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Stories & Blog
When the Enemy Lay Dying
SWEDEN — Leash in hand, Elias headed out the door with his dog for a walk around the neighborhood. Everything seemed normal until he turned the corner from his house. A man lay in the street, unconscious, his head bleeding!
Elias rushed over to help the man until he saw who it was: his neighbor — and enemy — Hugo.
Not long ago, Hugo had made plans to rezone the property he owned behind Elias’ house from a nature area to a small housing development. Elias had protested Hugo’s plans, and Hugo got angry — so angry that he screamed at Elias, threatened him and his wife, and even broke into their shed.
But now Hugo was the one in trouble.
Elias called emergency services and bent down to check Hugo’s pulse. There was none. Hugo’s heart had stopped beating. The emergency operator instructed Elias how to keep him alive until an ambulance arrived. The paramedics came quickly and revived Hugo, thanks to the help Elias had given him.
Elias had saved the life of his enemy.
A few days later, Crossworld worker John walked out of his house and saw Elias in his yard, hanging his clothes to dry.
“I heard what you did for Hugo,” John said. “That was a God thing.”
When Elias didn’t respond, John continued. “You saved the life of a man who didn’t deserve it. That’s exactly what God did for us. The Bible says we were God’s enemies, but He sent His only Son Jesus to rescue us when we didn’t deserve it.”
Elias stopped hanging his laundry and turned toward John.
“I’ve never believed in God,” Elias said. “But I admit that I saw God in that moment, and I’ve thought about it a lot since then.”
“Jesus gave His life for ours so that we can be forgiven and rescued from death,” John said. “Keep thinking. Read the Gospel of John to see what God says for Himself.”
Elias turned back to his laundry, but God had gotten his attention. As John continued on his way, he prayed for God to rescue Elias, the way Elias had rescued Hugo.
Elias rushed over to help the man until he saw who it was: his neighbor — and enemy — Hugo.
Not long ago, Hugo had made plans to rezone the property he owned behind Elias’ house from a nature area to a small housing development. Elias had protested Hugo’s plans, and Hugo got angry — so angry that he screamed at Elias, threatened him and his wife, and even broke into their shed.
But now Hugo was the one in trouble.
Elias called emergency services and bent down to check Hugo’s pulse. There was none. Hugo’s heart had stopped beating. The emergency operator instructed Elias how to keep him alive until an ambulance arrived. The paramedics came quickly and revived Hugo, thanks to the help Elias had given him.
Elias had saved the life of his enemy.
A few days later, Crossworld worker John walked out of his house and saw Elias in his yard, hanging his clothes to dry.
“I heard what you did for Hugo,” John said. “That was a God thing.”
When Elias didn’t respond, John continued. “You saved the life of a man who didn’t deserve it. That’s exactly what God did for us. The Bible says we were God’s enemies, but He sent His only Son Jesus to rescue us when we didn’t deserve it.”
Elias stopped hanging his laundry and turned toward John.
“I’ve never believed in God,” Elias said. “But I admit that I saw God in that moment, and I’ve thought about it a lot since then.”
“Jesus gave His life for ours so that we can be forgiven and rescued from death,” John said. “Keep thinking. Read the Gospel of John to see what God says for Himself.”
Elias turned back to his laundry, but God had gotten his attention. As John continued on his way, he prayed for God to rescue Elias, the way Elias had rescued Hugo.
Your part in this story...
Crossworld worker John asks you to pray for these requests.
- Ask God to protect the seed of the gospel planted in Elias’ heart. Pray he will read the Gospel of John and be open to discussing it.
- Pray for new opportunities for over-the-fence conversations with Elias and others while we’re still distancing. May we find effective ways to share the good news of Christ during this time.
- Pray for the gospel to transform lives in Sweden.
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