A committed atheist was on a trekking holiday when he became lost in some dense woods.A large angry bear suddenly emerged from the undergrowth.The atheist screamed in terror, turned and ran. The bear was quicker however, and after a long and desperate chase eventually cornered the atheist in a gully.
The exhausted atheist sank to his knees, shaking. The bear, seeing that its prey was trapped, moved slowly towards the petrified man.The atheist lifted his head, with tears in his eyes, and uttered the words he thought he would never say in all his life: “God help me…”
With these three simple words, a blinding flash of lightning lit up the sky. There was a deafening crash of thunder. The clouds parted and a brilliant light shone down on the atheist and the bear. The forest fell silent and the bear froze still, in a trance. The atheist stood gaping, transfixed.
A voice boomed loudly from above. “You atheists are something else”, said the voice. “You deny me all your life, and then when you’re in trouble, you ask for help.”
“Okay, I take your point,” said the atheist “I can see it’s a bit late for me to convert, but what about the bear?… Maybe you could convert the bear instead?”
After a brief pause, the brilliant light dimmed and vanished; the clouds closed; and the noises of the forest resumed.
The bear shook its head, a completely different expression on its face. Calm, at peace.
The bear closed its eyes, bowed its head, and said, “For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful, Amen..”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
The apostle Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Ever wonder if you’re in God’s will? If you are thanking Him in everything….you are!”
