““A long time ago, a preacher friend of mine and I were at a conference. They had all these big time speakers. People that had led thousands of people to the Lord, and it may sound strange, but it’s really easy to get down on yourself and your ministry at those things. I mean, here I was a struggling pastor with a couple hundred people if that coming to services each week. And here were these people, up there, leading hundreds of thousands to the Lord. “But over lunch my friend told me something I’ve never forgotten. He said, ‘Steve, the world is like this giant room with no doors. It’s full of sin and drama and heartbreak and horror, and a lot of people live their whole lives in that room, thinking there is no way out. But…’” With a mysterious smile, the pastor leaned forward. “What they don’t know is there is a doorway. His name is Jesus Christ. The reason people don’t know it, don’t see Him as the way out is because it takes faith to have the eyes to see Him. Once you do, you can go through the door that is Jesus Christ, and in Him, you will find peace and hope and joy—no matter what your world looks like.” It was crazy how easily Derek could see that room. He’d been in it for so long, he’d never really known there was any other option.””
