How are You Making the World a Better Place in 2024?

So, did you make any resolutions for 2024? After an experience I had on the night of Monday, January 1, and the early morning of Tuesday, January 2, I am doubling down on my prayers for our country and for our world. For years I have prayed for repentance, for faith, and for our country and for our leaders by name. Now, in addition to praying for repentance and faith, I am specifically praying that our whole world, myself included, specifically find our Savior, Jesus, and His love for the people of this world.

Kathy and I flew home to Alaska on Monday, January 1. We actually landed in Anchorage around 1:15 a.m. and left the airport around 2:00. Remember, we left Florida with a 4 hour time difference. So, by the time my head hit the pillow in our bed at 3:00 a.m., I had been awake about 24 hours. I share this with you so that you know I was tired, nodding in and out of sleep, as our daughter Mary drove us home. As we drove through the roundabout onto Trunk Road by the Mat-Su Regional, Mary exclaimed, “Why is that person in the road?” Being half asleep, I just barely saw a blur. Mary passed the person, and then stopped the vehicle and continued, “They want us to stop, should we?” Kathy suggested, “Maybe their car went off the road.” It was about 2:30 a.m. I had seen an outside temperature on the car of 5 degrees as we drove across the hay flats. In my semi-sleep I replied, “Yes,” thinking that “You don’t leave someone without help in this weather.”

Then the sad adventure began. The person had been jumping up and down and waving their arms, but came to our vehicle. It was a young woman, perhaps in her early twenties. She only wore a sweat suit for clothing, with no winter coat or gloves. We had trouble understanding the woman, but she had no car, and no phone, and she asked if she could get into our car out of the cold, and if we would take her to the gas station up the road. There is a gas station at Trunk and Palmer Fish-hook Roads, which fit her description. We drove her there but, we continued to have trouble understanding her. She talked to other people who weren’t there but in her head, and she told them that they were wrong. She talked about different locations, her father, and her dead baby. Some of what she said was beyond our comprehension. Kathy asked if she were on drugs. We didn’t understand her answer.

With some drama we dropped her off at the gas station. She did act like she might be expecting someone. So, we had gotten her out of the cold, and to the location she requested, and we drove home. We all felt shocked at the woman and her behavior, and we felt badly. If I hadn’t been drowsy, I think I would have taken her to the hospital, or called the police, neither of which she would have wanted. The next morning, wishing I had done more, I did phone the police and troopers thinking they might want a report. They told me, “We could have helped last night. We can’t do anything now.”

So, after this encounter, perhaps you understand why I am praying even more for our country, for our world, and for this person. Kathy and Mary and I believe the woman was on drugs. Kathy talked about such patients in the hospital who were seemingly impossible to help. What is going on in our world that someone would do this to themselves? Who cares so much about money, and so little about others, that they would sell or give such drugs to another human being? If we know the love and grace of God in Jesus, we want to serve our Lord and love others. So, why are we so lost that we are willing to hurt ourselves, and hurt others? What kind of tortured life must this woman live? We need help. We need Jesus! I am praying even more fervently!

Two of many Bible verses rise to my mind and heart in response to this experience. In Ephesians 2, God teaches us through Paul, “1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved-- (Ephesians 2:1-5) God tells us we are all dead in our sins, and only saved by the rich mercy of God who makes us alive in Christ!

Another verse from Titus, used in churches at Christmas-time, also reveals our sin and God’s amazing love. “3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 (Do you hear the Christmas story?) he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7) We are killing ourselves through our foolish disobedience. But, in mercy God saves us, washes us, and gives eternal life in heaven. That woman is not the only one who needs Jesus!

After this experience early Tuesday morning, I realize even more how important it is to pray for our world. I am praying even more that we turn from our foolish disobedience and passions, and that we turn to the righteousness and love God mercifully gives us in Jesus. How are you making the world a better place in 2024?