Posted: 01/03/08

Persist in the Battle

Recognize the stakes and press on without hesitation in the war for souls

I was at the hospital completing my paperwork for a surgery to resolve a persistent sinusitis problem. As I was waiting to be admitted I was seated next to a young Hispanic lady. As it was taking some time to be called I decided to hand her a Latino version of the Good Person Test.

To my surprise I found she spoke perfect English and couldn't even read the Hispanic tract! Even though that was a bit embarrassing I was actually very encouraging to see that not all Hispanics remain aloof from becoming Americans.

We laughed a little at my mistake and I handed her the "Why Christianity?" booklet, to which she asked why I thought she wasn't a Christian. It was funny to me that she would ask that so I explained that I could have no possible way of knowing, and if she was then it would be "good ammunition" for her. I then explained how she could make God's Grace amazing to every person she speaks to. I explained further on how to use the Law to explain what sin is by using the test on her (the one I had given her originally). And when she initially said she thought she was good she looked furtively around at the other people within ear shot of us apparently fearful they might hear us talking so openly about such things. Her fear almost made ME shut up it was so palpable. But I saw what was happening and pressed in like a good evangelistic honey bee should when he spots the nectar of an open heart to the Gospel in one who so clearly wasn't sure who she was.

So as I took her through the Law and Bernadette began to see her sins the way God sees them, and herself the way God sees her, she stopped caring about the others who might hear and looked intently at me while I continued. I could swear she didn't even blink for a full ten minutes she was so focused on what I was saying. Right here in "America" there was a woman who had never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ… how amazingly sad.

I continued on using a civil courtroom analogy and had the great privilege to see the understanding in her eyes when I explained how waiting to see the judge to be contrite is already too late. We ended the conversation as I got called up to do my paperwork and pay my co-pay so I wasn't quite sure how she had taken what I said to her. But, as she left, this same woman, that was just a few moments ago so fearful to be overhead talking about Jesus, made the hospital employee who was leading her out wait in order to make her way back in to where I was just so she could tell me how she grateful she was thanking me and how glad she was to meet me.

During the conversation Bernadette had asked if I was a Pastor, which always grieves me as I see this as a clear example of just how far we have fallen. When someone who does what Jesus says to do is considered going so above what is "normal" for a Christian to do that they must be a Pastor then something is very wrong in this country founded on Christianity. But then I remember what Jesus has done and that I get to be so honored as to be able to bring Yahweh Glory in this way and I just smile instead.

A popular movie a while back had the main character recognize that "only the penitent men will pass" in his attempt to gain access to where he hoped God's Mercy waited in the form of an object he was seeking. The director of this film may have been trying to seriously show this truth, but the mocking of God was all too clear in the resulting tongue-in-cheek false contrition portrayal of the real humility we all must have to gain God's Mercy. So when I recognized the true battle going on in Bernadette, the war for her very soul, I knew I needed to press on in without hesitation, regardless of the outcome. The scorn of an angered sinner in a fallen world is a small price to pay to see if they are ready to hear of God's Gracious Mercy available for them. And if they demonstrate they are still self-righteous then you can leave them with the knowledge of how their Creator sees their sin. The Law will surely do its work in their heart later, as God promises His word will.

It is to Yahweh's Glory we tell of His Mercy and His wrath both, Biblically and effectively, the way Jesus did.Bernadette was grateful to hear of God's Mercy for the Penitent, for her. No multi-million dollar budget was needed. Just a little courage and a small bit of preparation to know when to persist in the battle was all that was necessary to see a soul saved.

Like my wife Joyce says, "Hell is reserved for those who reject God's Mercy." So let's seek the lost wherever we can, scorning the embarrassment as a joyful stripe to see God glorified and souls saved! You can do that. Seek the lost while you still can.

Patrick Burwell
OnlyJesusSaves.com
 

Footnotes:

(1) "¿Te consideras una buena persona?"

(2) "Why Christianity?" by Ray Comfort, LivingWaters.com

.If you do not desire to deliver the lost from Hell, then whose are you?.
.For Evangelism Resources, please visit LivingWaters.com.
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By Patrick Burwell Click here for bio and archived articles