As a teenager, I was told to read David Wilkerson’s The Cross and the Switchblade. As I’ve mentioned here, I love true stories. So it didn’t take much convincing for me to read the book and I’d highly recommend it to those who’ve never read it or seen the movie.
In short, the book is about a pastor named David Wilkerson who felt the call of God to go to New York after reading an article in Life magazine about seven teenage gang members on trial for murder. New York City was a far cry from Philipsburg, Pennsylvania where David pastored a local church.
But off he went to New York with his youth director, only to be hit with one obstacle after another. After finally making it to the trail of the teens he saw in Life, he was unceremoniously removed from the courtroom by the court guards and handed over to police. Thankfully, the judge didn’t want to press charges and David was released, only to be surrounded by reporters who took his picture standing outside the courtroom, holding up his Bible.
The next day, his face was plastered all over the newspapers and he was labeled as the pastor who was kicked out of the courthouse. Embarrassed and ashamed, David Wilkerson left New York wondering why God would’ve called him there, only to have it end in humiliation. His only conclusion was that he mistook his will for God’s. He would’ve been content to live with that if the desire to return to New York City didn’t reinsert itself. Until once again he found himself driving back to the city he couldn’t get away from fast enough.
This time his reception was different. It turns out his embarrassing moment was the key that opened the doors to meet with other gang members. They respected him because the cops didn’t like them either and in their world that meant they were on the same side. This began David’s ministry to reach gang members for Christ and the eventual creation of Teen Challenge.
David Wilkerson went to New York based on the feeling God was leading him there. But his first trip was a dismal failure and if he were to base future decisions on that experience, he would never go back. Thankfully he wasn’t relying on his understanding, instead he was trusting God because even in his embarrassing moment, God was directing his path.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT