Every witnessing situation is different, but one thing we need to remember is that witnessing is urgent. And sometimes, it proves to be more urgent than we could have imagined. The following story from last spring makes this point.
Hi, Mark,
A few weeks ago, I went to lunch to meet up with our dear, big-deal adventurer friend, Morgan. He lives in Bend, which is a real mecca for the outdoorsy crowd. He kayaks/skies/surfs (winters in Mexico), among other hobbies, though he’s getting older now.
When he and his buddy came to town last month to “ski Utah,” a bunch of us all met up at a restaurant. As we were being seated for lunch, Morgan told us that another old friend of ours from Wyoming, where we all lived at one time, was actually driving in from Casper and would be joining us for lunch along with one of his skiing buddies. We hadn’t seen Doug for probably 30 years. It was a real reunion of sorts.
During lunch, I tried a few times to touch on spiritual matters with some of the people at the table, but it didn’t go anywhere. So, after lunch ended and while we were outside in the parking lot saying our goodbyes, I gave all of them one of my mesh bags with chocolates, booklets, and tracts. I told them they needed to read them because they didn’t want to go where they don’t want to go. I urged them to get right with God. Morgan, our closest and best friend, said he just loved me and gave me a big hug. It was like he was giving me a stamp of approval in front of everyone else, though he’s not a Christian. I gave him two sets of hugs in return.
Well, in the month that has now gone by, our friend from Casper, after he returned home, slipped in his bathroom, hit his head on the way down, and ended up in the hospital with a subdural hematoma, which apparently is often fatal. And it proved to be fatal for him. His wife pulled the plug on him last week, and he passed away yesterday.
I can hardly describe the feelings coming over me. I’m so convicted that I wasn’t more urgent and insistent with my friends and their friends. I was afraid of getting the stink eye and disapproval from others at the table and in the parking lot. It’s a real lesson for me because I have to shun the scorn and press forward to say what needs to be said. We have no idea if we’ll ever see these people again.
I’m grieving for my friend and for not being stronger in my witness, but at the same time, I’m glad I gave them all booklets. But still, we can’t stop short of telling them. We have to verbalize our warnings while at the same time showing them love.
Sadly, I will use this story of Doug being here one day and gone the next to urge people to take God and the gospel seriously. And I’ll remember him when I need to push off the disapproval of others who get uncomfortable with me witnessing.
______________
James 4:14
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Ephesians 5:15-17
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Jesus loves each and every person and wants all men everywhere to come to repentance. He is the God of life. And He wants His gospel of life to be preached to all men, so they can trust in Him and what He’s done for them and be given the gift of eternal life that He wants to give them. Will you go and tell someone today, before it’s too late?
Until the nets are full,
P.S. What do you see as you watch some of the videos from Israel and Gaza? I see something very simple: people are heading off into eternity without Jesus—a lot of them. Hell is filling up. What are you going to do about it?
P.P.S. We received this encouraging piece of mail last week that we thought you all might like to read. This is what it’s all about. Jesus wants to save souls, change lives, and give us all real hope.
Mr. Cahill, good morning. Last year, I wound up being incarcerated, unfortunately, but something that helped me through, other than the Bible, was your book, One Heartbeat Away. How you blended science and religion truly blew my mind. I gave my life to Christ at age 14. I’ve tripped up time and time again, but it finally caught up to me. Prison really banged me up on a social level. I’m still recovering over a year later. I just wanted you to know that your book really encouraged me to get my life back together. It was the perfect aid, with God’s Word, to get me back on track! So, thank you, thank you, thank you, sir. I hope to one day read One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven. I really struggle with witnessing after lockup. It’s hard for me to open up to people, but if One Heartbeat Away was good, I can’t imagine how helpful it would be to my walk. You’re a great writer. Loved the bit about you and Charles Barkley―amazing! Be blessed, my guy.
Chris
P.P.P.S.