May 31, 2023 Taking a Stand for Jesus

I was walking down the aisle just before the evening meeting in the Baguio Central church in northern Philippines, when a man stopped right in front of me and asked, “Do you remember me, Pastor Dan?”

I looked at him, and then it hit me—Edgar! I had baptized him in Baguio, 5 years ago! He had been married to an Adventist for over 35 years. Everybody knew him; everybody had been praying for him, hoping for him, for 35 years. He was a good man, he even attended church often with his wife. But, he had never felt the need to step over the line and join her.

I visited with Edgar during that evangelistic series, and so when it came time for the appeal Friday night, I was watching for him. I preached that evening, from the story of the Prodigal Son.

I told an HMS Richards, Sr. story, about the father looking for his son after the battle at Gettysburg in the Civil War, where the father took his lantern and kept calling out for his son, “John Hartman, your father is calling you.” The father found his son, still alive, and put him over his shoulder and carried him home. And as HMS used to say to the crowd, “Your name might not be John Hartman, but tonight you have a heavenly Father going over the battlefield of life, calling your name.”

More than 100 people came forward that night, many young people. But not my friend Edgar—until all of a sudden, he broke, and he came forward. He stood there, with his arms folded in the middle of all these much younger people—just a proud man finally making a total commitment to Jesus.

You can’t imagine the thrill, as I stood in the line of ordained pastors in the pool that Sabbath afternoon, as we baptized more than 200—to then see Edgar come gliding through the pool. This was one of my favorite moments in life, baptizing somebody who I know what a struggle it represents.

And now, five years later, we hugged, and I asked him, “No regrets? Still faithful?” “Yes, Pastor Dan.”

After that same evening’s message, I told Edgar’s story, and called for him to stand, as an example to others who still in the “valley of decision” that night. As he stood—the whole congregation applauded, praise God!

It’s moments like these that make sharing Jesus so worthwhile!

All the Edgars of the world make it all worthwhile!

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14

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Praise God for Edgar’s decision to stand for Jesus! Will you persevere in prayer for those who still have not made a decision for Christ?

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20

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