by Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001)
THE FRIENDLESS RANCHER
He was a 72-year-old rancher with a beautiful diamond ring, and obviously a man of great wealth. He sat down beside me, and I struck up a conversation. "Where do you live?" I asked, as we traveled on a TWA jet airliner.
He said, "On a ranch between Phoenix and Tucson."
I asked him about the size of the ranch, and he informed me that there were hundreds of acres and many houses with scores of workers. He was obviously a big-time operator.
"Do you and your wife live alone in your ranch house?" I asked.
"My wife died a few months ago," he said. This was my cue.
Then I asked, "Do you ever think about having someone come and live with you?"
"Oh," he said, "if I could find somebody who would come and live with me, a friend to keep me company, I'd give anything in the world." He had chauffeurs and servants, and he owned a big ranch with hundreds of acres, but he was as lonely as he could be.
I said, "I know Somebody Who would come and live with you."
"You do? Does he live in Phoenix?"
I said, "He sure does. He lives everywhere."
He said, "Who is it?"
I proceeded to tell him about the Lord Jesus Christ and how He indwells all who put their trust in Him. I told him that Jesus is a "friend that sticketh closer than a brother," and that once a person trusted Him, he would never be left or forsaken.
This wealthy old rancher began to tremble and weep, and on the TWA jet airliner he bowed his head and unashamedly prayed the "sinner's prayer." I then led him to assurance that Christ was with him and in him. He believed and was happily converted.
As I got off the plane, he winked at me and gave me the "high sign."
"We'll be seeing you," he said.
Yes, it was "we" then, for he would have Someone to go home and live with him.
