“As often happens if I am open to see it,” Stan began one morning, “the Holy Spirit shows me essential truths every time I open the Bible. He did it again today!”
“What happened?” I asked.
“In the first instance,” Stan replied, “am I correct in thinking you understand the importance of sharing and presenting the truth of the gospel?”
“Of course,” I said. “How else will others know the truth and have the opportunity to accept Christ’s finished work on the cross? How else will the church grow?”
“Good!” Stan replied. “The Holy Spirit showed me, in the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, the name of a specific person who needs to hear the gospel message regularly.”
“A specific person?” I asked. “Who?”
“Me,” Stan replied. “I think that the Holy Spirit showed me that it is essential for me to be reminded regularly of the gospel, of what Christ accomplished for me through His finished work on the cross.”
“And,” he continued, “I think that Paul states it very succinctly at one point in his letter to the Colossians. He showed me how to present the gospel to myself.”
“Let’s have it,” I responded.
“All I have to do,” Stan replied, “is to substitute my name for what Paul was explaining to the Colossians, so that it reads that Stan was alienated from God, that Stan was hostile to God, and that Stan engaged in evil deeds. However, Stan was reconciled to God through the death of Christ so that he can be presented to God as holy, blameless, and beyond reproach.”
Concluding, he said, “All I had to do in order to be assured of spending life eternally with God when when my time here is done was to accept the free gift of being reconciled to God. Focusing on what I have been given is a great reminder for me of all that it means for both sides of eternity.”
“Not only does presenting the gospel to myself keep me oriented in the right direction, it helps prepare me in presenting the gospel to others. If I can say to myself what was accomplished by the cross, I should be able to say it to anyone.”
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And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. Colossians 1:20, 21.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for what was made available to me through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Thank you for those who brought me to that truth, and thank you for reminding me of all that was available for me to accept. Remind me often so that I can know and truly appreciate the truth of the reconciliation you have given. Please lead me in presenting the gospel to others so they, too, can know. And lead me in being reminded so I will walk in your greater light. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Waiting for the Train 