Chapter 13
Prayer Prevails
On Monday morning as Rev. Delaney was reading the newspaper, he was interrupted by a knock at the door. Upon opening it, to his utter amazement, John O'Banion was standing there.
"Alice," he gasped, "is she--?"
"She's all right, Preacha. Can ya tell me whar her uncle is?"
"He's working now, Mr. O'Banion, but he should be home around four-thirty this afternoon."
"Well, I've gotta git back home, but will ya tell him somethin' fer me?"
"Sure. I'll be glad to." Holding the door open, he said, "Come in, Son."
Taking his cap off, John entered at Rev. Delaney's invitation. With bowed head, he stated his reason for coming.
"I reckon I ain't neva said I wuz sorry fer nuttin' in my life, but I ain't been ta sleep fer two nights. Alice is lots betta, and she said it wuz becuz her uncle prayed fer her. I neva have been much on religion, Preacha, but I got sense anuff to know when somebody's a dyin' and then out of the clear blue, they go to mendin', I love Alice." He was crying now. "Oh, I know ya don't b'lieve it nor would her uncle, but I do love her. I wuz jes' a-showin' out when ya wuz thar. Tryin' ta prove how tough I wuz. I know I ain't neva been no good fer I've beat 'er up a-plenty, but I ain't neva stooped so low as to strike 'er when she wuz sick in bed. But I pretended lack I wuz gonna hit 'er when ya wuz thar so her uncle could see how bad I wuz." His frame shook with sobs as he added, "That's what I'm here fer, to apologize fer the way I acted. Will ya tell her uncle fer me?"
Sure, Mr. O'Banion, I'll be glad to."
"Jes' call me John." Looking into Rev. Delaney's eyes, he confessed, "I'm mizurable, Preacha. All night long Saturday night, I tossed and rolled. I couldn't git a wink of sleep. All day yistiddy I felt lack the devil or somethin' wuz after me. I've neva felt so awful in my life. It jus' seems lack I'm the meanest man in the whole world. Last night I went to bed, bone tard from lack of rest. Finally, I dozed off, and then suddenly I woke up wide awake. Seemed lack somebody wuz in the room wid me. I couldn't see nobody, but I felt a strange presence. I raised up in bed and looked around but couldn't see nobody, so I laid back down. A voice seemed ta speak ta my heart. I can't explain it fer I didn't hear it wid my ears, but yet it wuz spoke plain ta me. 'John, ye need ta change yer way of livin', the voice said. I started ta laugh and say, 'I don't wanta change,' but somehow I didn't feel lack laughin'. I felt more lack cryin'. I laid still 'cause I didn't wanta disturb Alice. Again I heard the voice speak ta me, 'John, ya need ta change.' It wuz such a sweet voice. I can't explain it." He bowed his head in his hands and cried brokenly. Regaining his composure, he continued, "I said, not out loud but in my heart, 'What do ya mean? How can I change? I guess I do need ta change.' Then the voice said, 'the preacha.' That's all it said, 'the preacha.' I ain't slept another wink. All night long these words rung in my ears, 'the preacha, the preacha,' and 'ya need ta change, ta change, ta change. Hit seems lack I'm losin' my mind. I feel so wicked. Can ya help me, Preacha?"
"God can help you, John. Do you want to pray? God is trying to get to your heart."
"Will prayin' hep, Preacha?"
"Earnest prayer always helps, John. What you need is salvation. The presence you felt was the sweet Holy Spirit. The voice you heard was the Spirit whispering to your heart. Jesus is trying to get to your heart and save you and make a new man out of you. He can forgive all your sins and give you peace and joy within."
"Ya have no idie how wicked I am, Preacha. Could Jesus hep somebody lack me?" The tears streamed down his haggard cheeks as he talked.
Rev. Delaney opened his Bible and read one of his favorite Scriptures in dealing with sinners. Isaiah 1:18. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
"John, no matter what you've done or how wicked you are, Jesus will forgive you if you will repent. He can wash you as white as snow in His own precious blood."
"I'll repent, Preacha, whatever that means. I'll do anything to git relief. My heart feels lack it's bustin' wide open."
Rev. Delaney instructed him to get on his knees and he knelt beside him.
"Just confess your sins to Jesus, John. Don't hold back a thing. Tell Him how mean you are and that you're sorry and want His forgiveness."
"Jesus," John started out, "I'm the meanest man in the whole world. I'm a drunkard, a thief, and a gambler. I beat up on my old lady. I lie and I cheat. I swindle ever'body I can. I pick fights. I don't pay my debts. I cuss and chase ever'body off that comes to see us. I chase after other woman. I don't pervide fer my old lady and my ma lack I oughta. I'm wicked, Jesus. I'm hateful and stubborn and mean. Will ya have mercy on me? I feel lack the devil's got ahold of me and is draggin' me down ta perdition. Please have mercy, Jesus, and fergive me fer all my sins. I'm so sorry fer the way I've lived. I'll do my best ta live betta, Jesus, if ya'll save me. I'll quit the bottle lack Jim did. I'll quit cussin'. I'll quit all my sins, Jesus. I promise I will. I'm honest to ya, Jesus. I really mean what I'm tellin' ya."
Glancing at the penitent John, Rev. Delaney took notice of the perspiration standing out on his forehead as he labored in prayer. The tears were streaming down his cheeks and on his countenance was a look of agony.
"God's here to defeat the devil and give you victory, John. Keep praying and confessing. God wants to save you."
Again John began confessing. Finally, he stopped and looked at the preacher through tear-blinded eyes. "I musta told Jesus ever'thing on myself thar is ta tell for I can't think of nuttin' else ta tell."
"God promised in His Word that if we would confess, He would forgive, John. If you've confessed everything and are willing to give up your sinning for Jesus' sake, then He is faithful and just to forgive. He does forgive right now, John. Do you believe that?"
"If Jesus sez He fergives me, then I b'lieve it," he said humbly.
"Repeat after me, John. 'I believe Jesus forgives my sins right now,' " Rev. Delaney instructed.
"I b'lieve Jesus fergives my sins right now," he repeated. A heavenly glow lit up his face as he exclaimed, "He's done it, Preacha. He's fergiven me. I feel it inside and that makes me so happy." He grabbed Rev. Delaney in a bear hug.
"Praise God," Rev. Delaney cried joyfully. "Jesus has never turned one away yet who has come to Him in true repentance. Oh, praise His name! This is wonderful. His blood has never lost its power. I'm so thrilled, John. I can hardly wait to tell Jim. He'll be about the happiest man in the world. Praise God forever! It's wonderful, wonderful!" He was beside himself with joy.
"I mus' go now, Preacha," John told him. "Tell Jim I'm sorry fer how I acted when he wuz thar and tell him ta come see me. I can't wait ta tell Alice and my pore old ma what Jesus has done fer me." He was all smiles as he departed.
Rev. Delaney was waiting in his car when Jim got off from work. "Come on, Jim, I'll drive you home."
"Why, Brother Jack, is anything wrong?" he asked as he opened the car door. Hesitating, he added, "I hate to get in your car with these dirty clothes."
"Get on in here, man. I'm about to burst to tell you some news."
"It must be good news by the way you're grinning," Jim said as he slid in beside Rev. Delaney.
Jim was elated with the news the preacher had to relate. He knew when God had lifted the burden Sunday morning at three A.M., that He had taken the situation in hand, but this was exceedingly above all he could ask or think.
"Now God can use John to get to Alice," he told Rev. Delaney joyfully.
"We will unite in prayer for her," he assured Jim.
"Jim," Rev. Delaney addressed him later before he left for home, and they were alone on the porch, "I have something on my heart and have been wanting to talk to you for some time now. I want you to know I'm not prying into your business, but--I--," he hesitated.
"What's on your mind, Brother Jack?" Jim gave h
im a quizzical look.
"It's about Bessie. You love her, don't you, Jim?" When Jim gave him a peculiar look, he added, "She told me once that you had expressed your love for her."
"That's right, Brother Jack. Bessie seemed to fit my ideals for a wife. She's wonderful with the children and I felt it was meant for us to be together. At the time I expressed my love for her, I did love her very dearly, but she did not care for me in the same way. She was quite frank with me, and I appreciated it though it hurt me deeply."
"I know, Jim, she had lost her head over Alton, but he is out of the picture now. The thing I'm trying to say is--uh--" He cleared his throat, then went on hesitantly. “Bessie is very lonely. I believe if you would give her a chance, she would feel differently toward you now."
Jim placed his hand on Rev. Delaney's shoulder. "Brother Jack, I appreciate your interest but believe me, it just won't work. You see, after Bessie rejected my love, I prayed earnestly about it, asking God to either change Bessie's feelings toward me, or if it was not His will, to take the love I had for her out of my heart. It took awhile for me to get over her, but I no longer love Bessie in the way I did then. Oh, I appreciate her very much and am very fond of her in a brotherly way, but I don't care for her as I did at first."
Rev. Delaney looked embarrassed as he said, "Jim, I hope you do not feel bad at me, for I was only doing what I thought was best. Well, I must be going."
"Wait, Brother Jack, I have something to tell you. Do you happen to know a lady by the name of Rachal Greene?" He smiled, anticipating Jack's favorable reaction.
"So that's it?"
"Yes, Brother Jack. What would you think if I told you I planned to ask her to marry me?"
"Well, I guess I have been as blind as a bat as far as you and Miss Greene are concerned. I guess I just didn't think. I've noticed you two talking together at church, time and again, but never once thought anything about it. Well, God's blessings be upon you, Jim. She's a sweet young woman and a genuine Christian. She's meant business with God from the very start."
"Thank you, Brother Jack. I can't explain my feelings toward her, but there's something genuine between us. I feel a sense of satisfaction when I'm with her, a sense of belonging. I feel it's the kind of love that will endure the storms of life together. I believe we belong together, and I plan to ask her to marry me right away. Will you perform the ceremony?"
"Why yes, Jim, but what if she turns you down?"
"Well, I think I know her better than that. And I believe she needs me as much as I need her. She was hurt pretty badly a few years back, I understand, and she needs someone she can trust."
Jack started as if something had just dawned on him. "Then you know--I mean--uh-did she tell--uh--I mean--," he was groping for words.
"Oh, she's never mentioned to me about being hurt. It was Alton who told me that she had an unfortunate romance which had soured her on men. I'm thankful that she has been able to overcome her misfortune for I feel sure she loves me the way I love her."
"I trust everything works out for you, Jim. I--uh--trust you don't--uh--get hurt again.
Before Jim could ask any questions, Rev. Delaney changed the subject. "How are the boys making out in their schooling?"
"Fine. Well, as you know, Jimmie's through with all he's going to take, but Jacky is doing great. The tutor still comes twice a week and I'm very pleased at his progress. But Brother Jack," he added sadly, "I'm concerned about their spiritual state. I wish you would help me pray for them."
"Sure, Jim. Your sons are fine boys. I've never seen better workers. Ben tells me that Jimmie worked like a grown man when he lived with them. Incidentally, Ben and Sarah really appreciate you allowing the children to work for them when they need them. Ben just doesn't feel up to mowing the grass and the other yard work. He's been ailing quite a bit lately. And Sarah loves for the girls to help her. I think they use their work as an excuse to get them to come see them. They dearly love those children." Patting Jim on the shoulder, he said, "I'll surely help you pray for the boys. We don't want them to go astray."
Jim dropped his eyes and then his head. "I'm afraid Jimmie has already gone astray. He is just not the same as he once was, and the sweet fellowship we had together is lacking. It's not only his soul I'm concerned about, but also his influence on Jacky. As you know, they've always been close-knit, being the only boys in the family. I am greatly burdened for them, especially Jimmie."
"You can count on me to share your burden, Jim." Extending his hand, he added, "It's been profitable talking to you, my friend. If I was out of order in talking to you about Bessie, I humbly ask your forgiveness. I meant it for good."
"I love and appreciate you as much as ever, Brother Jack, and feel that whatever you say to me comes from a heart of love and concern. Don't worry about Bessie. I don't think she's over Alton yet, but just give her time. Any young man would be fortunate to get her."
"Yes, I know, but I was thinking of your children. Do you think Rachal will--uh--make out all right with the children?”
"Rachal adores my children, Brother Jack, especially Mary. Of course, she's like Bessie with them, but she gets along nicely with them and they like her. God will work everything out."
"Goodnight, Jim."
"Goodnight, Brother Jack."