Sometimes, we might worry about a witnessing situation, but when we step into it, we might also realize that it was the exact right moment to open up our mouths and start speaking truth. When God opens those opportunities, we must step into them, even when well-meaning people might advise us otherwise.
Hi Mark,
I wanted to tell you what happened when I ordered take out.
I wanted to treat my son to take out while my husband was out of town, and we decided on curry. The curry restaurant we wanted to try was a Pakistani place. When I called in the order, the man who answered was very curt and gruff, which I told my son about. He said to me, “Mom, whatever you do, don’t witness there!” They were known in town for being Muslims.
I arrived at the tiny restaurant right before closing, so it was dark when I walked in to pick up the order. Sure enough, the man who owned the business had a serious look on his face and a heavy furled brow. He appeared to be all business as he was directing his family’s preparations to close. Then all of a sudden, when he came to the register, his whole demeanor changed and he was all smiles.
So I said, “Hi, nice place you have here. How long have you been in business?” He began to explain all the changes he had seen in his area over the 32 years he had been in business. Since his business is in Utah and he looked very Middle Eastern, I asked, “What brought you to town? You’re not LDS are you?” He chuckled and said, “No, we’re Muslim. And we wanted a peaceful place to live.”
I just couldn’t keep quiet, like my son wanted me to be, so I said, “Interesting, interesting. You’re Muslim, and I’m a born-again Christian!” He said, “It’s all the same God; we just worship him as Allah.” I replied, “How can they be the same God when Allah has no son and Christianity worships the Son?” Then he said, “Well, it’s all a matter of just being good.” Perfect opening.
I continued, “Well, let me explain. Would you mind telling me your name?” He said, “Rana.” So I used his name and said, “Rana, let’s say you broke the law in Utah, and you were brought before a judge. Can you say to the judge, ‘Hey, Judge, I know I broke the law, but actually, I’m a pretty good person, so I think you should let me go free.’ Would the judge excuse your charges and let you go free?” Rana smiled.
“And let’s say you and I are both standing before the Judgment Seat of God. And let’s say I’m going where I don’t want to go, but I think you’re a good person, so I propose a way out for you. I say, ‘Lord, Rana here is a really good person. Why don’t you let me pay for his sin in eternity so that he can go free.’ Wouldn’t God would reply with something like, ‘No. That offer won’t work because Rana has his sin and you have yours. The only way Rana could have gone free is if someone without sin loved him enough to stand in and pay his penalty.’ And remember, the wages of sin is death. So, Rana, there’s a death penalty for sin. Where are we going to find a man without sin who loves us enough to take that death penalty for us?” Rana was listening hard. I think he liked being in the story.
To drive the point home, I added, “See, there is no one sinless but God. The miracle of God’s love is that He became a man to be your sin sacrifice. He died so you wouldn’t have to. He took on flesh to die in your place.” Rana was thinking.
We talked a bit more, but they were closing up. So I asked, “Do you like to read?” He said, “Yes.” So I gave him a copy of One Heartbeat Away and gave his family The Second Greatest Lie Ever Told booklets.
Then I teased, “So, am I going to like your curry?” He smiled and said, “Oh, yes.” She said, “Good, then I’ll come back for more!” He was just beaming from ear to ear. And to think I had been afraid to even talk to him in the first place! I was thanking God all the way home for His favor that opened his heart to listen and for the curry in a hurry, which lived up to its reputation in town for being outstanding!
________
Remember to always trust the Lord by faith. You never know what opportunities He might put right in front of you. Our job is to be faithful to speak truth.
2 Corinthians 5:20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Until the Nets are Full,
P.S. I know you mommas like to listen to your sons, but every now and then they can actually be wrong! When they tell you not to witness, go for it anyways!
P.P.S.
