By Rev. Francis Nigel Lee (died Dec. 23, 2011)
In April 1994, I was invited to fly around the world and expound the Lord’s Prayer in the USA during September. Having acquired the plane ticket, I was much looking forward to visiting my parents in Barrydale (near Swellendam in South Africa) – on my way from Australia to America.
However, in July 1994 my father (almost 86) was robbed – and left for dead in his home. My mother (having lost her mind and the use of some of her bodily functions) was permanently hospitalized. One week after being assaulted, my father died from those injuries in the hospital and went to be with the Lord.
Upon my arrival in South Africa, I headed for Swellendam (where my mother is still in hospital). There, I was amazed to hear that the police had already apprehended a young man in connection with the death of my father, and that the young man had signed a statement alleging that he alone had attacked my father. I also learned that my father, before dying, had given a description to the police of the young man (which description is altogether in harmony with the appearance of the accused) – and that the latter was being held in jail precisely in Swellendam, while awaiting his preliminary trial just one week after my own arrival there.
I immediately contacted the jail, requesting permission to come and speak to the accused (of whom it is alleged that he had also killed someone else even before attacking my father). The police warmly supported my request, but informed me that the accused had the right to refuse to see me. He, however – being told who I was – agreed and even requested to meet with me!
On 15th September I went to the jail, where I was told to surrender my camera and tape-recorder and any firearms I may have been carrying. I was escorted to a room where three armed policemen and their officer were doing clerical work. One minute later, the accused was brought through the door into the room – and stood there in front of me.
He was a strongly-built, medium-sized man, answering exactly to the description given by my father to the police. He stood there, just looking down at the ground. I silently prayed to God for guidance as to what to do next. Then I got up from my chair, addressed him politely by his full name, greeted him with a handshake, thanked him sincerely for granting me the interview and requested him to sit down before I again did so.
I then said: “Mr. W ——– , are they treating you well? Are you getting enough to eat here?” He replied: “Yes, thank you.” I said: “Have you peace of mind here?” He replied: “Sir, I am very unhappy. I have been praying to God in my cell for the last three nights, but it’s as if my prayers bounce back off the ceiling and don’t get through.”
I then said: “Mr W., I am the only child of the old man who was left for dead behind the front door of his house in Barrydale on 10th July – whom you are accused of having assaulted. I had been looking forward to spending a week with him in September, but as you can see this is now impossible.” The young man nodded, looked down, and said nothing.
I then continued: “Mr. W., for many years my father was not a Christian. But there came a time in his life when he turned from his sins and submitted to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. That is why he is now in heaven, and waiting for me to join him.
“I assure you, Mr. W., that if you make your peace with God – whether you die right now of a heart attack, or are put to death for murder, or die naturally later on – you too will go to heaven. I also assure you that my father, whom you are accused of having murdered, will be the first to welcome you there. However Mr. W., if you do not repent and if you die in your sins, I assure you that you will spend eternity in hell-fire and damnation – forever!
“Mr. W., whether you repent and become a Christian, or whether you harden yourself and die in your sins, know for sure that if found guilty by the court – I would want you to receive the maximum penalty. I fully support the death penalty for murder. I will plead no leniency whatsoever for you, even if you become a Christian. But I am offering you everlasting life in heaven after you die, if you will repent and come to Jesus Christ in faith.
“Mr. W., three men died on a little hill called Calvary. Two were guilty robbers, but the One in the middle, the Lord Jesus, was innocent. Robbers, as you know, include those who go around beating up old people and leaving them for dead after stealing from them. Both of those robbers jeered at the innocent Jesus, crucified between them.
“But then one of the robbers repented, turned to the other, and said: ‘We are being condemned justly. For we are receiving the punishment due for our deeds. But this man (Jesus) has done nothing amiss!’ Then the penitent robber said to Jesus: ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!’ So Jesus said to him: ‘Truly, I tell you, today you shall be with Me in paradise!’
“Mr. W., do you not see yourself as one of those two robbers next to Jesus on Calvary? Will you die in your sins and go to hell like the unrepentant robber? Or will you, like the other robber: repent of your sins, receive Jesus as your Lord, and be assured by Him that you will go to heaven when you die?
“Mr. W., if you wish, I will leave this jail right now. But if you prefer, I would be privileged to show you right now how you too can become a Christian. Which is it to be?”
Mr. W. then tried to look me in the eye. He said: “Sir, would you please show me how to become a Christian?” I then realized that the four policemen in the room had all put down their pens, had stopped working, and were straining their ears, listening to us. So I said: “Officer, could you kindly get us a Bible?”
(For the rest of the article, click the link.)
