"This Is Your Chance To Preach To Me" and He lost it.
Over the past two months, I watched the AMC mini-series "Hell on Wheels." The series was about a railroad being built across America and the various story lines associated with it. The main character was a former Confederate soldier, Cullen Bohannon. His wife had been raped and murdered by Yankee soldiers and he was trying to find the men who did it and avenge her death.
Another character in the series, was a Preacher. And, to say that he was a "character" is an understatement. The preacher had some issues or demons he was battling. On several occasions he tried to "preach" to Mr. Bohannon but Bohannon would have none of it.
Until the last episode...
Mr. Bohannon is looking for a man he thinks killed his wife when he goes into the Preacher's tent. Just prior to Mr. Bohannon entering the Preacher's tent, the Preacher had killed a man. Only, he didn't just kill him.. he beheaded a man. Yep, like I said; he had issues.
Bohannon enters the tent, sits down and says something like "Preacher, you've been wanting to preach me; he's your chance."
The Preacher's eyes brighten, somewhat... as he realizes he now has the opportunity he has been waiting for. But there is one problem... the Preacher's heart isn't right.. he's just killed a man.
So, he get up and says "There is a God.. I know that."
Then, he walks over to Bohannon and begins spitting out some garbage that made no sense and then, with a stern voice he says "Brother, choose hate!"
Bohannon looks at him like "Have you lost your mind ?"
And the fact is, the Preacher probably HAD lost his mind. The guy had major issues.
Then, Bohannon just walks away.
I know it's a tv show and they are acting but... I hurt as I watched that scene unfold. Here is a man who is searching.. .he even says "Preacher, you've been wanting our chance to preach to me.. here it is." And what does he get? A preacher telling him "Brother, choose hate!"
Mercy.
All around us are people who need to know the Lord. And, there are times in everyone's life when they are more open to the gospel than any other. But, if we aren't careful, we may miss our opportunity by failing to live for Christ.
None of us are perfect.. Far from it. But, we need to live every day and try to live for Jesus and live in such a way that when a friend or lost person is open to talk about spiritual things they would come to us and we could tell them the truth.
Cullen Bohannon was open... briefly.. to hearing from God and the Preacher blew it. That was a tv show.. but in real life we need to prevent that from happening by living for Christ.
Comments