I'm Joshua. I'm going door to door sharing a message that will change lives.
I don't want to buy anything.
It's free, at least as far as money goes.
Free. Life changing. What kind of commitment do I need to make?
You will need to commit your life.
Wow. That doesn't sound free to me sir.
It is. The price for this life changing experience has already been paid.
Oh, you're one of those Bible Thumping Hellions.
No.
Can we talk without me opening the door.
Yes, if you want.
Alright. What's going to change my life?
An experience with God.
So you're a messenger of God now, a prophet?
Yes.
Really.
Yes, I am sir.
How can I know?
Here's the thing sir. You're assuming that if you did know, it would make a difference in your life. Is that right?
I don't know. What do you mean?
What if you knew that I was in fact a messenger of God? What if I said something that made you know without doubt that God sent me? What difference would that make in your life?
I guess I'd live for God.
So the only reason you're not living for God is that you're not convinced that He's real, or because you haven't experienced Him directly?
I guess so...I've never really thought about it.
Are you sure?
.....Let me think about it...
So now you seem to be saying that it's possible for you to reject God even if you knew without doubt He exists.
Well...even if He does exist, He doesn't seem like the kind of deity I want to follow or serve...
What do you mean?
I mean look at all the evil in the world.
What about it?
What do you mean what about it? If God exists, why doesn't He stop it?
Give me a specific example, like something evil you've done.
...Well, I've never killed anybody...I've never done anything evil...
So you're perfect.
Of course not...but I haven't done anything really bad, like prison time bad.
So you're perfect.
I said I'm not.
Alright, so you've done bad things in your life?
Of course I have.
Things you regret?
Yes, who hasn't.
Things you wish you could undo?
Yes, I've done bad things, alright?
So why didn't God stop you?
.................................................I don't know...............
Can you blame God for the bad you did that He didn't stop?
....................I guess not...................
Do you want me to convince you that God sent me?
How would you do that?
Think to yourself of what would completely convince you...something I could say or do that would completely convince you.
................Alright................
Do you have it?
Yes.
Now write it down...of course I can't see it because I'm outside. In fact, go to a room in the back of your house, out of my sight, and write it down.
................This is getting weird..................
What do you have to lose? Either I'm a messenger from God and you can respect what I'm saying, or I'm not, and you can dismiss me. Either way, you've lost some time, but that's about it. You don't strike me as someone with faith in God that I could discourage or anything.
No, I'm definitely not a man of faith.
So what do you have to lose if I'm a fake? Nothing. But if I'm not a faking, you have your soul to lose. It seems like you would take the chance and find out...for the sake of your own soul.
....................................................Alright..........................................I'll write it down..........
I'll wait.
***
Alright. Convince me.
You didn't write anything down. You wanted to see if I am a fake or not, so you expected me to tell you something that was completely off. But if you would've written something down, it would've been this: "Why did God let my dad die?"
You asked God a year ago why He let your dad die when all your dad tried to do is live a good life. He was your bestfriend. You shared a secret with him, something you don't want your wife to know. You told your dad that you and your wife's sister almost slept together when your wife went out of town. It didn't start out like an affair or a one night stand. Your sister-in-law came over to get something she left, and she stayed and talked. She always admired you, and her admiration makes her very desirable to you. You talked for hours. The more you looked into her eyes, filled with awe of you, the more you wanted her...needed her...longed for her...because she seemed to want, need, and long for you in a way that your wife didn't. You kissed her, and she kissed you back. It was the sweetest kiss you've every tasted. But for some reason, though you felt you could get away with it, you didn't. You asked her to leave. Things have been awkward between you and your sister-in-law, but your wife suspects nothing. You told your dad because you felt guilty. Your dad listened. He didn't say anything. Just listened. You loved him more than you'd ever loved him. Two weeks later he died an unexpected death. For a year you decided that if God didn't answer your question, He didn't exist.
....................You're from God....there's no way you could've known any of that...but God still isn't answering my question. Why did my dad die? He was a good man. It wasn't his time. Why? I still need him.
Whether God answers you or not, you know that I'm His messenger. You know He exists.
.............I know.
What are you going to do?
I don't know.
Why don't you know?
Because a God who would kill my dad may not be worth knowing, that's why!
Nor a God who would let you do the bad things you've done.
That's nothing compared to killing my dad!
How did your dad die?
A heart attack...but no one saw it coming.
How old was your dad?
69.
At some point, your dad was going to die, even if it was of natural causes, even if it was in his sleep.
...........I know.............
Would you consider God a murderer if your dad died naturally?
I don't know.
Would you have needed him less at 70.
..................................................................No....................................................................................Why did you come to me today? Why now?
Why not now? Why not today? What day would've been better?
I don't know.
What do you know?
I know that I need to think about what's happening. Can you come back tomorrow.
No, I can't.
..............................I appreciate you stopping by.
Alright sir. I appreciate you listening.
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