Gospel conversations

The lines were forming to board several Air Asia flights out of Penang. I asked the woman behind me if this was the line for Singapore. Yes. She was also going to Singapore.  She asked which seat I was in. 18B.  Her seat? 18A. 

Once we boarded, I found out she was traveling to visit her brother and sister who are now Singaporean citizens. I was going there to overnight with our daughter before heading to the US.  

In further conversation, we talked about the weather and she said, “I like cold weather.” 

In this tropical country? “Where do you go for cold weather?” 

“London,” she said and shared that her other sister had lived there until her sudden death from cancer the year before.  I told her I was sad to hear of her loss.

Trying to meditate

Sing B closed her eyes as we took off and I read.  A few minutes later, she said, “I am trying something new. Trying to meditate. I cannot do it very well.”  

“Oh, I meditate also.”

“You do?” 

“Yes, I’m a follower of Jesus Christ. And I meditate on Scripture, God’s Holy Word.” 

She was curious. “Do you empty your mind? You look so peaceful.”  

“No, actually, I fill my mind.”

“Oh…?”

“With His truth.” 

You too can believe

Then I told her what Jesus said in John 3:16.  And explained, “Jesus was sent by God and He died for our sins on a cross.  He was buried, then raised to life on the third day.  This all happened so that if we believe with our hearts and confess with our mouths, we will be saved and have eternal life, forever with God.” I paused. She was very attentive. 

“You too can believe and experience this peace with God, Sing B.”  

She looked me in the eye and said, “I have never known a Christian. Ever.”  Never? In a country where nearly 10 percent of the population claim Christianity as their religion. She said, “My family is Buddhist but I don’t know what I believe.” 

Then she shared, “When I was staying with my sister in London and she was dying, she told me to look at the Bible someone had given her. She asked me to pray to Jesus for her. I felt so confused when I tried to read the Bible. I didn’t know how to pray.” 

“Sing B, you can simply ask Jesus to take over your life—just talk to Him. He hears you. He loves you.” She was quiet, thinking this over.

Open her eyes

She reached for the airline magazine in the seat pocket and it fell open to a travel article about Viet Nam. There was a full-page color photograph of a Vietnamese man and his wife in their home. Hanging on their wall in the background was a very large picture of Jesus. The tagline mentioned a “small culture of Catholics” in Viet Nam. Sing B paused a long time, looking at that photograph. 

I marveled that such a picture was even included in a travel article on Viet Nam. And prayed for Sing B’s spiritual eyes to be opened to His Truth.

As we were landing, Sing B confided that she felt fearful about seeing her siblings. I asked if I could pray for her. 

“Yes, please.”

So I prayed in Jesus’ name, asking Him to reveal His truth to Sing B. And show her His love. And give her peace.  

1 Corinthians 2 reminder

She thanked me. I gave her my phone number and encouraged her to be in touch when we both returned to Penang. As we walked off the plane, they ushered us into different security lines outside the gate. 

I looked for her at immigration but didn’t see Sing B again.

Later at Becca’s flat, I opened my journal and saw the Bible reading from that morning before I boarded the plane. 

It was 1 Corinthians 2 and I’d written:

“Always a good reminder in 1 Corinthians 2—as I speak with people and share—‘I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.’  …Prepare my heart and mind, open my mouth to speak Your Truth, the Truth of the gospel.”

It had totally slipped my mind. But not His. Great is His faithfulness!

Mr. Aik’s story

Early the following morning I took a taxi to the Singapore airport. I noticed the cross displayed on the dashboard of the taxi and said to the elderly taxi driver, “I see you have a cross. Are you a believer? I am a follower of Jesus Christ.” 

“Yes!” Mr. Aik said. Emphatically. “Jesus changed my life!” 

“When? What’s your story?” 

“Seven years ago it happened. Before that I worshiped idols. I drank and smoked and was very sick. My liver was in bad shape. My back was in pain. I went to a church while visiting my wife’s family in China. They told me all I had to do was believe in Jesus and I would be set free. I did! So simple! He changed my life.” 

Mr. Aik said he lost his desire to drink or smoke. As he was sitting in a church service one day, his side felt warm, then hot.  They went to a market after church and his side continued to feel very warm. “After that my liver and back were healed! No more pain.” He quoted Scripture about abiding in Christ. “The old is gone, now I am clothed in Christ—there is joy and peace.”

God knows

I told Mr. Aik about Sing B and asked him to pray for her as he drove about the city that day.

He said, “Yes, God knows her path. He will reach her.” 

When we arrived at the airport, he asked if he could pray for me in Mandarin. After the prayer, Mr. Aik explained he had prayed for Sing B to believe and for my travels to go well that day. 

I walked into the airport full of joy, reflecting on how the Lord directs our paths. How He pursues those living in darkness. How He strengthens us through the faithful witness of His chosen ones.

What about you?

Have you witnessed God’s pursuit of someone? How have fellow believers encouraged you along the way by their story, their obedience?

Related post: The mystery of the gospel