A Prodigal Son

In the early 1960s, my wife, Elsie, and I attended Grace Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City. Melvin Shrout, and his wife, Marcella, were the pastors of Grace church. As years passed, we became best of friends. They had one adopted son, Stanley.

Several times through the years I met with Stanley. Our conversations were always directed toward religious matters, at Stanley's request I might add. He was adopted at three days of age and raised in a parsonage. That could have been the reason he always wanted to talk religion. Many times as we conversed, I had to take a stand scripturally. Christ prevented our conversations from ever becoming combative and our partings were always cheerful.

Stan was very intelligent and could have been most anything he wanted to be. He had golden opportunities, but instead he chose a lifestyle unlike that of his parents. Eventually his lifestyle would take his life—alcohol destroyed his liver.

Word came that Stanley was gravely ill. We called on him and he received us with his same cheerful attitude although very sick. He would be at his parents home, or there in the hospital. He was in and out quite often during the last few weeks of his life.

One day, in the early morning hours while praying for Stanley, I was moved to call on him that very day. Elsie and I arrived at Stanley's hospital room.

She said, "Honey, I'm not going in. I'll wait in the hall." Several nurses were tending him. They soon finished and left the room.

I knocked on the door and called to Stanley. He responded, "Sam, come on in."

I went to his bedside and we began to visit. As we visited, I saw myself on that deathbed some fifty-two years earlier, hopelessly lost, waiting only to die. Our conversation turned to spiritual things. I said, "Stanley I understand the doctors have come to you with very bad news."

Stanley said, "Yes, Sam, I'm going to die."

I asked, "Stanley, if you were to die this very moment what would be your destination?"

He responded, "I would go straight to hell!"

Pausing for a moment, I asked, "Would you prefer not going there?"

He said, "I most certainly would."

"Stanley, Jesus died on a cross for our sins so we could be saved and have life everlasting and not go to that place called hell. Our sins can be forgiven by Jesus and Him only. His vicarious death on the cross-spanned that great gulf fixed between lost man and God. Jesus said in Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (KJV). Stanley, put your name in the place of whosoever."

God's Holy Spirit led us through the sinner's prayer of repentance. As we prayed, Stanley repeated every word and the Lord opened his heart. Tears began to flow down his cheeks.

I thought, "Oh, so like the Word. It washes us from the inside out."

When we finished praying, I asked, "Stanley, do you believe Jesus has forgiven you?"

With a smile on his radiant face, his countenance already changing, he responded by closing his eyes and moving his head up and down, definitely answering "yes."

Instantly a holy hush permeated the room.

I felt we dared not move or speak. Stanley began to sob and his whole being began to quake.

I placed my hands on him and said, "Stanley, just let go of everything."

Looking at me through tears, he said between sobs, "Sam, you don't know how terrible I have treated my parents over the years."

"That is true Stanley, but I don't need to know. Jesus knows and He has already forgiven you just as your loving parents have. Everything of your old life is now behind you. Look toward the future."

With tears flooding down his cheeks and a huge smile spreading across his face, the first time I had seen such a smile, we embraced as brothers in Christ.

"Stanley, to secure your salvation. God's Word tells us in Romans 10:10 that 'with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (KJV).

Stanley quickly responded, "Who could I confess to?"

At that precise moment Melvin, Marcella, and my wife, Elsie, walked through the door. Stanley did not see them come in. I said, "You could begin by witnessing to your mother and father, they just came in."

Melvin slowly walked to his son's bedside and the long awaited reunion began to blossom. Stanley began his confession.

The prodigal son had come home.

What blessings I received lingering in the shadows, witnessing age-old wounds instantly heal and a loving Father's out stretched arms encompassing his son just like Jesus would do.

Later in the day, Marcella said with joy in her heart, "As I was praying early this morning the Lord assured me that today was going to be the day." That's what I call faith in action.

Second Corinthians 5:8 says we would rather be away from the body and present with the Lord. During the few days remaining, Stanley witnessed to all his friends, Jew and Gentile alike as they came visiting him.

On Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2006, Stanley Shrout went to his coronation.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28, KJV).

I thank my Lord Jesus for allowing me the opportunity to be instrumental in Stanley's salvation. It was my privilege to share this story at Stanley's funeral for all his friends to hear. What a great testimony he left behind.

Samuel Clark

Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.