I was preaching in London's Hyde Park, it was a day when the Sisters of mercy were in town for an event so the place was packed with nuns in their distinctive white habits.
A little chinese girl saw my bible and supposed I was part of that crowd, she came running over and blurted out "oh I wish I could wear a white robe and have a pure heart" just like that.
I cried to the Lord in my heart for words of wisdom to share with this young girl, she was about 17 years old and very pretty.
I said "well you could put on a white robe but it'd still be you, wearing a white robe" her face fell and sorrowfully she admitted it was true [somebody told me chinese people were unemotional, stoic.] I said "but you can have a pure heart before you leave this park today"
she looked as if she wasn't quite sure of that.
I said "look St Peter said, won't you believe something if St Peter said? ... Himself bear our sins in His own body on the tree that we being dead unto sin might live unto righteousness"
She grabbed my poor bible with both hands and stared almost ferociously at the scripture I had pointed out ... "it says you can have a pure heart"
Her brow wrinkled into a frown and her face showed that she was desperately trying to understand this thing.
I pointed dramatically to a nearby tree and cried "LOOK there He is hanging by nails He's bearing your sins"
There was a sharp intake of breath and her hands went to her face, it was as if she could really see Him there, she understood the scripture. I asked "do you believe if we prayed right here in the park God will hear our prayer?" yes she believed that.
She bowed to the waist in reverence to pray and together we asked God to take away all her sins, wash her heart clean and to impart to her a new life, even the life of Christ in her heart"
Oh suddenly she lifted up and I watched in wonder as great joy filled her heart, her face became radiant, I knew that she had been born again. And she ran away ... I thought that was odd, I had wanted to share so much with her but she ran away. I carried on preaching.
About 15 minutes later I saw her coming through the crowd pushing and poking four or five very bemused looking young men ahead of her. She begged me "please sir, what you told to me please explain it to my friends."
Now they all belonged to a group of tourists and their courier was vigourously rounding them all up to get them back on their bus. They were behind schedule. I managed to get a bundle of literature into her hands as she was being snatched away and shouted after her "you must explain what has happened to you yourself ... farewell"
Praise the Lord. She reminded so much of the woman at the well. Our God is awesome.
A little chinese girl saw my bible and supposed I was part of that crowd, she came running over and blurted out "oh I wish I could wear a white robe and have a pure heart" just like that.
I cried to the Lord in my heart for words of wisdom to share with this young girl, she was about 17 years old and very pretty.
I said "well you could put on a white robe but it'd still be you, wearing a white robe" her face fell and sorrowfully she admitted it was true [somebody told me chinese people were unemotional, stoic.] I said "but you can have a pure heart before you leave this park today"
she looked as if she wasn't quite sure of that.
I said "look St Peter said, won't you believe something if St Peter said? ... Himself bear our sins in His own body on the tree that we being dead unto sin might live unto righteousness"
She grabbed my poor bible with both hands and stared almost ferociously at the scripture I had pointed out ... "it says you can have a pure heart"
Her brow wrinkled into a frown and her face showed that she was desperately trying to understand this thing.
I pointed dramatically to a nearby tree and cried "LOOK there He is hanging by nails He's bearing your sins"
There was a sharp intake of breath and her hands went to her face, it was as if she could really see Him there, she understood the scripture. I asked "do you believe if we prayed right here in the park God will hear our prayer?" yes she believed that.
She bowed to the waist in reverence to pray and together we asked God to take away all her sins, wash her heart clean and to impart to her a new life, even the life of Christ in her heart"
Oh suddenly she lifted up and I watched in wonder as great joy filled her heart, her face became radiant, I knew that she had been born again. And she ran away ... I thought that was odd, I had wanted to share so much with her but she ran away. I carried on preaching.
About 15 minutes later I saw her coming through the crowd pushing and poking four or five very bemused looking young men ahead of her. She begged me "please sir, what you told to me please explain it to my friends."
Now they all belonged to a group of tourists and their courier was vigourously rounding them all up to get them back on their bus. They were behind schedule. I managed to get a bundle of literature into her hands as she was being snatched away and shouted after her "you must explain what has happened to you yourself ... farewell"
Praise the Lord. She reminded so much of the woman at the well. Our God is awesome.
