As a young minister, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a grave-side service for a homeless man, with no family or friends, who had died while traveling through the area. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to

be laid to rest there.

 

          As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I became lost; and being  a  typical  man  I  did  not  stop for directions. I finally arrived an

hour late.

         I saw the crew, eating lunch, but the hearse was nowhere in sight. I
apologized to the workers for my tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave, where I saw the vault lid already in place. I assured the
workers I would not hold them long but this was the proper thing to do.

       The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. I poured out my
heart and soul. As I preached, the workers began to say "Amen," "Praise the Lord," and "Glory," I preached, and I preached, like I'd never preached before:  from Genesis all the way to Revelations.

       I closed the lengthy service with a prayer and walked to my car. I felt I had done my duty for the homeless man and that the crew would leave with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication, in spite of my tardiness.

        As I was opening the door and taking off my coat, I overheard one of the workers saying to another, "I ain't never seen anything like this before, .......and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

   Plainly, don’t get short changed.  Let’s be ready to meet our Maker.  The Bible (in Acts) teaches that to avoid hell and gain heaven - one must:

1) Believe In Jesus As Savior (16:31)  2) Repent Of Sins  (17:30)  

3) Confess Christ Audibly (8:37)  4) Be Baptized In  Water (2:38)  

5) Live A  Christian Life (14:22)   6) Be Active In the Church (2:47)

KYOWVA  Evangelistic Association* 1541 S. 7th Street * Ironton, OH   45638            

Web Page: www.kyowva.com * Free Bible Course Upon Request