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The
Corner
Dear Friends,
During the month of July my nephew, Charles,
and his family had gone on a weeklong camping trip into the wilderness
area of the Sierra Nevada mountains. My wife and I decided to visit them
for a day trip and we found the road was paved but at a certain point it
was only a rough dirt road. The terrain was steep with canyons and bridge
over a river that looked like it was ready to fall down any time. After
driving a few hours we finally found Charles and his family who had camped
between two small lakes.
After lunch, I felt a nudge by the Holy
Spirit to start the car and found that it would not do so. This pleasant
day trip suddenly turned into a struggle of getting out and back home.
Charles drove us to a place where there was cell phone reception and I
called for AAA to come and rescue us. At eight o'clock we called again
about the tow truck and found out that we had to drive to a local town
because the driver was unfamiliar with the dirt roads. It was dark when we
finally connected and I had the opportunity to speak with the driver as we
drove back to the camp. He was born again but he had great personal needs
and I was able to share how to overcome them with God’s help.
It was a small miracle that we were able to
get the car loaded on the flatbed amongst all the trees and rocks. We
prayed before the driver started to load the car; he was going to use his
flashlight to see in loading the vehicle, but he was amazed to find out
that the floodlights, which were broken, had suddenly started to work.
After a slow drive over the dirt roads and out of the mountains, he
delivered us home safe and sound at 5:30 in the morning. After he unloaded
the car, I gave him a copy of Christian Dynamics Course 1 and showed him
where some of the topics we had spoken about were located.
I remember talking to the Lord, that it was
fine for Him to send this tow truck driver so that I could minister to him
for more than eight hours. I realized this man would never have met me
unless our car had broken down. For many years I have told people that it
is seldom convenient when there is a need for ministry and this road trip
to the wilderness reinforced that truth.
I also
thought about the future and the coming of the Antichrist. Many people
imagine that when that time comes, they will flee into a wilderness area
and wait for Jesus to come back. I learned this, that there is no food in
wilderness areas and you need to bring in supplies that would last you a
long time. This last winter they received 58 feet of snow that was on the
ground until late June.
It would certainly be difficult to survive a
winter like that and the Holy Spirit showed me that my safety is in
Christ. There is only one way to survive when the tribulation period
arrives and that is through the power of the Holy Spirit and living in the
supernatural. God made a difference between the children of Israel and the
Egyptians when He sent the plagues. And when there was a drought in
Israel, God sent the prophet Elijah into the wilderness where ravens
brought him food. When the brook dried up, God sent him to another nation
and had a widow supernaturally feed him.
When my car was taken in to be repaired, I
found out the ignition switch had gone bad. It just happened to die right
there in the wilderness. During my 50 years of driving, I have never had
an ignition switch go bad on me. Did God break it? I believe He had an
angel break it in order to teach me about the wilderness, but most of all
to reach this hurting tow truck driver.
I remember telling God in the wilderness
that I was fine with the situation but asked Him to cover the repair cost.
Some four weeks later a check came in the mail made out to me and marked
for personal expenses of the pastor. God covered the cost of the broken
ignition switch. We serve an awesome God, who loves us and surely deserves
our praise. To God be the glory!
Yours in Christ,
John S. Torell
Volume 14, Issue 2 |
