The problem we face
as Christians who sincerely want to see our neighbors and friends come to
Christ is the misconception we have about what this means for them to make such
a dramatic left turn. The vast majority
of people we contact daily who are not born from above are completely content
as they are. They don't want our
assertions or our "great opportunity". It is absurd to them that they should change
their lives so dramatically as we insist and their conscience is not the least
bit troubled by what they do. Divorce
is reasonable if they are no longer in love, pornography is enjoyable and maybe
even helpful, what we call sexual immorality is moral to them and greed
honored. The itch is meant to be
scratched every time it surfaces and the audacity of demanding something
approaching limits to freedom is irrational to them. We are not, and never have been offering
something so enticing it cannot be rejected.
Jesus did not say He came to bring peace but a sword. Most people do not see Christianity as a
better life; a less tolerable one perhaps, a constricted one probably. Even many Christians are a tad bitter about
what they find Christianity to be. The
deceit of Satan is thorough and penetrating.
The lie that being in Christ is a meager and impoverished existence is
believed almost universally, even many times within the church. Why would those infatuated with death want to
cross over to life? The Gospel is not
seen as good news but a bitter pill to swallow.
What can we do about this? The
Lord has given us two directives. Pray
for the hearts of our family, friends and neighbors and say the Gospel
clearly. Rather than being confounded by
a wasteland of wrecked souls, grab the
hope Jesus Himself had when He happily proclaimed His mission...The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I
have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 NIV) Not everyone will realize their lives are
bankrupt without Jesus but some will.
Not everyone will want to hear what you have to say but some will. We must not be dismayed by the prevailing
blindness. The Lord is present shedding
light in the darkness so not every soul is trapped in the shadows. The Gospel is even now unlocking rusted
padlocks binding hearts and you have that same key in your hand. Don't worry yourself with strategies for
trying to convince people to come to Christ.
Let the Holy Spirit do that work.
Give the Gospel away though as if it were the hope of all mankind; don’t hold back when
your time has come to be the great angel of grace, God's personal
messenger. Someone is waiting for you. God has prepared the way!
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own
dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Luke 9:60 NIV
No comments:
Post a Comment