Sonny

In the early 1980’s I was a young Pastor in Kaitaia New Zealand, a town in the top of the North Island. Because I was living in a church owned house, we were able to get a group to work for us who were on the ‘Work for the Dole Scheme.’ The church property needed a drain around its perimeter and a new fence to be built. So, on a bright Monday morning 8 or 10 young people and a supervisor turned up for work. The property was fairly large, and all the work and materials were provided by the government. Being a scheme for the unemployed, the whole thing took a while.

Because I was usually home at lunch time, I would go out during their lunch breaks and socialize with the young people. Because they knew I was a Minister they would often sit around on the lawn and ask me questions about God and the Bible.

To exit the property they had to leave via my garage, which opened onto the street. One day before a long weekend, I was in my garage after work. Sonny lingered until the others were gone and then he wanted to talk. I presented the gospel hope to him. As we talked, I felt impressed to press him for a decision regarding Jesus. His response was, “I believe in God, and I will get around to making a decision. I have some living to do, and then I will settle down and join a church.” My Response was, “Sonny, you are not promised tomorrow, you could die tonight and then your fate is forever sealed. Decisions belong to time and the time is now, not some time in the distant future.” We talked some more, and Sonny left.

At church on Saturday, I heard that there had been a fatal accident that very Friday night. A young couple were travelling to Auckland from Kaitaia – a journey of about 4 hours. I thought nothing more than, wow that’s tragic. On Sunday morning I was in the garden and my wife stuck her head out the window and informed me that it was Sonny and his girlfriend who had died on Friday night. No one knew my connection to him, and so no one thought to tell me. But I felt sick inside! I realized that I had given Sonny his last call! Not just his last call, but just 3 hours before his life ended!  I will never know what went through his mind as he walked away that evening until I reach eternity. Sonny died just hours after our talk! He didn’t make it to tomorrow! He had heard the good news of Jesus; I wonder if he had time to think as he lay dying on the side of the road. Maybe he spoke to his girlfriend as they journeyed, about the conversation we had that afternoon. Eternity will reveal all. I hope I see him there!

But what of you and I? Do you have the balance of the now and the not yet? Do you live as if today is your last and plan as if it is not. This is the tension of life. Many of the funerals I have done have been for younger people. Even a child. As the casket is being lowered into the grave, one of the things I often say is, “The ony thing that matters now is what they did with Jesus.”