The Everyday Club

12/23/09 Jose, about 20, and Tabitha, about 30
Routine grocery shopping has become an adventure! Today I was blessed with two wonderful conversations and I can't decide which one to write about, so I'll describe both briefly. Jose responded to my question about heaven by saying he has seen it himself. He had been near death in a coma for 5 weeks and described seeing a white light. He felt he would go to heaven based on his good deeds in helping others and he really seemed to be a "good person" compared to most. But compared to the Ten Commandments Jose understood that God's standard is perfection and that he doesn't measure up. He deserves God's wrath instead. He was hungry to hear about salvation through faith in Jesus, and told me "It's all so clear to me now!" I gave him more information, saying he may forget much of what I said. He gladly took it but assured me he would remember everything. I told him to have a heart to heart talk with God before he goes to sleep tonight and he said "You can be sure I will!" I was so encouraged by Jose, and a minute later met Tabitha, who has been attending a Pentecostal church for her entire life. However she was amazed to find out that one can't "earn" heaven by being a good person. She was truly excited to learn as I explained Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."