Close Encounter With Evil

[KLJ77]

I entered the Navy right out of high school, August of 1970, attended bootcamp and then was assigned to a minesweeper, the USS Excel MSO-439, home ported out of Long Beach, California.

At the time, as an E2, Seaman Apprentice, whenever I went on liberty, I had to wear the dress uniform, depending on the season. I had to be an E4 or above to wear civilian clothes.

However, due to Admiral Elmo Zumwalt being the CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) at the time, and the youngest Admiral to ever become CNO, relaxed the criteria for liberty for all Naval personnel and allowed everyone to wear civilian clothes. I mention this because of the ‘rest of the story.’ I believe the circumstances would have been different had I been in uniform.

One late afternoon, I was standing outside the main gate to the Naval Base, Long Beach waiting for the bus to take me and a multitude of other sailors into the city of Long Beach. I don’t recall specifically, but it was probably a Friday or Saturday and I was wearing my civvies, thanks to Zumwalt.

As I was standing around waiting, some guy pulled up in a white Cadillac, a really nice one. He powered down his passenger window, looked directly at me and asked if I would like a ride into town.

Now, I’ve mentioned in other stories I’ve posted that I was very naive and way too trustful for my own good. I was 19 years old and adventurous. But yep, I acknowledge him and said; “Sure, I appreciate this very much.” Silly me…I hopped into the passenger seat and off we went toward the city.

It was just me and the guy driving the Cadillac. He had a very friendly disposition, a likable smile and seemed to be genuinely kind. We had a polite conversation riding into town and I remember being at ease with this guy…you know, being naive and all. I had absolutely no concern about my wellbeing. Hey, if you can’t trust a guy in a white Caddy, then who can you trust, right? We shared names, but I don’t recall his, not that it matters now.

The guy was dressed very nice and I could tell he had ‘money.’ However, what really grabbed my attention was his size. He was terribly obese, at least 400 lbs, I’m guessing. But again, who was I too judge. He’s giving me a ride into town and I didn’t have to wait for the bus to arrive and stand around in the heat with thirty other sailors. Lucky me, right?

By the time we arrived in town, he had laid on me the gratuitous remarks about how much he appreciated the military and the personnel serving. You know, the old “thank you for your service” comments before it ever became a thing. He asked if he could buy me a drink, stating he knows a nice quite place with a relaxing atmosphere. I told him that would be nice. I was impressionable, gullible and didn’t want to offend him and cast him off after giving me a ride. I mean, what would be the harm in having one drink.

He took me to a bar and we sat at the bar on high style comfortable seats and he ordered beers for the both of us. We continued conversing about a myriad of different topics…and he ordered us two more beers. After about a half hour, he ordered a third round.

I wasn’t used to drinking beer this fast, especially on an empty stomach, so I started ‘sipping’ that third beer, taking my time. He wanted to order me another one, but I declined, telling him I’m good. He had a fourth beer.

Now, before I go on with this story, I’ll just say that; I did not know the Lord as my personal savior at this time. However, I ‘knew’ the plan of salvation and the steps to take, but I was not ready to take that path yet. I had an older brother who was saved at 13 and was attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He would always encourage me to “look to God” and to read the Word of God. But I was on my fleshly rebellion and thought; “I still have time.”

So with that said, the guy ordered me another beer without my approval. After the third beer, my nose was getting numb, which was ‘my’ sign to back off of my indulgence because I knew I was getting real close to where I would begin to make some dumb decisions. Been there, done that, lessons learned.

The guy kept talking and eventually told me that he has ‘another’ place we could go to get something to eat at a more lively club. I told him, “no, I’m good, I’ve got some other places I’d like to go and see.” I began to suspect, or finally realize what my thoughts already knew. I had gotten into a car with a homosexual and the entire time I had been with him, he had been ‘grooming’ me for something much more.

Eventually he admitted to me that he was gay and that he wanted to show me a ‘good time.’ I recall telling him that I wasn’t ‘that way’, but of course, that didn’t matter to him, he remained adamant about taking me elsewhere. I became very nervous and began to wonder how I was going to get out of this situation. But, THIS was not the ‘evil’ part of this guy.

We conversed a bit more, when all of a sudden, he began talking about death. He told me that he didn’t have to worry about death for a long while. I asked him how he knew that. I stated to him that he could get in his car and have a terrible accident and be killed that very night. He smiled the most eerie smile I’d ever seen on anyone and said; “I know that’s not going to happen.” I asked him how he could be so sure.

And here it comes. He looked directly into my eyes, and both his eyes had a twinkle in them that I’ve never seen in anyone’s eyes before or have ever again seen in anyone else’s. I got a cold chill that literally made my body shake. And then he said to me, “I know this, because I’m a Warlock. I will not die until the year 2008.” Or words to that effect.

At that moment, I fully understood that I was in the midst of a great spiritual battle for my mind and soul. I knew this from what my older brother had told me many times about how God’s Word says in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Sitting there beside him, I silently said a prayer, asking for God’s protection, in Jesus name, against the evil spirits I’m sure that were invisibly darting around me at that moment. God, in His Mercy, answered that prayer. A calming spirit, I have no doubt about, from God, overwhelmed me. I looked at the guy and told him I am going, that I no longer wanted to be there. He tried to talk me into letting him give me a ride to where I wanted to go, but I knew better than to get back in his car with him. I turned and walked out of that bar. Actually, the word "FLEE" would be a better term to use.

As I was walking down the street, I felt lead to get to a pay phone to call my brother. As I was walking, the guy pulled up alongside the street and again, tried to entice me to let him give me a ride. I told him no thanks and kept walking. He then drove off, never to see him again.

I called my brother and told him what had occurred. He assured me that God DID have his protective arm around me that evening. My brother said a prayer for me, which meant so much. I didn’t ‘change’ and turn to God, even after that experience, but it was a moment in time that I’ve never forgotten. My conversion wouldn’t happen for several more years. And now, decades later, I still reflect back on this and thank God for using this experience as a stepping stone of His Spiritual guidance to eventually lead me to Salvation through Jesus Christ. Ignorantly, I would experience many other episodes in my life until the moment I finally realized that God’s Grace and Mercy is the only reason I had lived as long as I had up until that time. I no longer gave thought to; "I still have time." I was more concerned about how many more times God was going to extend His Mercy and Grace toward me.

This story is just one part of my testimony, as many others can surly attest to their's during their lifetime. God is a Merciful God who doesn’t want anyone to perish. I am but one sinner who, by the Grace of God, He used certain episodes in my life to wake me up and remove the scales from my eyes so that I could see clearly His love through Jesus Christ so that I could finally meld my will into God's Will for me.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Great story and testimony from your life LJ. We have no idea what God’s plan is and why he spares us something’s and allows other things to happen. If we could only see all that He sees from the beginning to the end in our lives, we would know why, but that won’t be revealed to us until after we leave this world. Thank you for sharing this.

[1967redrider]

Another great story, LJ, and of God's grace. Glad everything turned out when things could have been very bad.

[bestgear]

Thank you Ken - I can’t remember what I had for supper last night - your recollection of details is impressive - I’ll look forward to the next chapter

[KLJ77]

Thanks, Mark & John. I appreciate the comments. Glad you enjoyed another one of my experiences of life.

[KLJ77]

Thank you Ken - I can’t remember what I had for supper last night - your recollection of details is impressive - I’ll look forward to the next chapter

You're not the only one, Tom. I'm at the age where many times, I can't remember what I did 4 to 5 minutes ago, but I can recall with detail what happened 40 to 50 years ago. Funny how that works. The mind can be a terrible thing. Now, what was I saying?

Thanks for the thoughts.

[treefarmer]

Ken, thank you for sharing that incident in your life. None of us are too old not to be tempted by things not beneficial for us, physically, mentally or spiritually.
So many times we are protected by God and we fail to recognize His deliverance and mercy.
Treefarmer

[KLJ77]

Thank you, Philip, for your thoughts and insight. I appreciate them.