I spent some time this morning listening to an elderly man talk about his life.
As he talked about his exploits, mishaps, property sales, business ventures, children’s careers etc – At times I was thinking how long I would need to be here and what else I need to do. But at some point I was confronted with a thought process:
“This man, with all his memories and achievements, was a mere breath away from eternity. All of it, every single second of it means *nothing* if he dies in sin.”
He uttered a phrase at some point, exclaiming that ‘people these days aren’t content without the latest greatest gadgets and conveniences’. He also agreed that ’things’ don’t make us happy, so I used that to state that we can’t take any of it with us…
“We need to be right with Jesus – then it really doesn’t matter…”
I talked about a number of things about the Gospel and he started to share a little more personally. His wife, now invalid, needs his constant care and he was missing human interaction as they used to travel a lot and were now restricted.
I felt compassion for them both and said something like:
“Look I know this will sound weird, but I sense that God wants to say thank you. Jesus said there is no greater love than when someone gives up their life for someone else. That’s what He did – and it is also what you are doing for your wife. God honours that and I sense He wants to say thank you. Your wife is precious to Him, just as you are”
The look on his face was not one of judgment towards me, but one of happy and sad disbelief. As the tears welled up in his eyes, he thanked me. There was a marked change in his demeanour – less talkative, more relaxed.
I didn’t go through the full Gospel with him, he never dropped to his knees in repentance, but I trust God was working on his heart. In all my lack / failure, He is still at work – how amazing!
Please pray for John (not his real name). And also Bill (not his real name), the Woolworths delivery driver that arrived 10 minutes later. Claiming to be a ‘born again Atheist’, Sharmini (my wife) had witnessed to him last time, while my kids fixed the tyre on his truck.
He was all ears (and enthusiastic) while I shared a little of my testimony with him – even stating his best friend in South Africa had a similar ‘blinding’ and life changing encounter with Jesus. I hope to continue to share with him this week and will give him a Bible. Please pray God opens his heart and mind.
And also for a lady I met yesterday, Joy (not her real name), who has had an incredible journey of pain and hardship. But God has protected her and she has been awakened to His love and forgiveness through it all. Sharmini has given her number to stay in contact.
Please pray that He continues to use us in ever so small ways – and please be willing to put your hand up to do the same. Seriously, the smallest ‘effort’ sharing about Jesus will never be wasted. God will use every single bit!!
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58