Francis Chan wrote in his newest book, Erasing Hell, that as he sat in a cafe typing that very page he was looking around at all the people. He focused in on a shy girl at the counter, and at all the different kinds of people have lively conversations around him. He commented on how much he loved this, just enjoying others. Then he said that if he was honest with himself that most if not all of these people were going to hell forever. This made him sad and the book continues on to try and make the reader sad as well.
Yet today I sat in a cafe watching all the people around me. I looked at the workers all newly-dressed for their jobs; many people sat at various tables and laughed; a loud man piped up how bless by God he was for being in good health. I looked at my dad and he started laughing at me. “Wipe that dumb smile off your face”. “How can I dad when I am thinking about such amazing things?”. " Oh and what are those?" I paused not wanting to respond since I knew he didn’t believe as I do. Yet at the same I wanted to scream it out, I wanted to stand on that table and tell everyone the good news,
“You all will be saved! God will never give up on you, every last one of you will know true love! Jesus has saved us all, he is the only way, how can we ignore so great a salvation?!”
Instead I went on eating my lemon bar, joy seething within me. I answered my dad that I was happy because I was thinking about God saving all people. He looked a bit worried at first, but what ensued was a pleasant and very enjoyable conversation about the best news I have ever come to believe in.
I just wish Chan could see that cafe as I did and still do, maybe then he wouldn’t be so sad. Maybe then he would see that God enjoys others just as much as he does.
I can really relate to what you are saying too.