Three Catholics…

I spoke just last week on the telephone with a young Catholic lady who didn’t know where she would spend eternity. Her hope was that she would, at the moment of her death, be in “sanctifying grace” and able to go to heaven. She had no Scripture reference upon which to base her belief – only the teachings of a church. It’s very interesting as we have known a number of Catholics at the nursing home where we have church – and it has been a very sad to see them due to the lack of hope and Jesus in their religion.

In particular, I remember back to one Sunday morning when we arrived at church. In talking with one of the ladies at the nursing home, we found out that four people had passed away that week (quite a few for a nursing home with 42 residents). Out of the four that passed away, we knew three, and all three were Catholics with no firm hope of heaven.

The first was Robert. Robert was a peculiar person as far as mannerisms and personality, but was probably one of the most intelligent and smartest people I have ever met. His mind was unbelievable, and he must have had a photographic memory. He could remember names and dates for any and all events in recent, and even not-so-recent, history. He didn’t simply know that a particular church in our town had burned down in the past, or that a certain couple had gotten married about 20 years ago – he knew the exact days and more in regards to those events.

He also was a devout Catholic, and loved God. Despite his belief in Scripture as being God’s Word, he wasn’t able to accept and believe what God’s word says. In talking with him one day, I asked him if he knew for sure where he would spend eternity. He didn’t know – but he hoped it would be in heaven. I asked if it would be OK if I shared with him a verse from Scripture – and he was interested. I turned to 1 John 5:13, and read: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Robert agreed with me that the verse says we can know for sure where we will spend eternity, but he wasn’t able to believe it. Why wasn’t he able to believe it? I believe it was due to his involvement in the Catholic church. I encouraged him that, if he ever wanted to talk more and know for sure where he would spend eternity - based on what Scripture says - to let me know. Over the next few years I shared this verse with him again several times, and although he agreed that the message of the verse was clear – he wasn’t able or willing to find out what I John says we need to do in order to know where we will spend eternity.

Robert was one of the ones that died, and our hope is that he surrendered his life to Christ, and believed only in the finished work of Christ on the cross for his redemption – before he passed away and stood before God and was judged according to his life.

Another one of those who passed away was “Shorty” – a very, very, tiny, older lady who we knew for a number of years. Several times she would ask me to stand and hold my arm straight out from my side, she would then get out of her wheelchair, and show how she could walk under my arm and still have plenty of clearance. I’m about 6’ 2”, and she was probably about 4’ 6” or shorter. However, we found out very quickly, in talking with her, that her words were not wholesome, and even though she was often joking and making light of what she said, we weren’t able to allow the younger children to talk with her.

One particular Sunday, after she had been with us at church, I felt the Lord impressing upon my heart the importance of sharing with her. Since salvation always begins with a knowledge of our own sin, as we talked I asked her what she believed about her past – and if she had ever broken God’s commandments. I shared with her examples of how I had broken God’s law, and asked if she had ever lied, or stolen something, or been unloving to someone. She would absolutely not acknowledge ever committing sin, and became upset and indignant that we would think she – a good Catholic – would ever have done something that would be considered sin. I would have to say that out of all those I have been able to share with, she became the most upset of any.

Generally, I would never share or keep talking with someone who became upset, and yet in this case, my heart was very concerned for her – the person the children weren’t able to talk with because of her foul language. This instance when we talked with her and she was unwilling to acknowledge any sin or wrongdoing on her part over the course of her life was several months before she died. I don’t recall her attending church ever after that point, or having a conversation with her.

We were reminded of 1 John 1:10, which says: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Our prayer is that Shorty, before she died, repented of and acknowledged her sin before God, and her need of a Savior.

While Robert and Shorty were two that we knew who were a bit unique, Ms. Hannah stood out for being very ordinary. She was a tiny, sweet, grandmotherly lady. Conversation with her was pleasant, and by all appearances she was a moral and upright person. Ms. Hannah liked our family and started attending the church services, but after a few weeks of listening to the preaching (which was from the Bible and addressed issues of our sin, our need of a savior, and other topics) – she stopped staying for the preaching. She would be in church for the singing, but always left when the Word of God was opened.

We hope that Ms. Hannah surrendered her life to Christ before she passed away – as He is our only way of escaping hell.

As J.C. Ryle pointed out – let us not lose hope, as even the thief on the cross was able to be saved at the last moment of his life, but let us not presume upon the future, as it was only one of the thieves that was saved – the other entered eternity without a Savior.