have to tell me Himself. The second that I asked, His profound love came into my heart, and I heard His voice tell me that He is the Son of God and that He had died on the cross to cleanse me from my sins.”
“That is amazing!”
“Yes, and He can speak to you too. All you have to do is ask Him. You have to be real about God. Talk to Him, just as you and I are talking. Do you think that you might want to know Him? Would you like for me to help you ask Him?” I looked around to see if any customers were coming to know if there would be more time to finish this conversation. I was a little nervous, because I did not want to lose this opportunity for this soul. What will she answer, Lord? Help me.
Her eyes smiled, and, so willingly with excitement, she said, “Okay, yes, I would!”
“Are you ready to believe in the Son of God — Jesus Christ?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Let’s pray.”
Our eyes were fixed on each other, as we prayed. She received God’s love for her, confessed Jesus as the Son of God, and believed in her heart and confessed with her mouth that He died and rose again from the dead. At His cross, she asked Him for forgiveness of her sins and gave her life to Him to use for His glory.
I looked around again. There were customers all around, except where we were. Thank You, Lord.
“Thank you. Thank you.” She was so excited!
“Do you have a Bible?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Let me give you one.” I pulled one out of what I call my soul-saving tote bag. She received it very gently.
“Start in the book of John,” my husband instructed her.
She looked at the Bible. You could tell that it was the first time she had ever held one in her hands.
“Thank you very much!”
“Read it every day. You will get to know the God who loves you and what He did for you.”
“Thank you!”
“Abba, what an open heart you put in front of me to believe in Your Son. Jesus, if it weren’t because of the power of Your Spirit who puts the love of God in us to tell others about You and what You did for us on the cross, what would I say to a Moroccan who was Muslim and agnostic? This young woman is now one of Your chosen. Help her, Lord, to understand Your Word. You alone are the One who is saving souls, and it is by Your Spirit that the heart of man believes in You. Thank You, Lord, for Your love, Your cross and resurrection. Because of this, we have our hope in Your return and are waiting for You.”