Surprise Ending

Sunday was "Signing Day" at Providence. Copies of Treasure in the Sand were stacked on a table in front of me. My friends could either buy a copy or bring one they had recently purchased online. I signed them all and, along the way, I was reminded of another book signing years ago in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It was my first book back in 1986. I was seated at a table in a Christian Bookstore five miles from the beach. I looked up to greet a sharp looking guy, probably in his forties. He had a big smile on his face as he handed me a copy of my book. Then he asked, "Do you remember me, Tim?"

I looked again. I didn't really recognize him- not the smile, not the haircut. But there was something vaguely familiar about his eyes. I was about to ask, "Who are you," until I suddenly remembered. Then I thought, "No, this can't be right!"

Two years earlier, I had been actively involved at First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale. The church had a booming evangelism training ministry which sent dozens of teams out all over town to share their faith every Tuesday night. Over several semesters, all those teams had always departed through the rear parking lot, driving right past the home of an unhappy family living just across the street from the church complex. Sometimes the poor man who lived there could be seen sitting on his porch, very drunk. I'm sure some had tried to interact with the people who lived there over the years, but it had apparently never worked. Then one Tuesday night, events took a different direction.

A team had managed to get into the home to meet this addicted man named Rocky along with his wife and kids. I can't remember all the details but, by the end of the evening, the unpleasant man who had lived across the street for years made a shocking decision. He prayed to confess Jesus Christ as Lord- prayed with tears in his eyes. Afterwards he actually accompanied the team back to the Fellowship Hall to share his experience during the report back session.

The very next Sunday Rocky showed up for worship; and the next, and the next. Soon he was baptized. With his deeply creased face reflecting the hard mileage he had endured, he would lead his wife and kids down the aisle to the front pew every Sunday. He didn't look like most of the other upper class professionals who mostly comprised the downtown church, but he never seemed to be aware of all the differences. He was aware of God's grace.

Shortly after Rocky had become a part of FBC, my family and I had been called to serve on staff at another area church. A year or more had passed. My new book had come out. And there I was sitting behind a stack of books signing copies. I took another look at the smiling face across the table, and after a long pause, I asked, "Rocky? Rocky, is it you, buddy?"

Tears welled up in those familiar eyes. Rocky nodded and grinned. The creases and hard edges had melted from his face along with quite a few years. He looked younger and incredibly happy. I learned he was working now, and was involved in the outreach program that had reached him. It had only been a year, but what a year! I gave him a long, joyful hug. I don't really like signing books but I was incredibly happy to sign Rocky's copy!

He was an old friend but a new man. By the grace of God in Christ, the old was gone and the new had come. My name was written in his book, but far, far more importantly, his name was written in Christ's Book of Life. It made all the difference in the world.