Written by God…Illustrated by Marcus Redding

He talked to Justin about the gospel, now it was Mr. Johnson’s turn. He knew the old man believed in God and read his Bible and told the truth and treated people right. But that was all he knew. Marcus didn’t know if Mr. Johnson was a Cornelius or a Christian.

So one day when they were putting up a new section of fence and the time seemed right Marcus asked him, “What do you think about Jesus?” Some people would get defensive, others would wax poetic. Mr. Johnson was straightforward. “He is a great man. A great teacher. I like what he says and I try to live a Christian life.” He said all this as he ratcheted a length of barbed wire tighter. Marcus was working a posthole digger into the ground, “So what do you think will happen when you die?” Now Mr. Johnson put down his tools and looked at Marcus. Then he took a deep breath and looked into the distance. Thousand mile stare. “I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately,” Mr. Johnson was a sincere man, “I think that when I die and go to the pearly gates I’ll say ‘I always tried to be good.’ I think that will do.”

Marcus saw the opportunity. He finished digging the posthole and looked up. “Can I tell you a story Mr. Johnson?” The old man said, “Sure, talk while you work.”

Marcus started in. “I ran cross-country for one season in high school. One season was all I could take. It was hard. We’d run four to eight miles every day after school. Every Friday there was a meet. You would run as fast as you could for three or four miles. Running through woods, open pastures, parking lots, into and out of ditches, over tree roots and rocks. It was hard but the challenge made it fun. The best part was reaching the finish line. It was a big relief. Finally I could slow down, catch my breath, and eventually just come to a stop. And rest over the weekend. Until we had to get out and run again after school on Monday in preparation for another meet the following Friday. In which I would run like crazy again and try to do better again.

Here’s the deal, in cross-country, the finish line was in a different place than the starting line, but not far away. It would have been so nice if a race official came and told me I didn’t have to run that whole course. That I could reach my goal if I just trusted him and walked a few steps over there where they had that tape across the finish line. Totally off the course. Just a direct route to the finish. I didn’t have to do all that work.

You are a working man Mr. Johnson. But you can’t work for righteousness. Faith in Jesus Christ is what makes the difference. The word of the race official is like the word of the gospel. It tells you that you don’t have to do it yourself, in fact you can’t really do it yourself anyway. Just believe in Christ and his righteousness and you will have reached the finish line. That is good news. You have to believe in Jesus and submit to his commands and accept his righteousness. That’s how you get right with God. That’s how sins are forgiven. That’s how you get to heaven.”

Marcus finished digging another posthole and he looked up. “What do you think about that, Mr. Johnson?”

Mr. Johnson ratcheted tight another length of barbed wire. “You’ve given me something to think about.”

More about Marcus Redding’s journey of faith next week.

Marcus Redding Knows His Lyrics

Last week Mr. Johnson told Justin and Marcus they needed to take a load of cattle to Waco on Thursday. Just the opportunity Marcus was looking for. They had worked together on the ranch for months and they were friends. Some unspoken connection because of Marcus’s past. He knew how to talk to Justin. Now he needed an open door.

On the drive to Waco they had plenty of time to talk. When Marcus talked about his past, Justin opened up. His dad died when he was ten. Sudden heart attack. And he was close to his dad. “He cooked pancakes for us every Saturday morning. It’s been eight years now but every time I smell pancakes I get angry.” Marcus understood in a way. He told Justin how every time he heard the squeal of tires it paralyzed him with fear and regret. With that tragedy in his past Marcus wasn’t surprised at the kind of music Justin liked.

Last weekend Justin went to a concert and he came to work wearing a shirt he picked up there. It had the name of one of his favorite groups. That gave Marcus an idea. He got online and listened to some of their songs and read the lyrics. Then he scrolled through the praise songs on his iPod and picked out one of his favorites. He printed the lyrics of both songs on one sheet of paper and tucked it into the front of his Bible.

After they delivered the cattle and headed back to the ranch Marcus told Justin to get the sheet of paper out of the Bible that was on the seat between them. “There’s a song you listen to—the same stuff I used to listen to—and then there’s a song I listen to now. Tell me what you think.”

I’m growing so disturbed/Nothing makes sense to me anymore/I’m learning to resist/Becoming more than you ever were/Can’t explain what’s come over me/Can’t explain why it’s so hard for me/So hard to see your side/ Projecting all my anger/I can’t seem to get this through to you/The walls are closing in/I dare you to walk in my shoes

I'm forgiven because you were forsaken/I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well/Your spirit is within me/Because you died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be?/That you, my king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true/It’s my joy to honor you

Justin read for a while. Then, suddenly, violently, he crumpled up the paper and threw it out the window. He didn’t say anything, just sat stoic, looking out the window. Marcus didn’t flinch. He had been there. “Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ Can I tell you about Jesus?”

Justin snapped, “Sure, go ahead, whatever.” It was a long drive back. Plenty of time. Marcus was driving so he had Justin read the scriptures. Marcus had them all marked in his Bible. Justin didn’t read out loud, but he would read each scripture silently then say, annoyed-sounding, “Okay, I read it.” Marcus took him through why he needed to be saved and how to be saved. He worked in his own story with the scriptures. He pulled up his sleeve and showed him the tattoo of the halcyon. He talked a lot about Jesus giving him rest.

They were getting close to home. Marcus finished. He had one last question, “What decision do you need to make?” Justin didn’t say anything. As soon as they pulled into the ranch, even before Marcus stopped the truck, Justin jumped out and ran to his ‘93 Mustang. He spun out in the driveway, kicking up gravel, and raced down the driveway.

Marcus wasn’t surprised. He was hopeful.

More about Marcus Redding’s journey of faith next week.