God’s been taking me on a wild ride lately.
About a week ago, I watched a sermon that literally changed my life (watch here).
In this sermon, the pastor explained how, by our actions, if we keep quiet about our faith in Jesus, we live as though we believe in universalism.
Universalism is the false belief that everyone goes to Heaven.
I fought back, but the more I listened, the more I realized the guy was right….
He threw up roadblocks to every counterpoint I had held out in my mind.
“God didn’t give me the gift of evangelism.” — He responded that it’s the duty of all Christians.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:19
“I’m an introvert.” — He responded with the fact that I’m best at one-on-one conversations (which every introvert believes).
“It’d be awkward.” — He responded with a detailed account of people who died and how it’d be truly awkward to meet them in Heaven and try to explain how you didn’t share the hope of the Gospel because it might be “awkward.”
This sermon slayed me.
It cut through decades (yes, decades) of excuses I had held up in my heart and mind.
I began to cry.
First, because I realized I do have the power inside of me to walk boldly up to people and speak of God. Not by my power, but His power.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
2 Timothy 1:7–8
Second, because I had spent decades missing opportunities.
I have to stop myself from dwelling on that part…. It’s really hard to think about the people who have come in and out of my life over the years and how I never shared the Gospel or my faith with any of them.
When I go there, though, I get through it by reminding myself of the Cross, of what God did for me on it. He paid the price. He took my sin upon Himself.
Not because I’m really good at doing everything right, but because I couldn’t do it.
I’ve struggled with this whole “sharing the Gospel” thing for a long time, and now I just do it.
Let me explain how it went down.
After the sermon, some ugly crying, and repenting in prayer, I cleaned myself up and went to work.
I walked right up to a guy who I’ve already spoken to lightly about God and dug in.
It felt good, but it wasn’t difficult.
Second, I went up to another co-worker who I suspected might be resistant.
He was.
He literally said in a stern and ugly tone, “I don’t talk about that kind of stuff at work.”
It was so awkward it physically hurt (I know, I’m a baby… but I’m not used to it!).
But after sitting down and taking a breath, I realized something….
I was still alive!
I went to another co-worker. He ended up talking a lot about some strange religion he follows, but I spoke the name of Jesus, asked him who Jesus was, and dialogued with him for a while.
I felt jazzed.
At lunch, I decided to go get a haircut, and I was praying for a good opportunity.
I felt led to talk about the weather (iykyk), and suddenly we were talking about her living arrangement with her boyfriend, church hurt, and then I was sharing with her the Gospel!
So painful to admit, but that was truly the first time I shared the Gospel with a complete stranger.
Then we prayed.
I walked out of that Great Clips with an energy, light, and joy I could not contain.
I pulled over and prayed with a homeless man who was begging for money, and my life was forever changed.
I told myself for years I was introverted, not gifted, and had a case of “social anxiety,” but the truth was I had zero tolerance for risk when it came to interactions.
The reality is, if we truly follow Christ and believe He is the only way to Heaven, and that life is forever changed for the better when we choose to follow Him, why wouldn’t we tell everyone we come in contact with?
After all, if someone falls down, we’d rush to help them up if we’re halfway decent.
These people are literally on the way to Hell without a Savior.
It’s our job opportunity…
To tell them not only the way to avoid Hell, but how to live in the light, joy, and love of Jesus Christ as we live out the rest of the days we have here on earth!
Remember, it’s not about you and your power, but His power shining through you. He empowers you to do the work and you get to be God’s conduit to reach the world!
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Think of all the people you see during your day.
The cashier.
The woman who rides the elevator you’ve never spoken to.
The guy you walked by at the gym.
This world is more “connected” than ever, but the truth?
It’s lonely.
You feel it.
They do too.
Pray and then go start a conversation about faith.
Share your story.
Ask about theirs.
And maybe it won’t change the world for everyone, but it’s going to change that person’s and yours.
That’s guaranteed.
