The Fortune Teller

A friend of mine was traveling on a train when five of the nine in the car began to play cards. They challenged others to play with them, but all declined. Seeing my friend watching, they turned to him and said, “You know how to play. Come, take a turn.”

“I did know once, but that was a long time ago.” Thinking they could win his money, they continued to coax him until at last he said, “I cannot play, but I can tell your fortune.” Intrigued by this offer, they encouraged him to do so. “If you really want me to, but I warn you it may not be very flattering.” They insisted that he should proceed, so he said, “Give me the five of spades.” It was handed to him. “I shall require one other thing, if you don’t mind.” They inquired what it was. “A Bible.” They did not have one. “No, but you had one once,” said the fortune-teller, “and if you had followed its precepts you would not be what you are today. However, I have one.” As he took the Bible out of his pocket, he sensed that they would have been happier had he produced a gun.

The fortune-teller began, “Do you see these two spades at the top of the card? They represent your two eyes; this one in the middle, your mouth; and these other two, your knees. Now, in Revelation 1:7 we read, ‘Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.’ The one spoken of is Jesus, once red with blood for sinners like you and me. The eyes are your eyes, which will see Him when you stand before Him to be judged. That is the future of your eyes.” He continued, “Concerning your mouth and knees, we read, ‘At the name of Jesus every knee should bow … every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ From this I foretell that your knees will bow to Jesus, and your tongue will confess that He is Lord of all” (Philippians 2:10,11).

They had already gotten more than they bargained for, but he continued—“That is only the first reading of this card. For the second, these five spades represent five actual spades that may, before long, dig the graves of you five sinners. Then your souls will be in hell crying in thirst for even a single drop of water.”

After a silent pause he said, “I was no doubt worse than you all, and you will escape this terrible fortune if you will do what I did. My eyes saw Jesus dying upon a cross for me, in my stead, bearing my doom. My tongue confessed Him as Lord, and my knees bowed to Him in lowly submission. If you do this, I can foretell for you the very reverse of all I have said.” The train then stopped, and the five rushed out as if the car was on fire.

Years later my friend was greeted by someone wishing him a good evening. “It is a good evening, if all your sins are forgiven,” he replied.

“I am glad you are still telling fortunes,” said the stranger. My friend assured him that he did no such thing, but the man insisted, “You told mine more than ten years ago.” He then recalled the train ride.

“Ah! I remember,” he said. “Did I tell you the truth?” He was told that three spades had already dug their graves, and that the fourth man was anxious to be saved from the fortune he had been given. Curious, my friend asked, “And what about yourself?”

“When you met me, my mother had just died. The last words she spoke to me were, ‘Behold He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.’ When you quoted these very words, I could not believe it. I tried to drink them away, but continually I heard, ‘Every eye shall see Him.’ One day I stopped to hear some singing, and a man got up to speak. He said, ‘Behold He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him.’ It was more than I could stand. That night I bowed my knees in submission, saw Jesus as my Saviour, and confessed Him as Lord.” —W.L.