As I drove to get something to eat yesterday, I passed a guy standing and looking at his phone. I went to a restaurant a few restaurants down from where I first saw him. Then a few minutes later, he walked into that same restaurant.
I struck up a conversation with Nahum, but when I started talking about Jesus, he turned very serious. He flipped his arm over, and showed me that on the inside of his forearm, he had tattooed three crosses with Isaiah 55:6 underneath them, if I remember correctly:
Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
As Nahum walked out to my car with me, he started talking. He had just been released from jail two days earlier. I asked him, “When was the last time you drank?” He said he doesn’t drink. I asked him, “When was the last time you drugged?” He said, “A week ago.” Do the numbers in your head. You would be amazed at the contraband people can get in prison and jail.
He really needed to know verse 7 of that chapter:
Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Nahum needs a second chance. His parents are reluctant to take him back in. He is 25.
I let him know that once you are saved, you are an ambassador of Christ. And he needs to represent Him well. I reminded Nahum that he has a last name. That means he is an ambassador of his family. He needs to represent them well. And that might be one reason why his mom and dad are hesitant to take him back in.
This morning, I was reading in the book of Acts, chapter 8. Verse 30 says:
Acts 8:30
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Looks like the book of Isaiah is still impacting many, many lives.
When I chat with people, I will challenge them to read the Bible. “Have you ever read that Book before?” is one question I ask.
I also ask, “What is the bestselling book in the history of the world?”
Sometimes, I say, “Do you plan to spend your entire life without ever reading? Or without ever reading the most influential Book of all time?”
Don’t be afraid to challenge people as you witness to them. God’s Word changes lives. Period.
Say a prayer for Nahum to get a second chance. And thank the Lord for all of the second chances each of us have been given!
Until the nets are full,
P.S.
P.P.S. I took a call from Gene today. He is 95 and doing the Lord’s work at an assisted living center! He told me that he has been witnessing to a lady who just couldn’t believe that God will not accept into heaven people from all religions. After he finished explaining things to her, he gave her a copy of “The Second Greatest Lie booklet. Sometime afterward, he asked her how she liked it. Then he said, “Have you come to the same conclusion as Mark that all religions are not the same and that Jesus is the only way to heaven?” She said that she had! She has been telling her Catholic children what she’s been learning, and a few of them are attending evangelical churches now. As I always try to tell people, never, ever, ever underestimate the power of a 95 year old soul-winner!!
Many people out there are under the impression that God accepts everyone just because He created them. They need to understand that sin not only brings death, but judgment.
Do your part to warn everyone you can about the day they will face the Lord. Talk to them about sin, judgment and the cross, whether that’s in an Assisted Living home, your neighborhood, at beaches, community parks, or on school campuses.
Our Second Greatest Lie booklets are 20% off for the packs, which makes it easy to stock your car, backpack, purse, or more with materials to reach the lost!
https://markcahill.org/product-category/specials/