The Alien
I was truly excited about the word and the applicability of the truths embedded within scripture after the Lord gave me a renewed understanding about the tithe. During the time of ancient Israel, the tithe was specifically designated to provide for four types of people - priests, aliens, orphans and widows. Understanding who the tithe was given to was easy because it is specified multiple times in various passages.
However, the idea that the church IS all four types of people was revelatory to me. I thought that the church was a building and that the tithe was the way to pay for it - land, structures, salaries, utilities, maintenance and supplies. But remarkably these four types of people are all New Testament examples of the body of Christ, the church. With this renewed understanding, I was beginning to believe that the outpouring of care that we read in Acts 2 and Acts 4 is showing the old as a foreshadow of the new! The living and active body of priests, aliens, orphans and widows were fulfilling the tithe to the fullest extent by selflessly serving the needs of one another.
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
This provided a new model of giving to me as my understanding was being transformed. For over a decade I had been given regular instruction contrary to this in the very congregation in which I was a teacher. As this was being revealed to me by His Spirit, I continued to come before the Lord in humility wanting to know the truth and not wanting to stray off His path. At that moment, I hadn’t heard anyone teach what I had come to understand. How could someone who is untrained come to these understandings that stood in contrast to what was being taught? I decided that I should ask my pastor about what I saw as a discrepancy.
In our meeting, my pastor agreed with my understanding of the passages. He affirmed that they were clear as to the tithe’s purpose and the call for its entirety to be used for that purpose alone. Prior to our meeting, he hadn’t studied the passages and his understanding of tithing came from seminary church finance courses. That was repeated as I spoke with other pastors. As you can imagine, I was surprised to find out how little of what we practiced was based upon what the scriptures actually say. This was even more troubling since the churches that I attended had placed so much emphasis upon the tithe and on tithing.
I felt the Spirit encouraging me to share what I had learned with my college class. However, I didn’t want to give a message contrary to the teachings of our leadership. Upon seeking guidance, my pastor encouraged me to do as the Lord was directing. Still I felt uncomfortable so I literally prayed that the Lord would strike me down or kill me in an accident on my way to class that Sunday morning if this teaching was against His will. Instead, I arrived there safely and the Lord calmed my spirit to deliver the message. The teaching liberated my class and I in a way that was nothing less than miraculous. I try to expound on this in Thoughts on Tithing.
With that as a background, I realized that the Lord had already given me opportunities to catch a glimpse of His heart for these individuals. He had led my class to regularly visit an orphanage for years. You can understand why James describes it as ‘pure and undefiled religion’. There is no opulence or extravagance of a building, facility, or grounds that exceeds the warm embrace and smile of a small, unkempt child who is without parents and whose belongings can be contained in a small parcel. Now understanding that we believers are orphans, and yet adopted by a loving Father, made the memories of our visits to them ever so sweet.
Besides the orphan, the scriptures regarding the kingdom of believers becoming the ‘royal priesthood’ was beginning to help me to understand that the priest in the new kingdom is ALL of the body of believers, and not just the ones with degrees, labels or special robes and clothing.
Additionally, I was beginning to see the correlation of the widow to the believer. We, like Ruth, needed a kinsman redeemer since we were widowed, having died to the law as outlined in Romans 7.
So that was three of the four people that He directed to receive the tithe. But who were the aliens? And what did it mean to be an alien? I was aware of immigrants living in south central Texas who were here illegally. Was I to help them? Perhaps, but I wasn't sure. I was beginning to understand the New Testament correlation that we too were aliens - or ‘strangers and aliens’ who have now become fellow citizens because we are now of God’s household, as Paul characterizes in Ephesians 2. But I believe the Lord determined that a practical example of an alien would help my understanding.
At that time, Woody and I met weekly in a home fellowship group. During one of our meetings, a young lady visited to tell us about her group's outreach to the medical staff of foreign nation allies who were training at the Army medical military facilities in San Antonio. She came looking for additional volunteers to help. My calendar was already full with church activities plus we had a baby at home, so I politely listened but internally dismissed any personal involvement.
But following her brief announcement, I suddenly felt the Holy Spirit prompt me that this outreach was helping aliens. “Aliens?” I thought as our fellowship continued through their regular activities. I quickly turned to the passages that I had read regarding the tithe and reread the mention of ‘alien’ in each one. God had provided help to those outside of His people specifically with the tithe just as he did for priests, orphans and widows.
In Israel, a foreigner of that period had no chance to possess land because all of it had been given to the families of the twelve tribes of Israel. This would of course affect their ability to find housing, make a living, and support their family. Besides, Israel was directed to completely decimate the land's former inhabitants. You would think no alien would want to come and live amongst them. But perhaps I was thinking about this incorrectly. In scripture, an alien is also defined as a sojourner - a person that stays for a period of time. They could be there to trade, or study, or visit. In any case, this most holy provision, the tithe, was directed to be set aside and available for them if they were in need. Wow!
I waited until our group meeting concluded and then approached the young lady who invited us to their outreach. “I’m sorry, can you tell me again about your outreach?” I asked, feeling a bit embarrassed that I had missed the details earlier. As she talked I felt the Spirit soar in me as she described how the trainees came from all over the world, received medical training, and would then return to their nations to train others. She left me with a note that detailed the upcoming informal social gathering that they were sponsoring that weekend. I talked over the opportunity with Woody and let her know that I sensed that this was the Lord’s leading to further my understanding about the tithe and us as aliens. As always, Woody encouraged me to follow the Spirit’s leading and by all means to attend.
The night of the social came and I was so surprised by what I saw. There in the room was a gathering of people so diverse in appearance that it struck me in amazement. Despite being raised in a military family where differing races and ethnicities are common, there were so many types of people that I had never seen before. People from across the globe were present that evening. One had the darkest skin color I have ever seen and yet a head of straight hair. Others had facial features and skin colorings that I had never seen before. They came from countries in Asia, eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
I’m not outwardly social but I knew that technically I was a host since I was part of the group hosting the social. I felt even more responsible to visit with the trainees since only a few of the sponsoring group attended. I walked around the room and introduced myself to as many people as I could. At each encounter, I asked where the trainee was from and how long they had been in San Antonio. My most likely question was embarrassingly, “Where’s that?” when hearing their origin. They all seemed to be having a great time while enjoying the refreshments.
As I made my way around the room, there was one gentleman who was standing in a corner a bit out of the flurry of activity and conversations. He was looking down and did not appear to be the least bit happy.
“Hello” I started as it appeared he was hoping that I would just walk by. “I’m Rick. Can I ask your name?”
“Al Rasas”, he mumbled barely looking up as though not even really wanting to acknowledge me or our conversation.
“Can you repeat that?” I asked as I felt badly that I was unable to clearly hear his name the first time.
“Al Rasas”, he repeated with a bit more clarity as he looked up, but not quite towards me while seeming a bit more annoyed.
“Al Rasas?” I repeated, likely butchering the pronunciation as I tried to repeat his name correctly.
“Al Rasas” he more emphatically stated while still looking irritated with his face and eyes turned away.
“Al Rasas!” I again tried to repeat with more confidence. “Good to meet you! Where are you from?”
“South Yemen.” he said as he went back to barely speaking audibly and staring down.
“Hmm” I embarrassingly muttered as I again wasn’t sure what he said. “Yamin?” I embarrassingly tried saying, while half asking if I was pronouncing it correctly. “Where is that?”.
“South Yemen. It’s on the tip of Arabia,” he stated as he rattled off a couple of nearby countries that I was equally unfamiliar with. “Have you heard of the Queen of Sheba? I’m from where she came from”.
“Oh!” I responded acting as though that made things clear while in truth I was in desperate need of a lesson in world geography. “Are you enjoying your time here in America?” I continued as I attempted to segue to a hopefully more meaningful conversation.
“I hate it!” He blurted back emphatically while directly looking at me for the first time.
“I’m sorry” I continued as his response caught me completely off guard. “Can I ask why?” I asked, now concerned that our conversation had made a bad turn. “Lord”, I quickly prayed, “Should I not talk to him?”
“I hate the food here! Your food is terrible and is so bad for you. Your people buy fast food, sit around and eat it all of the time and get fat!” Al Rasas stated. “I hate the way you sit around and watch television all of the time. You place your children in front so that it will babysit them and you don’t spend any time with them because you are too busy with your activities, reading garbage and watching TV. I hate the way you don’t spend time with your parents and don’t care for them when they get old. How can you put them in a facility where no one really cares for them where they rot and die? How can you do that after all that they did for you?”
“Wow,” I thought as indeed many of his observations were indeed trends in our nation. Moreover, I was getting the feeling that the Lord had prepared and placed me in this moment as the concerns he mentioned had already resonated with Woody and I and led us to make several changes in our lives.
Several months prior, Woody and I had been convicted of preparing food that was easy but highly processed, and for often eating take out food. We had begun to adjust our buying, cooking and eating habits toward foods that were less processed and more natural.
We also realized that we had been spending an inordinate amount of time watching the latest prime time programming or, for me in particular, sporting events. I could sit in front of the television all weekend and endlessly watch football games. With football season approaching, I had determined to not watch any games during the upcoming season. We moved the television out of our living room and into our spare bedroom and quit watching prime time shows. Likewise, we canceled receiving the newspaper as I would spend hours reading the latest news and sports stories. Instead, we began talking more deeply with each other, and started to spend time calling people, writing letters and inviting guests over for dinner. We specifically invited single friends who had little or no family nearby.
We also attempted to spend more quality time with our daughter even though she was still a baby. We began taking her to parks and outings and Woody would bring her to places near to my work so we could eat lunch and spend time together. At home we took the time to play with her and to read to her and just enjoy watching her learn and grow. And we agreed to limit external sources such as television, games and videos from becoming a parental replacement or to serve as her main source of education and entertainment.
We also committed to visit my parents regularly and to include them in our rotation as dinner invitees - an incredibly intimidating gesture as I’m sure many can relate. We had remarkably also discussed our parents' aging and how we should leave a bedroom available in our home in case we needed to bring them into our home and care for them should the need arise. Even as our family grew and we could have easily justified using the ‘extra’ bedroom, we left it available for them or others that we might be able to help. We too did not want to see them go to a nursing home if we could instead help in some way.
Because of the discussions and the changes that we committed to do, I was able to respond to Al Rasas by first acknowledging each of his observations with ways in which Woody and I had discussed and had made adjustments in our lives. My responses surprised him as I addressed each area of concern to him. Quite noticeably, his countenance shifted as he questioned me with direct, probing questions as if to test our convictions. While many might have considered him to be rude, I learned that his way of conversing was direct and to the point - no small talk. With each answer, his anger and bravado diminished. He could see that we also recognized the same things that had bothered him. Describing our recent actions helped to show him that our convictions were real. He was amazed that the changes we made aligned with the standards that he saw in his culture. Now disarmed, his anger melted away.
As our conversation came to a close, we addressed the last complaint that he had made - food. At that time, San Antonio’s restaurant scene was mostly Mexican, American fast food and Chinese. I thought that maybe it was dorm food and fast food that might have been the problem. I began to ask whether he had tried different types of food outside of the dormitory cafeteria. It appeared he had but while we were talking I sensed that the real problem was that he missed the food from home. Nothing here was similar in spices and seasonings and flavors.
The Lord brought to my mind a Lebanese restaurant near to where I worked. I had always found it odd because I knew of no people of middle eastern descent that worked or lived nearby, and there never seemed to be any cars in their parking lot. Still a little gun shy, I wondered if I should ask him about Lebanese food. I was concerned that I might fracture our now cordial interaction. But getting up the nerve, I asked him if Lebanese food was similar to food in South Yemen while hoping I wasn’t making a cultural faux pas or insult.
Al Rasas face immediately lit up. “Yes, yes, it is very similar!”, he excitedly replied as a smile appeared for the first time since our encounter began. I said that I wasn't familiar with Lebanese food but knew of a restaurant, all while wondering if I should offer to take him there.
The wheels began turning in my head. Was this my opportunity to be able to share Christ and witness to this man? Being a Saturday evening, I had a college group class in the morning and then Woody and I would attend a late morning church service. Should I invite him to join us? Or perhaps I should mention all of our faith based activities as a way to begin talking about our beliefs as a way of introduction.
But almost immediately, I sensed the Lord telling me not to. I was to only offer to take him out to eat. So I asked Al Rasas if he would be interested in going to the Lebanese restaurant for lunch. He enthusiastically gave me an affirmation and his dormitory telephone number so we tentatively planned to go that next day.
When I arrived home later that evening, I shared the story about my encounters with Al Rasas and the other international medical students with Woody. I let her know that I was particularly perplexed regarding my understanding that I wasn’t to invite him to church or share my faith with him. The Lord distinctly gave me the understanding that I was to just “love him”.
“Love him?”, I continued to ponder. What does it mean to love him? Wouldn’t it be love to share the gospel with him since it is the greatest gift ever given to mankind? And for me personally, wasn't it the greatest thing that I knew and the most wonderful thing that I have ever experienced? Wasn’t this the reason I went to visit the international students in the first place? Wasn’t I to go and share my faith and to be salt and light? At that time I was unsure how to talk about Jesus to someone of another faith. But I was certain I wasn’t taking an easy way out in this situation. No, this was His voice.
The following day I drove to the Army post shortly after noon to pick up Al Rasas. Woody and I decided that she would head home with our baby after church service and I would take him by myself.
Al Rasas was out front waiting for me. After a cordial greeting, we made the half hour drive across town to the Lebanese restaurant. I tried to strike up a conversation about some things on the way but again found that he was not much on small talk. Perhaps this was a cultural trait in South Yemen but the long spans with no words being spoken were unusual to me.
Stepping into the Lebanese restaurant, Al Rasas was thrilled. It was my first visit so I was happy that the doors were open and it appeared to be a functional restaurant. The wait staff seated us in the center of the dining room and we appeared to be the only customers.
A big smile spread across Al Rasas' face as he opened the menu. The menu was written in both English and Arabic. I asked him if the selection was similar to the food from South Yemen.
"Oh, yes!", he happily replied. He then went through the menu and pointed out several of the items and asked if I had ever tried them. I had to say "no" to almost every item. He then described the ingredients and then tried to determine if I would like it or not. I told Al Rasas to go ahead and order for both of us but I was paying for lunch. He agreed and happily placed the order.
As we waited for them to prepare our food, Al Rasas began looking around the restaurant. There were signs written in Arabic on several of the walls. Al Rasas was so excited as he spun around and read and translated each sign to me.
During our earlier conversation, we never got around to discussing our families. I didn't know whether Al Rasas was single or married or whether he had a family. So I learned he was married and had an infant daughter. As he talked, I felt even more strongly that he was indeed homesick.
As the food arrived, Al Rasas was excited to tell me about each food item. But first, he wanted to thank God for our meal. I quickly determined that I wasn't to push my faith nor refute his so I politely listened to his prayer and we went on to enjoy our lunch and to learn more about each other. After we finished eating, I took him back to his dormitory and he thanked me. I was grateful that the Lord brought this restaurant to mind.
Seeing his countenance in contrast to what it was like the prior evening was amazing. Was this the power of loving him as God had instructed? I got the sense that it was. There were many other things I could have done that day on my own or with my own family, why expend time, resources and money on someone I barely knew? And why do so for a foreigner, no less, who didn't even believe in Jesus?
I began to think of what else I could do to 'love him' and my thoughts immediately turned to our home. I began wondering if I should invite him for a meal. That would certainly take Woody and I out of our comfort zone.
After talking it over with Woody, we decided to invite him for dinner one evening. We came up with a meal that we normally ate and believed he could also eat. We made arrangements to have him come on a weeknight so I could pick him up on my way home from work. Even driving was a test of my conviction as it doubled my commute time through rush hour traffic.
When Al Rasas and I arrived at our house, we were greeted at the door by our cocker spaniel. He was surprised that a dog was inside the house with us. It was one of many cultural things we hadn't even considered. In South Yemen, dogs are unclean and kept outside and they usually serve a purpose for their owners. I asked if he wanted me to leave our dog outside but he insisted that it was ok.
Woody came to greet us while holding our daughter, Melissa, who was around a year old. While greeting Woody, his eyes immediately went to Melissa. He told us that his daughter was about her age and he really missed her. Woody asked Al Rasas if he would like to hold Melissa. He gladly accepted and began carrying her while quietly speaking to her in Arabic. He acted as though he was envisioning holding his own daughter as he gently paced around our dining room.
After a short while, Woody let Al Rasas know that it was Melissa’s bedtime and that our dinner was almost ready. She had Melissa say “goodnight” and got her settled in her crib for the evening. I had Al Rasas step into our living room and asked if he would like to see the rest of our house. I thought that it might be a good way for him to get to know more about us. Since our townhome was less than 1400 square feet, the tour wouldn’t take too long.
I showed Al Rasas our living room and then the front of our townhome. We had entered our house through the back since there was no street out front. Our townhome faced another row of townhomes with a large expanse of lawn and trees stretching in between. Back in the house we moved down the hall and into the first bedroom, our guest room. The guest room was small with a pull out sofa, a desk with bookshelf, and a dresser. We had moved the television into that room and had placed it on the dresser. I pointed out the television to Al Rasas since I had told him about how we had moved it from our living room.
I thought Al Rasas would just look into the room and move on to the next but he walked into the room and up to the desk. This is where I came to read and study the Bible every morning. I had several Bibles in different versions along with some study aids including a concordance and dictionary.
As Al Rasas gazed at the bookshelf, he pointed at my collection of Bibles and study aids and asked, "What are all these books?"
Not wanting to disobey my understanding, I replied that they were books that I was reading and studying.
"You read and study these books?" he asked in return as I was thinking that would have ended his inquiry. I started to pray for wisdom on how to answer.
"Umm, yes", I replied as I grew concerned as to the direction of the conversation.
"What kind of books?" he asked while gazing and now pointing directly to my collection of Bibles.
"Those are my Bibles and books that I use to help me to study", I replied now astounded that he was initiating, of all things, a conversation regarding my Bible from a simple tour of our house! “Lord, please direct me!” I quickly prayed again. I didn’t do anything to encourage this conversation so perhaps this is the Lord’s Spirit leading Al Rasas.
"These are Bibles?!" he asked. "You have a Bible?"
"Yes, there are actually several Bibles there", I replied as Al Rasas continued to look at them.
"Why do you need more than one?" he asked as the question initially confused me. I guess he found it odd that I had multiple copies of a sacred text. Shouldn't I only need one?
"Each one is a different English translation of the Bible," I started. "Part of the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and the rest was written in Greek. The different translations help me to understand what it is saying."
"May I see one?" he asked as he was still looking directly at them.
“See one?” I thought in complete amazement. This was beginning to border on being completely unbelievable! I reached onto the shelf and pulled down my favorite copy and set it down on the desk as I noticed his hesitancy to hold it. I opened it while offering a brief explanation of the opening pages because it contained a table of contents, a study overview, and a cyclopedic concordance before the actual Bible text.
"May I?" he asked as I could sense his hesitancy, reverence and intrigue that I had a copy of such a sacred book. It convicted me of the privilege that I can so easily take for granted. But perhaps even more remarkable, I was amazed that this man from halfway around the world, who was a Muslim and from a country that just weeks before, I didn’t know existed, was standing in my house asking to look at my Bible.
Al Rasas gazed at the text and very reverently turned a page or two. He then advanced further and then stopped at a passage that contained a long list of names and their lineage. He began to look more intently at the text and then looked up and asked me, “What are these names?”
I quickly scanned the page where he had stopped and saw a lengthy passage containing names and descendants. My heart kind of sank as I thought of all of the places for him to stop and consider, this would have been my last choice! I never quite understood why these sections were part of the Bible when I had read through these lineages in the past. There was just name after name of mostly unfamiliar people that I struggled to read, nevertheless to pronounce.
“Those are the names of people showing their descendants and their ages. This passage is showing the line of Abram, or Abraham”, I answered, not even thinking that I was evoking the name of someone that he was familiar with.
“I know Abraham!” Al Rasas excitedly responded. “I am a descendent of Abraham! Abraham is the father of my people, the father of Ishmael, God’s chosen!”
“Right!” I replied as I quickly tried to digest what was happening. “The Bible says that Ismael was Abraham’s son by Sarah’s servant, Hagar. Abraham had two sons described in these passages, Ishmael and Isaac. These are the names of the people who preceded Abraham following the flood. This passage tells the story of Abraham and then follows the story of his son Isaac and Isaac’s son Jacob. Their descendants are also listed in the Bible.”
Al Rasas rocked back on his heels as he took in the names listed in front of him and what I said. “Does the Bible show each family and their children during the time of Abraham?” he asked seemingly amazed at the thought.
“There are many lists like this in the Bible. They mostly focus on the descendants of Abraham through his son Isaac and his son Jacob. But it also speaks about Ishmael. God said that he would make him a great nation,” I replied as I was hoping that I was speaking accurately while still finding it hard to believe we were discussing a passage on lineages. And yet here at this moment it appeared to be speaking deeply to Al Rasas’ heart. About that time, Woody let us know that dinner was almost ready and that we could wash up and come to the dining table.
“Thank you,” Al Rasas said with a great amount of sincerity. “Thank you for letting me see your Bible,” he continued as he looked at me and appeared to still be amazed that I had a copy of the Bible and was touched that I allowed him to view and handle it.
Al Rasas ate everything that Woody served and appeared to thoroughly enjoy the dinner. Woody was so thoughtful in serving a dinner that steered clear of foods, like pork, that we thought might be improper for him to eat. He also experienced first hand our adjustment towards not eating highly processed or fast foods. It was as though God had prepared us for this moment. I believe He had!
Afterwards, I asked Al Rasas more about his country and the reason why he was here in San Antonio. At some point, I asked him about the language that he speaks and reads. He taught me a few words in Arabic so I brought out a notepad and pencil for him to show me their writing. He wrote, “God is great” in Arabic and I asked if he would teach me. We spent some minutes as I tried to mimic the Arabic script that he demonstrated to me. After a while, I had learned a few words and could say and write them with his assistance. Following a grateful thank you to Woody, I drove him back to his dormitory and returned home.
We had Al Rasas over for dinner again before he returned to South Yemen. He gave me a new phrase in Arabic and, to the enjoyment of us both, we worked on my penmanship amidst laughs at my difficulty in writing and speaking Arabic. Most of our conversation continued to be brief and to the point. He never mentioned the time we looked at my Bible and I didn’t try to steer the conversation back to that time or to what he was thinking. Al Rasas let me know that his training was almost complete and that he would be leaving San Antonio and returning to South Yemen. I asked if I could take him to the Lebanese restaurant as our final time together before then, which he gladly accepted.
Woody and I decided to repeat what we had done the previous time. I would drive to attend our college class, and then she and Melissa would come so we could attend service together. After service, she would head home and I would drive over to the Army dorm to pick up Al Rasas for lunch.
I don’t remember much about our time at the restaurant but do recall feeling like I had run out of things to ask or talk about. Since Al Rasas didn’t appear to care for small talk, I remember our lunch being pretty quiet.
After lunch we got into my car and headed back to the dormitory. As I did each time that I was with him, I would pray and ask the Lord to be with me, to bless our time together, and to give me the right words to speak. I didn’t sense that the Lord wanted me to say anything so I didn't. Besides the road noise, there was just silence. I thought it a bit odd that a quiet car ride would be my last memory of him.
As we drove on the freeway as it crossed over another in the northwest side of San Antonio, Al Rasas looked toward me and broke the silence. “Tell me about Jesus,” he said.
“What?!” I thought in amazement as his question rang in my ears. Oh my goodness, that was the last thing that I ever thought he would ask. I didn’t even think that he knew there was a Jesus. I had not prepared for this moment at all. “Lord, help me!” I desperately cried as I quickly pondered how to answer, “Not my words, Lord, but yours!”
As words came out of my mouth, I found myself telling Al Rasas about God's relationship with man throughout scripture. I recalled the story of Adam in the Garden of Eden and about man’s closeness and then separation from God because of sin. I talked about God making a covenant with Abraham and how it led to the rescue of the descendants of Jacob out of Egypt and the nation of Israel. I talked about the Tabernacle and how God dwelled amongst the Israelites through a period of time in the wilderness and then in the land of Israel, the land that God had promised to Abraham. I talked about the animal sacrifices made for the sins of the people and for the nation of Israel. As I was talking, I remember thinking, “Why are you telling him about animal sacrifices and of Israel, and all of these things from the Old Testament? He asked you to tell him about Jesus!” I continued to point out God’s presence amongst his people and how He loved them and gave them the law and prophets so they would return to Him.
At some point in my talk, we arrived back at the dormitory. I had been talking for over 15 minutes straight and hadn’t begun to talk directly about Jesus or even how any of what I had said related to Jesus. There was an open parking space so I parked and continued to talk. I thought at any minute, Al Rasas was going to say something and then leave, but he didn’t. He appeared to be intently listening to all that I was saying.
For what I can only describe as the peace of God through His Holy Spirit, I never felt rushed or pressured to talk directly about Jesus. I continued to paint a picture that I now understand to be a more complete picture of Jesus. Without Adam or Abraham or Jacob or David, we do not have Jesus. I don’t think I understood this bigger picture at the time, but somehow God enabled me to recall the stories from the Old Testament and paint the picture for him.
So I continued to walk through everything that He brought to mind and finally arrived at the New Testament. I don’t recall exactly what I talked about regarding Jesus but I’m guessing that I told Al Rasas about His birth, life on earth, death, resurrection, and promised return. I also told him about how the blood of Jesus was shed for all, not just the descendants of Israel, and that it offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life. I told him about the coming of the Holy Spirit and how He builds us as the new temple and how that relates with the tabernacle and temple of old.
I think I spoke for another 15 to 30 minutes after I parked, maybe longer. I remember feeling that I had nothing left to say once I gave him an abbreviated testimony of my life and how Jesus rescued, transformed and continues to walk with me. Al Rasas remained quiet and never interrupted. He never acknowledged what I was saying or showed any signs of emotion or disagreement.
The car was silent again when I finished speaking. Al Rasas continued to look forward and appeared to be deep in thought. I prayed and asked God to sift my words and to remove all chaff from the wheat.
All at once, Al Rasas turned and thanked me. “Thank you Rick. Thank you very much,” he said as he then went to open the car door. He closed the door and walked to the dormitory, not looking back. He left without discussing what I said or of the time that we spent together. He didn’t ask me any questions. He simply thanked me and left. His abrupt departure wasn’t too surprising since our prior encounters ended in much the same way.
I sat for a while still in amazement that he asked me to tell him about Jesus… Wow! I spoke for almost an hour and remarkably, he sat and listened to everything that I had to say! Unbelievable!
As I drove home, I reflected on the time I spent with him since that first encounter when he was so cold and so angry. It was more than remarkable that we went from that to this moment.
Did Al Rasas come to faith in Jesus? I don’t know. I do know that the Lord wanted our paths to cross. I know that Woody and I were led to make significant changes in our lives prior to our meeting Al Rasas and that every one of those changes addressed the very criticisms that he had during our first conversation. I know that I wondered why an alien was one of the four types of people to receive the tithe and then the young lady showed up to invite our home fellowship group to an event that led to me meeting Al Rasas. I know God had Al Rasas see my Bible, ask to read it, and then find a passage that spoke to him. I know that I was to share the words that God gave me during our last meeting. I know I was to love him.
I have prayed for Al Rasas and his family. I tried to imagine the cost of his accepting the gospel. I imagined that it might cost him everything - his wife and daughter, his mother and father and family, his position in medicine, his ability to buy, sell, borrow or rent, his friends, his community, his home. In addition to that, his country has continuously been in a civil and religious turmoil. And yet, I know that God is greater than all of the obstacles and that His love is unfathomable. He is the God who commands the waves and the wind!
What then about the alien? In the fulfillment of His promise to Abraham, God called out and rescued his descendants out of slavery, He gave them His Spirit to guide and direct them, He baptized them in the Red Sea, He gave them His law, He gave them His power to defeat their enemies, He brought them to a place of abundance to meet all of their needs, and He gave them rest. They were an entire nation of aliens.
As a believer, doesn’t all of this sound familiar? Isn’t the Lord taking us on a similar journey? I believe so. We who believe ARE aliens if we have died with Christ and have been born again.
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
So rather than seeking the things that we formerly longed for, and rather than seeking a home and comforts here on earth, we, like Abraham, seek a new kingdom. But for us, we seek something not of the earth.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation.
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country which they left, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
We are like Ruth, the alien, who abandons her father and mother and her home to cling to the God of her mother-in-law who could redeem her. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus uses an alien as the example of the one who fulfills His commandment in the parable of the good Samaritan?
The highway interchange between IH10 and IH410 has been completely re-engineered, torn down, widened, and rebuilt. But even in its new configuration, IH10 still crosses over IH410 as it makes its way towards downtown San Antonio. Every time I drive on the new overpass I remember that moment when Al Rasas asked me to tell him about Jesus.
Love is so powerful it moves mountains and His love is so grand that it reaches across borders. It orchestrates the collision of two very different individuals from two very different cultures from halfway around the world. One was an alien to the United States. The other is an alien to this world. Amazingly, Jesus allowed me to witness and to participate in His grandeur by simply being obedient to His easy yoke and His light burden, and by not making my own way.
“Love him!”