Funeral for a Friend

Several months went by, and one evening I was at my mother’s house, when a longtime family friend named Daisy, a Santera from years back, showed up for a visit. As we all gathered in the living room, I turned to her and said, “Daisy, how’s your life?”

“My life is fine, John,” she said. “I’m serving the saints and doing very well.”

“Daisy, you’re not serving any saints at all, you’re serving the devil and his demons in Santeria, and there’s no coincidence that I’m here. This is a divine appointment, and Jesus wants to set you free.”

Her face went blank for a moment. “John, what are you saying? You were in the religion a lot longer and deeper than I ever will be. You know the saints better than I do—St. Lazarus, St. Ilia, St. Martín, and many others—and you know how this religion works. Why are you speaking about the devil when these saints are supposed to be protective spirits from God, guardian angels that God sent to help us in our daily life?”

I shook my head. “That’s not true, that’s just a disguise. God doesn’t need any help. He’s God all by Himself. This religion is the occult, and it’s run by the devil and his demons. The reason they use these names is to disguise themselves and entrap people into the religion. Because they know this is the only way you can relate to them. And at one time I was fooled like you are now. Why is it that every feast I went to for twenty-five years, and the feasts you go to, never mentioned Jesus Christ? Isn’t that true, Daisy? Have you ever heard them mention Jesus Christ at these gatherings? Have you?”

Daisy stared at me, her eyes troubled. “No, John, not at all.”

“So you see,” I said, “this is all a masquerade. And another thing, why when you go to the feasts do the people who call themselves mediums get possessed and drink liquor and smoke cigars all night long, and also curse? Where do you see Jesus in this? Jesus Christ is a sovereign God and a holy God.”

I could see that in her heart she had a void and couldn’t hide it. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she tried to speak but nothing came out.

“Jesus loves you and He died for you,” I said softly. “Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.” In a very sad voice, she answered, “John, what must I do?”

“Denounce the occult and give your heart to Jesus,” I said. “He will set you free.”

A few days later, Daisy accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, denounced Santeria, and threw all her witchcraft paraphernalia in the trash. I rejoiced to hear the news. But two weeks later I learned that Daisy had passed on to be with the Lord from a cancer that was killing her which she had told no one about. I decided to attend her funeral with a Christian brother who accompanied me.

As we parked in front of the funeral home on Westchester Avenue, I made my way across the

street and saw a lady dressed all in white standing guard at the door to the funeral home. Coming closer, I realized she was one of my ex-godmothers in the religion. As I walked by her, she stood stone cold, not even blinking or acknowledging me. I knew what she was up to. I did the same thing for many years. They were there in the funeral home to steal the souls of the dead that were being watched that night.

Inside the front lobby, I saw Aunt Maria and her clan of witches and warlocks. It was more like a reunion, and this time around I was with Jesus. As I turned around and greeted Aunt Maria, her face froze.

She gave me a look that said it all. “We’ve been trying to kill you for seven years, and you’re still around.”

All I did was smile and make my way to the casket to pay my respects to Daisy. As I came back out to the lobby, many of those in the occult did not look at me or say a word to me. I was their enemy. They looked jittery and uncomfortable, pacing back and forth. I started to pray silently, asking the Holy Spirit what was going on. He said to me, “What does darkness have to do with the light?”

As I said my goodbyes, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I was no longer part of that world. It was like a twenty-five-year nightmare had finally come to an end, and he whom the Son sets free is free indeed. I knew that night, in my heart, that I was truly free.

‘I See Jesus in You’

As time went by and I situated myself in the church, I prayed to the Lord and told Him I wanted to be a servant in His house—I wanted to join a ministry. I asked God to direct me to the right opportunity, and as I prayed He led me to join the security ministry at Times Square Church. The Lord had granted me favor there with one of the elders who was in charge of the security team. As I matured spiritually and time went by, I was blessed to be in charge of covering Pastor David Wilkerson, picking him up and walking him home down the city streets after services. I was also assigned to Nicky Cruz and his family whenever he attended Times Square Church to preach. Those were among the many blessings I had, the honor to walk with Pastor Dave and Reverend Nicky and learn from these men of God what He had done in their lives during the many chats I had with them.

One night was like never before—so special. As I walked Pastor Dave home after service that crisp autumn night, I glanced at him. He was an elegant man, thin and fit for his age, well dressed, and I admired the way he took care of himself. I looked up to him like a spiritual dad. But there was something more about this man—he had an anointing on him that was indescribable. As we walked side by side, not saying a word, and approached his home, he turned to me. He could have said many things that night as he looked at me, but the words that came out of his mouth pierced my soul. I’ve been touched twice in my life—once by Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, and the second time by my pastor, as he said words I will never forget: “I see Jesus in you.”

I turned my face, my eyes welling up with tears, and I walked away blessed beyond measure. As I headed back up the street toward the church, I recalled as a little boy how I thought God had passed me by. This time He had not passed me by.

Date: 2015-01-11; view: 761