On the Victoria Embankment of the River Thames, the oldest monument in London, Cleopatra's Needle, stands 68 feet high. It's made of pink Egyptian marble fashioned in 1475 BCE. It is quite possible that young Moses had looked up at it.
It was presented to Britain to commemorate the British victory over Napoleon. In 1878 it was erected with a time capsule buried underneath it. Included in the time capsule, in 215 different languages, is a verse from the Bible, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The one word so loaded in this verse is “whosoever.” Max Lucado of San Antonio said in one of his sermons: “The word ‘whosoever’ unfurls the flag of John 3:16; the word ‘whosoever’ rolls out the red carpet for the gospel.”
The prophet Isaiah, referring to God’s salvation, gave the invitation: “ Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.” And before we close the pages of the Bible, the book of Revelation similarly says: “Let anyone who wishes take the gift.”
Tony Campolo was visiting Honolulu. It was 3:30 a.m., but he was wide awake because of jet lag. Hungry, he found a little greasyspoon café up a side-street and ordered a donut and coffee.
Mome nt s l at e r, i n marched eight or nine provocative and boisterous prostitutes. It was a small place so they took stools around Tony who overheard a conversation: “Tomorrow’s my birthday.”
“So, what do you want from me? A cake?”
“No, I’m just telling ya. Why be so mean? I don’t want a cake from you. Or a party. I’ve never had a birthday party. Why would I expect one now?”
Af ter they lef t, Tony asked the brusque owner, “Do they come in here every night?”
“Yeah.” “The one right next to me, does she come in every night?”
“Yeah. That’s Agnes. Why do you want to know?”
“She said it was her birthday tomorrow. Let’s throw a party tomorrow night, right here.”
“ That’s a wonder ful idea!” exclaimed the owner, Harry. “You know, Agnes is one of those people who is really nice and kind, and nobody ever does anything nice and kind to her.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow at 2:30 in the morning with cake.” Harry said, “No, I’ll make the cake.”
Next day/night, Harry’s place was decorated floor to ceiling. And word had gotten out. Tony recalls, “There were prostitutes wall to wall…and me!”
When Agnes and friends came in at 3:30, those present shouted, “Happy Birthday, Agnes!” Her knees buckled as she clung to one of her friends. Harry brought the cake out and she cried openly.
When the candles were blown out, Agnes asked to take the cake to her apartment nearby and show her mother. She got off the stool, picked up the cake, and, carrying it like it was the Holy Grail, walked slowly toward the door and out as we sat motionless and speechless. I broke the silence. “What do you say we pray?”
Tony remembers, “I prayed for Agnes. I prayed for her salvation. I prayed that her life would be changed and that God would be good to her. I finished.”
Stunned, Harry said, “Hey, you didn’t tell me you were a preacher! What kind of church do you belong to?”
“I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning.”
“No you don’t. There’s no church like that. If there was, I’d join it!”
Wouldn’t we all, wouldn’t we all. A church for whosoever.
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