Reality Check

A man by the name of Mike came by the church today and wanted to talk to a minister. I was here and met with the man in the stair well. Mike had a lot of things happen in his life: schizophrenia, alcoholism, drug abuse, pornography addiction, etc. He is facing a lot of persecution as a disabled individual through medicare and soical security issues. His family has albeit disowned him and will not aid or provide him in anyway. This man has a heart to help people and wants to be used for good. He believes he has been born again and had a lot of knowledge of the Scriptures to back it up and support his life and the things he has gone through. Mike just wanted me to listen to him and provide an open ear for the trials and temptations in his life. I was able to do so and I learned a lot through listening to Mike. God revealed to me that the world we live in is fallen and that we all stumble and we all are persecuted and tried everyday. It was reality check for me to hear first-hand that an individual was going through these things and that he desperately wanted God to help him. I think God is helping him and I explained why I thought so. The Holy Spirit lives in him and he speaks in a way that shows the fruit of which God has blessed him. Mike made me realize that I need to be more in-tune with what is going on in the world around me. Our world is evil and God is the only good we have. Many people are going through things just like Mike and we as believers need to be there to help or just listen to what they have to say. I will continue to pray for Mike and his situation.