“You ever think about the people who live their lives seemingly without any thought about God?” I asked Stan one morning.
“I do,” Stan replied. “I was there. That was me. I know what it’s like to try to live a life ignoring God. I was there, but now I’m here. I know the difference and I want that same difference for everyone!”
“You think that’s going to happen with everyone?” I asked.
“Probably not,” Stan replied, “but I know if it could happen with me, it could happen with anyone — and that ‘anyone’ is the target audience. It’s not up to me to know who is going to respond to the gospel, my role is to present the truth that can set people free and leave it in God’s very capable hands in overcoming what I call ‘Living the lie’.”
“Living the lie?” I said. “What’s that?”
“Jesus talked about it in one of His parables about a fool,” Stan replied. “He didn’t exactly use that short-hand expression, but He did talk about the foolishness of the person who only focuses on eating, drinking, and being merry rather than focusing on the life God has for that person to live.”
“Oh,” I said, “the lie of eat, drink, and be merry. The lie of focusing on self and ignoring God. That’s kind of like the opposite of discipleship, isn’t it?”
“Certainly,” Stan replied, “but before people can get to the steps of discipleship, they have to accept by faith God’s free and gracious gift of salvation and redemption for when they step into eternity. Then, and only then, can they begin the steps of discipleship.”
“But,” he continued, “that’s not where the eat, drink, and be merry crowd is located. They are living their life the way they want apart from God. I was there, living the lie, now I’m not. And I want the same thing for them.”
“So,” Stan concluded, “back to your first question. Yes, I do think about those people who are living their lives apart from God. Not only do I think about them, but I pray for them. Not only do I pray for them, but I take every opportunity that God makes available to tell and show them the fatal flaw of where they are, and what it looks like for where they can be.”
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Bible verses to consider:
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?” So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:19-21.
Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-15.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17.
Jesus therefore was saying to the Jews who had believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for those you brought into my life to bring me to the truth that set me free from living a life that was apart from you. I know that if you could do that with me, you most certainly can do it with anyone. Please help me in speaking and manifesting the truth of your free and gracious provision of life eternally with you, along with the eternal life of knowing you and Jesus, to each “anyone” you bring before me. Please help me in helping them to see, accept, and embrace the truth that will set them free. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you been set free by the truth of God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him when it’s time? If no, why? What’s in the way of accepting by faith what is available? If you do have the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing in telling others so they can and will have the same thing? As well as you would like? As well as God would like? If you sense changes are in order, how are those changes going to happen?
Waiting for the Train 