Several times the convicted man tried to reason his way out of the financial loss of breaking his bank loan in mid-term. But each time Burns only answered. "There are no terms with God."

Finally they reached the bar, and Rev. Burns visited and prayed with the sick woman.

Suddenly a blow shook the building, followed by another and then a loud crash. Running outside, the minister saw a smashed business sign lying in splinters on the ground. Looking up he saw the owner with his hammer still in his hand. "Reverend, the business is closed - for good!"

The bar owner's conversion proved to be true and became the talk of the town for years after.

At a small gathering, an older man told his remarkable conversion story. He had left home at an early age, lived in sin, became involved in crime, and ended up in prison.

"There God found me, converted me, as He did Manasseh," he added. "I could not run away from Him there. He arrested me, and convicted me through His Word. I came out of prison a free person in a double way."

A younger man responded by saying, "God has certainly performed great wonders in your life; but He has dealt with even greater miracles of grace in mine."

He paused and then continued. "My heart is just as sinful as yours, and God miraculously spared me from departing in the way of outward sin. He graciously converted me as a young boy before I got that far!"

How do these two examples show clear differences in outward impressiveness?

4. Personal conversions also vary according to surrounding circumstances. The person's age, temperament, and background are involved in his conversion. God converts individual persons each according to his unique circumstances. The man born blind who was healed by Jesus did not personally know Him as Peter did. He could only testify, "One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." But both of their conversions were true.