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Handing out gospel tracts is one way that we invite people to interact with the gospel. Those interactions often take twists and turns, all within a few minutes. It is amazing to see God at work.

A young Jewish man named Rob saw me handing out tracts and approached me. He commented that it was late and he didn't really want to talk, but he asked me to tell him quickly why I believe in Jesus. I shared my faith with him briefly and said that God is calling people into a relationship with Him.

But," Rob interrupted, "I don't believe that God is real."

"Is it possible, Rob, that God is real and reaching out to you, but you're just not listening?"

He laughed, and shook his head, "Not possible," he said, yet he asked more questions, which I was glad to answer.

After a few minutes I asked if he would like more information about Jesus. He turned down the offer. Up to that moment our conversation was very pleasant, but that was the turning point. To close the conversation, I said, "When you're at the end of your rope, remember that Jesus is there."

He suddenly tore up the broadside (tract) he had been holding in his hand and said, "That's it, this conversation is over." He was so angry, I thought he was going to hit me. I ended the conversation with a gentle word and walked away.

Why the sudden change in Rob's tone? Some might see it as a defeat; I saw it as a victory. Something had struck a nerve, reality had come a little too close to home for him to continue in friendly banter. Perhaps Rob already had reached the end of his rope. I will probably never know. But I do know that Jesus convicted him of his sin that evening, and I pray that he will stop running away from God and look up to the hand that's reaching out to him.