AID -- (follows) Elizabeth? Elizabeth?
LIZ -- (stops, turns) Yes?
AID -- When did you become a Christian?
LIZ -- A Christian?
AID -- Yes, if you had told me before you took your test...
LIZ -- ...Do I know you?
AID -- No. Not really. I'm the teachers aid for your Mathematics professor.
LIZ -- And how do you know me?
AID -- The professor just called and told me to track you down and let you know.
LIZ -- Know what?
AID -- You got an "A" in your last test.
LIZ -- I did?!
AID -- Yes, of course!
LIZ -- I don't understand the concepts that well. I thought sure I failed that test.
AID -- (exiting) It's okay now. You're a Christian!
LIZ -- What does that have to do with.... Well, isn't that interesting?!
MSG -- (enters carrying folded note, shouting) Message for Elizabeth Johnson. Message for Elizabeth Johnson.
LIZ -- (turns) I'm Elizabeth Johnson.
MSG -- (offers message) Message for you from the Finance Committee.
LIZ -- (takes message) What Finance Committee?!
MSG -- From the college.
LIZ -- I know. But, they sent a message by way of a courier?!
MSG -- Apparently, congratulations are in order.
LIZ -- For What?! (reads) "Your application for a student loan has been refused." (to Msg) I don't see why congratulations are in order.
MSG -- Read the rest of the letter. (points, to paper, exits backward) The committee found out that you made a decision for Jesus today.
LIZ -- (reads) "You have been awarded a full scholarship for the remainder of your stay at the college." (to Msg) This is because you think I'm a Christian?! (looks both ways) Where did she go?
COP -- (enters) Oh, there you are. I've been looking all over for you.
LIZ -- You were looking for me?
COP -- Yes.
LIZ -- Why? Oh! Don't tell me I got another parking ticket! Don't tell me you towed away my car!
COP -- Not at all.
LIZ -- Listen, I've been meaning to pay those previous parking tickets. But my cash flow has been....
COP -- Don't worry about cash flow. The police chief cancelled all your outstanding tickets and warrants.
LIZ -- He what?!
COP -- The police chief cancelled all your...
LIZ -- ...I heard you. Why would he do that?! I've never met the Chief of Police!
COP -- (exiting) He found out that you made a commitment to Jesus. Congratulations.
LIZ -- What on earth is going on here?! I never told anybody...
BNK -- (enters carrying credit card) Elizabeth Johnson?
LIZ -- (turns) Yes?
BNK -- Listen, I hate to bother you with business on such an important day.
LIZ -- I know you. You're the teller from the bank, aren't you?
BNK -- Yes. I....
LIZ -- If this is about my overdraft, I'm sorry.
BNK -- There's no need to be sorry. The branch manager has decided to issue you an unlimited line of credit that will automatically cover any past or future overdrafts. He also issued you a Visa Gold Card to help you cut down on your check writing. (offers card)
LIZ -- (takes card) Don't tell me. The branch manager found out that I made a commitment to Jesus.
BNK -- (exiting) Yes! Congratulations! Your troubles are over!
LIZ -- (examines card) This is absolutely amazing!
DOC -- (enters) Elizabeth! I'm glad I found you! The x-rays and biopsy results came back!
LIZ -- I'm on a roll. I'll bet the cyst was benign.
DOC -- Better than that. The cyst we found has completely disappeared from your x-rays and the blood tests all came back negative. You're completely cured! Congratulations! (turns)
LIZ -- Wait a minute.
DOC -- (turns) Yes?
LIZ -- This miraculous cure wouldn't just happen to have something to do with the fact that I made a commitment to Jesus today, would it?
DOC -- Well, of course!
LIZ -- What if I told you that I... I didn't really make a commitment to Jesus yet. What if I told you I was merely THINKING about committing my life to Jesus?
DOC -- Oh. (pauses) Well... that explains everything.
LIZ -- What do you mean?
DOC -- I mean, I couldn't understand how I suddenly became a doctor. I've never been a doctor before today.
LIZ -- You what?
DOC -- That shouldn't be news to you. I'm your best friend. I live two houses away from you. Surely, if anyone knows I'm not a doctor, it would be you.
LIZ -- Amy?!
DOC -- I'm not even good at biology! How could I become a doctor?!
LIZ -- What's going on here?!
DOC -- Well, as near as I can tell, you and I are in church and you are considering making a commitment to Jesus.
LIZ -- You mean, I'm day-dreaming all of this?
DOC -- Yes, and it's not very realistic.
LIZ -- You're right. There's no way you could ever survive medical school!
DOC -- That's not what I mean. I mean, becoming a Christian doesn't mean that all of your problems are solved and everything is just rosey.
LIZ -- It doesn't?
DOC -- Of course not. You've got a Bible right there. Look up John 16:33. (exits quietly)
LIZ -- (pages) John 16:33 "In this world you will have trouble." Oh. Well, Amy, I guess I had the wrong idea of what it was like to be a Christian. (looks around) Where did she go? (exiting) I guess my day-dream is over. I guess I should take a closer look at what I can realistically expect as a Christian.
Luke 9:57-62 (NKJV)
57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 14:25-33 (NKJV)
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,
26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—
29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
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