What does it look like when heaven meets earth? What does it sound like? What does it feel like? This is a story about Travis who
is 17 years old. He is hungry to
know God and be Jesus to those around him. I have had the privilege of discipling him over the last few
months since I moved down to Gainesville.
It all happened in 5 minutes. It was 5:55 and Travis needed to be back on the bus at
6:00pm. His swim team had just
spent a few hours in Savannah walking around the city.
Travis was walking back when he saw an old homeless man
sitting on a bench, immediately he felt drawn to him. The timing was inconvenient. But he knew what he felt on his heart. Some times you just have to act in the
moment. Travis excused himself and
started back in the opposite direction.
He sat down on the bench. Travis asked how the homeless man was doing.
“I am tired, cold, hungry and homeless,� came the somber
reply.
“I don’t have a lot of time or money to give you, but I want
you to know despite your circumstance there is still a God that loves you.�
“I know, I believe that.� The homeless man then began to preach his life story and
reveal his depth of knowledge of God and the scriptures.
Then in mid sentence the homeless man said something divine,
“You know Travis?�
Socked, Travis stared back wide eyed. His heart rate
quickened. How did he know his
name? He was certain that he didn’t say it.
Recognizing Travis’s bewildered countenance the homeless man
said, “Travis the Spirit of the Lord told me your name, and I see that the
Spirit of the Lord is all over you.�
The homeless man kept talking leaving Travis lost in
time. The thoughts came. What on
earth just happened? Was this
moment real? Did that just
happen? How could he know my
name? This is crazy.
It had happened.
Heaven met earth on a bench.
It looked like an old homeless man. It sounded uniquely familiar. And it felt like complete bewilderment and amazement all at
once.
Coming back to, Travis prayed with the homeless man. Travis asked the Lord to bless him,
provide for him and take him out the wilderness.
When they had finished some of his teammates walked up. They felt led to give some money and
between them came up with twenty-five dollars.
Immediately and to the homeless man’s surprise the prayers
were answered.
I love this story because it portrays the beauty and
simplicity of God’s Kingdom. In
unlikely places, at unlikely times, but with divine outcomes. Maybe there is a divine intervention
waiting for you. Ask the Lord
to give you ears to hear and be ready to obey when he speaks.
*Travis Pictured Above
