Posted: 09/05/07

Wallet Evangelism ???

Be prepared for God to use you in any situation anywhere

I cannot stand to lose things. I feel so stupid when I do that I have to work hard not to hurt the feelings of those around me during our attempts to resolve the situation. But, since being engrafted into the family of Jesus by God's grace, I have learned to listen and watch for what God is doing, Yahweh Himself, who is now my Father through the atoning blood of Jesus for my sins. I have learned to say what I hear my Father saying and to do what I see my Father doing. So, when I couldn't find my wallet, after initially being peeved with myself over being so lame brained, I remembered how Jesus has used seemingly unrelated situations in my past to give me the chance to witness to people I would not normally have met. So I progressed with looking for my lost wallet as I held my breath waiting to see what was about to happen.

I went back in the house and, as I was looking around, I realized I may have left it at the doctor's office, as it was the last place I used my wallet. And, as it was already 5:35 pm, my son and I rushed to the office before they could close, banging on the door. I know people clean offices after hours so I knocked and banged loudly until someone answered.

The startled lady that furtively opened the door looked with me in the waiting area but we didn't find it so I left to ask at another Doctor's office in the building. I had to walk by this office to get to the parking lot so I was thinking that someone might have turned it in. When they told me no one did I went out to look in the car more, which I hadn't had the time to do in my hurry to get to my Doctor's office before everyone left for the day.

As my son and I looked around in the car, still in the parking lot, a guy named Eric commented on how he had lost his wallet. He had overheard a Doctor from the other office I was just at discussing my options with me when she stopped to talk to me while walking to her car. Eric was saying to me how annoying it was to lose your wallet, as he was putting his family in their van. Eric walked halfway to where we were parked as he continued speaking and I did as well seeing the chance to hand him an "Are You a Good Person?" booklet.

Eric was very compassionate of this aggravating situation I was in and told me by his demeanor and his tone he had pity for me and wanted to help if he could. I let him know I really appreciated his understanding and desire to help resolve the problem. He had calmed me down very well already with his warm outgoing manner and I was glad he was there.

But, it was when Eric spoke next that I suddenly realized Jesus had set him up and had just used my apparent foolishness to be there with him to tell him the Gospel.

It fills me with joy me when Jesus does this and it was all I could do not to get overt with him. When you're fishing you don't want to startle the fish, y'now? If you move suddenly or do anything loud you can expect not to catch anything worthwhile. And so it is with "fishing for men" as Jesus put it. Move too suddenly in the conversation and they run. Like roaches in a room you have to turn the Light up slowly to catch them "in the act", admitting their sin.

I had given Eric a tract, telling him I was a minister of the Gospel, so he spoke rather sheepishly, and with some embarrassment, when he told me he prayed to St. Michael whenever he loses something. Frankly, I was stunned he was being SO transparent. This was SUCH a "gimme" waiting to happen I tried not to grin like an idiot.

Eric said, "I know this seems odd, considering what you've just told me, but what I do when I lose something is pray to St. Michael or to St. Jude." Here he laughed nervously… I have found when I do this I am stating I don't believe what I just said. He showed by his actions that he did not either. So I answered quickly and frankly, "That's idolatry." I'd said this without hesitation and without the slightest change in my tone.

"What?" said Eric.

"Yes." I said. "Nowhere in the Bible does it say to pray to St. Michael, or any other saint. The Bible says we are to pray only to Jesus or the Father."
I paused to see if he would remark but he was quietly waiting for what I was going to say next, so I continued. "See, I was guilty of idolatry just like that for over 20 years. I'd said MY God wouldn't do this or do that. I had completely made God of what I wanted instead of knowing Him for who the Bible says He is. But when someone cared enough to tell me the truth, regardless of how I would react, I was stunned!"

Eric was nodding contemplatively at this point, showing he was obviously surprised but still listening closely. He wasn't in any way mocking or condescending, just interested.

Continuing I said, "When you believe something that's not in the Bible it's making up what you want. It's a.." Eric interjected, "Yeah. It's a man made idea. A man made religion! Huh!"

"That's right." I said. "It's not real... it's idolatry. When I read the Bible myself I realized he was right and that if it is not in scripture it's something I've made up."
Eric, nodding, said "Wow, yeah."

"And that's why I became a minister." I said. Pointing at the building I said, "If any of these Doctors in this building found the cure for cancer how many people do you think they'd tell?"

Eric smiled and nodded with understanding. Eric was not angry; He was not upset at all. He had heard without rancor and I didn't see him look for any rocks either. Jesus had set this whole matter up and Eric had heard.

Seeing the family close the driver side door of his van, and Eric looking over at them, I realized he was ready to go. So, as I walked around my door asking his name again, he walked back to shake my hand and said how nice it was to meet me.

I then said very soberly, "Make sure you read that tract Eric." He said that he would and thanked me again. 

When you are God's you have surrendered your sovereignty wholly to Him and He can, therefore, use you however and whenever He chooses. BE READY always to speak to anyone in ANY situation for you may have just been placed there by God, however it may have happened, in order to fulfill His Will to bring repentance and eternal life to someone you may not have ever been able to speak to without that situation occurring that was so annoying.

"I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables. But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry."
2 Timothy 4:1-5

I found my wallet as soon as I got home.

YOU can do that!
Seek the lost while you still can.

Patrick J. Burwell / Only Jesus Saves 

.If you do not desire to deliver the lost from Hell, then whose are you?.
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