THE LIVING BIBLE
By: George Funk, Via Voice Of Truth International, Vol. 37
His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant, kind of esoteric, but very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it.
One day Bill decides to go there to worship. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already begun, and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a vacant spot. The building is completely packed and he can’t find a seat anywhere. People in the pews are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill keeps walking, getting closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he finally realizes that there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!
By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.
About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the building, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and wears a three-piece suit. He is a godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly.
The deacon leans on a cane and, as he starts walking toward the boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can’t blame him for what he’s going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background some college kid on the floor?
It takes a long time for the deacon to reach Bill. Utter silence reigns in the auditorium, except for the clicking of the cane. Not even the sound of breathing can be heard. All eyes are focused on the dignified figure making its way down the aisle.
The minister can’t begin his sermon until the deacon does what he has to do, so even the air seems to hang heavy, waiting……
And now the astonished crowd sees this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won’t be alone.
Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says, “What I’m about to preach you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget. Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read.”