He has killed eight people already.
On Thursday he is scheduled to kill another
--or be killed.
It's Tuesday.
You meet him in a chance encounter.
What will you say to him?

A light rain is falling as Family members Jan and Kristina board their bus. It's a two-hour ride to the nearest station where they can catch a train home.

Kristina settles into a seat by the window but quickly discovers that the reclining feature of the chair offers only one position: fully reclined. Jan fares even worse. He takes a seat next to a young man in a denim shirt and slacks, who appears to be quite drunk--not an unusual sight in 1998 Russia. Nearly 10 years after the fall of Communism, dreams have given way to drink.

As the bus pulls out of town, Jan strikes up a conversation.

"Here, have a beer. Pahzhalsta!" Misha replies as he reaches into his bag and pulls out two beers. One in each hand, Misha bangs and rubs them together, then taps the bottom of one bottle against the top of the other. The bottom bottle pops open and erupts in a spray of foam. He hands it to Jan.

All the beer has loosened Misha's tongue. By the time he was 20, he had served a five-year prison term for murder. Now he is 24 and has a family--a wife and a daughter--whom he loves dearly. He makes $10,000 a month.

Jan asks the obvious. "How does a young man like you make so much money when the economy is in such a mess?" He's not prepared for the grisly answer.

"I'm a professional boxer," Misha explains. "But each match is actually a fight to the death, with no rules. The only audience is a handful of Mafia bosses."

Misha has already killed eight people, but he's worried about Thursday. His next opponent outclasses him as a fighter and outweighs him by 25 kilos. Misha has already sustained numerous injuries, and his doctor doesn't give him much longer to live--even if he survives Thursday. He sees no way out.

Worst of all, Misha is certain that God could never forgive him for what he's done. Is it too late for Misha? Can anyone be too bad for Jesus?

Sometimes people have messed up their lives so much that they think they are beyond help, but no one is beyond the reach of God's love and forgiveness.

If only I could get him to pray and receive Jesus, Jan thinks.

Jan begins to relate the message of salvation, how God has saved even worse sinners.

Misha, now in deep depression, keeps repeating how bad he is. His speech is slurred. He drinks until he passes out.

Jan is left with a sinking, frustrated feeling. He came so close to helping Misha, but failed. As the bus bounces on, Jan and Kristina don't know what else to do but pray for him.

The bus begins to slow, and the driver calls out their destination. Misha is still sleeping. Jan tries to wake him. If only they could talk a little more. If only Jan could lead him to the Prince of Peace. But Misha is out cold.

Jan and Kristina gather up their things and step off the bus. The rain has stopped, leaving behind what look like puddles of tears in the streets. Life is so hard for many people.

Jan and Kristina walk a short distance, still trying to shake their sad experience on the bus. They need to catch the next train, but don't know where to go. They stop to check the signs.

Suddenly Misha appears behind them and says hello as he's about to pass. Kristina and Jan are so surprised that for an instant they're uncertain about what to do. Kristina realizes she can't miss this chance. She reaches out and grabs Misha by the arm, looks him in the eye, and says, "God loves you, Misha! You know He wants to help you!"

"Da, da" ("Yeah, yeah"), Misha mumbles.

"Look, Misha, God sent His Son, Jesus, so that you can have a new life. Pray with me right now to ask Jesus into your heart."

Misha repeats a salvation prayer after her. His new life has begun.

Jan and Kristina miss their train and have to wait several hours for the next one, but Misha didn't miss what may very well have been his last chance to receive Jesus.

Sometimes people have messed up their lives so much that they think they are beyond help, but no one is beyond the reach of God's love and forgiveness. Not even a professional killer. Not even Misha.

* * *

If you haven't yet met the Man who has the power to give you eternal life and transform your present one, you can do so right now by praying the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I know I've done wrong and don't deserve Heaven, but I accept Your sacrifice on the cross for my sins and receive Your love, forgiveness, and salvation now. Please come into my heart and give me Your gift of eternal life. Thank You for hearing and answering this prayer and for being with me from this moment on. Amen.