Almost There

Becoming a believer and follower of Yeshua is a journey for each one of us. Sometimes the journey seems short. We know from the Gospel of John that Andrew and Phillip believed in Yeshua after only a brief encounter with Him (John 1:35-49).

My work consists of sharing the Gospel and accompanying people on their journey of faith until they finally surrender their hearts to the Messiah.

But apparently, it took some time for Nicodemus to make a full-hearted and open commitment to the Lord (compare John 3:1-3; 7:50-53; and John 19:38-41). Very often, the work of a Jew for Jesus like me consists of sharing the Gospel and accompanying people on their journey of faith until they finally surrender their hearts to the Messiah. It may even take years, and this is the case with an Israeli named Alon*.

If his name sounds familiar, it’s because I’ve written to you about him before. Alon and I have known each other for a number of years. We get together fairly regularly to look at the Scriptures, though our meetings are sometimes interrupted, because he returns to Israel for large periods of time. But whenever he comes back, we pick up where we left off.

At our last meeting, Alon was thoroughly fed up – not with Jesus, but with the course of his life. Things haven’t turned out the way he wanted or planned, and he feels that everything has gone against him. He believes in God, but he admits that his understanding of Him is faulty. He wants to know God as the One who truly loves him, not as a thunderbolt-throwing God Who’s waiting to destroy him for any minor transgression.

Alon is very close to salvation. He even says that he loves Jesus, but if that’s true, then it’s a love that lacks a real commitment. He just isn’t quite ready to entrust his life to Him. He’s also frightened of the social consequences that he might face if and when he openly believes. Frankly speaking, this is a hurdle that many of us need to overcome in order to move on from being inquirers and admirers to open followers and advocates. Alon is just about ready to make that step.

“Do not be afraid any longer. Only believe” Mark 5:36

It’s as though he’s at the mouth of the womb, not yet wanting to come out. In my heart, I feel as though the Lord is telling Alon what He told Jairus nearly 2,000 years ago. “Do not be afraid any longer. Only believe” (Mark 5:36).

Please pray that Alon’s journey will soon end with a commitment to follow Yeshua.
Please pray that God won’t let him go. Pray that I’ll have the right words to help Alon take that step of faith.

Your prayers truly make a difference in the lives of people like Alon and so many others in Berlin.
Thank you!

* Name changed