The Bum Story by Rob Wright

A couple of weeks ago, I received this story in an email. I thought of sharing it on my blog at the time, but I just never got around to it. Anyway... last Sunday at church, I found out that my pastor, Rob Wright, actually wrote this story back in 1976. Isn't that amazing? Small world.

So you know I have to share it now... right? Of course!  :)

The story was made into a tract, so I am just copying (with permission) from the tract itself, because I thought it was only right to include the information following the story.

The Bum Story
by Rob Wright

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. As the derelict awake next to the garbage cans in the alley, he took a good look at himself. He was a mess! His old tattered suit was full of big holes and newspapers were wrapped around his shoes. He hadn't shaved in months and his hair was stiff with the dirt of the street. 

Something caught his eye. It was a shiny white cross on a church steeple several blocks away. "I'm sick of the way I'm living", he said to himself. "Today I am going to start my life over again, and I know the Lord will forgive me!" He brushed himself off, and started walking towards that bright cross. As he walked closer to the church, he heard the bells ringing, and he became excited with the thought of a new life in Christ. 

His heart pounded quickly as he saw the big stained glass windows and heard the organ's soft tones. His steps became faster as he saw the big cars and the women with their fine furs escorted by men in expensive suits. As he walked up to the steps leading up to the open doors, he pulled himself up to his full height and said, "Praise God, today I can start my life over again." 

As he started up the steps into the church, two big ushers grabbed him and threw him down the stairs!  He picked himself up and started up the stairs. The same usher threw him down the stairs again and the other one yelled, "GET OUT OF HERE, YOU ROTTEN STINKING BUM! GO BACK TO THE GHETTO WHERE YOU BELONG!"

He was crushed! He turned away from the church and walked back towards the ghetto. His shoulders slumped, and tears filled his eyes. They rolled down his cheeks and fell on his coat. "Why Lord, why?", he cried. "They just wouldn't even let me in that church, Lord! Why wouldn't they let me in?"

Suddenly, he felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and a voice said, "DON'T WORRY, SON. I CAN'T GET IN THERE EITHER!!"

The church I am talking about in this story is the church in our hearts! Our churches are not showcases for Saints, but HOSPITALS FOR SICK SINNERS!!

As Christians, we must love those who are lost and reach out to them in love. Jesus-type love. Jesus said in John 6:37, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."

For further information on how you can help those that are lost, or for [more] copies of this tract, please write to:

Pastor Rob Wright

Abundant Grace Church

P.O. Box 33001

Las Vegas, NV 89133 

www.graceinlasvegas.com 
www.gracefortodayradio.com 

We serve a great God! He gave this story to a man over 30 years ago... and it's still being used to bless people today!

God bless and have a great week!

Mary Ann :)