The memories are still vivid and real. I shudder to recall what happened Sunday evening, July 17, 1988 on a country road just south of Winston Salem, NC where I grew up. A lone gunman shot ten people as they casually drove by his place of business. Five of the ten were dead within the hour and two others were fighting for their lives in a local hospital. Perhaps the most troubling remembrance is that of a young lady of sixteen who drove around a roadblock where two men were trying to warn on-comers of the impending danger.
The two made every attempt to stop the young lady, including placing their cars across the road, waving their arms, and shouting their warning in slow, deliberate tones. She simply drove around them on the shoulder of the road as if avoiding a trashcan that had inadvertently blown into her path. They had done all that they could to warn her, but now she had passed and their attention was turned to the next car.
The young lady was shot once as she drove by and again when the gunman ran to the window of her stalled car to deliver another shot point blank. She died at the scene. I still shudder to think of the terror that embraced her as she realized what was happening.
This event illustrates perfectly what I feel as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You, my friend, are like this young lady, traveling on the road called Sin, and headed for certain eternal destruction. It is my duty to sound the warning. Your only hope is to turn from your sin and place your trust in Jesus Christ who has already endured your terror and offers you peace. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6).