One encounter with Jesus Christ is enough to change you

Host: The café was quiet, the evening light casting soft shadows across the wooden tables. Outside, the rain had softened to a gentle drizzle, its rhythmic sound almost like a backdrop to the conversation unfolding inside. Jack and Jeeny sat across from each other, the warmth of the room contrasting with the chill of the night air outside.

Jeeny, her fingers wrapped around her coffee cup, looked over at Jack with a quiet intensity.

Jeeny: “I came across something today by Luis Palau. He said, ‘One encounter with Jesus Christ is enough to change you, instantly, forever.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: He paused for a moment, his gaze distant as he considered the words. “That’s a pretty strong statement. One encounter can change you forever? That’s a powerful idea. But how does it work, really? How can one moment—one encounter—make that kind of impact on someone’s life?”

Host: The soft sound of rain against the window seemed to fade as Jeeny’s voice filled the space between them, steady and thoughtful.

Jeeny: “I think Palau is speaking to the transformative power of truly encountering something that speaks to the core of who you are. For people of faith, that encounter with Jesus isn’t just a casual moment—it’s a revelation. It’s a recognition of something divine that shifts everything you thought you knew. It’s not about gradual change—it’s about an instant, deep transformation that leaves you different.”

Jack: “But why Jesus? Why does that encounter change people so completely, in a way that no other experience does?”

Jeeny: “It’s about the love, the grace, and the forgiveness that comes with that encounter. People aren’t just drawn to Jesus because of his teachings—they’re drawn to the love that radically transforms their understanding of who they are. In a moment, you see yourself differently, the world differently. It’s that spiritual awakening, that connection with something far beyond what we can comprehend, that changes you forever.”

Host: The café felt almost still, the rain outside now a soft, rhythmic whisper, as Jeeny’s words took root. Jack, usually so analytical, seemed to pause, reflecting on the depth of what she had said.

Jack: “I guess when something hits you at the core like that, it changes everything. It’s not just a belief you hold anymore—it becomes part of who you are. But does that mean everyone who encounters Jesus has that immediate transformation? Or is it something that only happens in certain moments?”

Jeeny: “I think it’s different for everyone, Jack. Some people may feel that instant transformation, while for others, it might be a slower journey. But what’s common is that encounter—that moment of clarity where something shifts in your heart, where you understand, on a deep level, that love and forgiveness are possible in ways you might never have imagined before. That kind of encounter has the power to change your perspective on everything.”

Host: The rain outside seemed to soften, and in the quiet of the café, Jack and Jeeny shared a moment of understanding. Their conversation had moved from curiosity to something deeper—an exploration of how one moment, one encounter, could alter the course of someone’s life forever.

Jack: “I guess it’s not about a quick fix—it’s about that moment where everything clicks, where the encounter shows you something you hadn’t seen before. And from there, things change—sometimes instantly, sometimes over time.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. And that’s why it’s so powerful. It’s the idea that in one moment, you can see the world through a new lens, a lens of love and grace. And once you see it, you can’t unsee it. It’s that kind of revelation that lasts forever.”

Host: The café, now quiet except for the soft sound of the rain, felt like a sanctuary for their conversation. Jack and Jeeny sat together, understanding that true transformation doesn’t always come from gradual change—it can come from one encounter, one moment that shifts everything, changing you instantly and forever.