Many years ago, on a Sunday evening, in my church a dear lady came to me seeking help. She had just been gloriously converted and was bubbling over with the joy of her salvation and, of course, when you enter into the reality of such an experience, you long for everybody else to have a like blessing. It is not enough to know that your sins are forgiven and that you are on the way to heaven, you become almost impatient for loved ones and friends to know Jesus as you know Him. This good lady couldn't wait for her husband to be converted. Jesus had become so real to her, she was trying hard in every way she knew to lead her man to the Lord.
Unfortunately, he did not respond very willingly to all her entreaties. She brought him along to the Gospel service, but he didn't like it. Neither did he like the preacher, who happened to be me, nor did he declare he would not attend anymore. In fact, he expressed himself in stronger terms; he said that he would not go near the place again. His wife, however, was not prepared to give up as easily as that, and she said to me with a good deal of concern, "Oh Pastor, I do want my husband to be saved". Then she propounded to me a carefully thought out plan; "My husband", she said, "will not let me talk to him about Jesus. He gets very annoyed if I try, but perhaps he would listen to you Pastor. "Look", she went on, "tomorrow, Monday, I am going to the Sisterhood, he is a railway man and will be at home for several Monday afternoons. Will you please go and visit him? He will be alone. You could talk to him about his great need and maybe lead him to the Lord"!
Well, you know, I wasn't very keen. He didn't like me to begin with and I have never believed in trying to hurry or force a decision for Christ. However, we parsons are always willing to have a go. We are a brave lot really, so I agreed to make the effort and the lady assured me she would be praying. I well remember opening the garden gate and approaching the front door of the little cottage. My knocking brought a speedy reply from the railway man. He opened the door, took one look at me, and slam, the door was firmly closed in my face. I hadn't even time to say "Good afternoon". I stood before the door for a moment stunned and feeling utterly broken. I could not brace myself to do any more visits that afternoon, so I made my way home, went upstairs to my study and fell down on my knees before God. How wonderful it is to know that Jesus knows the way we take. He understands perfectly, whatever would we do without Him? How often I have proved in my ministry the value of the mighty weapon of prayer.
As I waited before God that afternoon, the Lord seemed to say tome, "Go back and have another try". My immediate reaction was. "Oh no Lord, not me. He doesn't like me, send somebody else Lord". But then God seemed to draw even nearer and I thought I heard Him say, "There is no defeat in Jesus. God is big enough even for a situation like this. Behold, I give you power over all, the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you".
The following Monday afternoon I once again opened the little garden gate and knocked on the door. I soon heard the good man coming and my heart began to beat a little faster. He opened the door and I think he secretly admired me for having the pluck to try again. "What you again," he said gruffly. "Well, you had better come in." It wasn't exactly a warm welcome, but I was praising the Lord in my heart because I was over the first hurdle. I was inside the house. Now, what could I talk to him about? He didn't like the Church or the preacher. It was no use opening my Bible. I recalled he was a railway man. I knew a little about railways, because my father had followed a similar occupation for many years. For thirty minutes we talked of nothing but railways, by that time barriers were being broken down, slowly I was winning his confidence.
He came to the door with me when it was time for me to leave and said, "Mr. Miles, I shall be at home next Monday if you would like to come". I gladly accepted his invitation. The next Monday we had a longer period together, but we still talked railways. I learned a tremendous lot about railways during those visits. On this occasion he made me a cup of tea. We were getting on famously together and I received another warm invitation to go back the next Monday.
On my third visit we were still talking railways, when quite out of the blue he said to me, "Tell me Mr. Miles, why are you a Christian? Well, that was what I had been waiting for. That was what I had been praying for. He never got a word in edgeways after that and the only railway we talked about was the Gospel Train. I had the joy of preaching Jesus to him.
The next Sunday he came to the church and by the grace of God he was wonderfully saved. You couldn't keep him away after that; he became as enthusiastic as his dear wife. They have both gone to heaven now, but I look forward to the day when we shall be able 'to talk it over together bye and bye'.