“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)
If you are standing on the sidewalk speaking with one of the lost, involved in an innocuous conversation about unprofitable things, and a brother or sister in Christ approaches the two of you, after the initial, and seemingly necessary opening niceties, what will the conversation turn to? Will it continue in those things that contain no eternal value, or will it turn to profitable items?
This may seem like a simple enough opening statement to this short video, but it speaks volumes about who we are, about who we claim to be in Christ. Both of you know this person is on their way to eternal damnation if they do not repent, you both fully understand that there are no such things as luck, chance or coincidences, so this lost person has arrived in your presence for a specific reason, and the two of you understand that we are to reach out to the lost, but will you do the work that glorifies God, will words of His peace, love and compassion for that lost soul come from your lips?
Or will you be too embarrassed to do so?
Will you feel sorrow for that person who does not know the Lord? While two ambassadors of the Kingdom of heaven are in his or her midst, when the Holy Spirit of God is standing right in front of them?
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2nd Peter 3:9)
Yet the words of truth do not flow from you, for you do not know them well enough, you fear to offend them, it isn’t the right time, you do not know enough Scripture verses, you have places to go, people to see and things to do.
“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1st Cor. 9:16)
Was that verse written only with Paul in mind? Is it only for pastors and elders, is Christ to be spoken of only in private settings, within the confines of the church, in the office of the pastor after a certain date and time has been agreed upon? Are you just expecting them to show up to church so that those who have been assigned the task of reaching out to the lost can fulfill their obligations?
Perhaps not as an opening statement, but how long into the conversation will it be before you move away from the unprofitable and finally ask them, “Who do you say Jesus Christ is?”
When that person leaves your presence, will the two of you begin to speak of the things of Christ, or the things of the world and self, will you feel a hint of shame because you did not ask them that question, will there still be joy in your heart as you watch that lost soul walk away towards hell?
“I should have said something to them” will garner you no rewards in heaven my friends.
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)
If they have not seen or heard your good works, how are they to glorify God?
“Perhaps the Lord will send someone to speak with them” you may say to each other as that lost soul leaves your company, “Perhaps He will be merciful to them.” And after all, you’re not the pastor, are you, and this isn’t Sunday morning at church, is it? It wasn’t the time or place, was it, it was just a coincidental meeting on the street, three people that just happened to be at the same place at the same time.
I wonder, how would you feel if you heard the screeching of tires on the pavement a few moments later, the screams of bystanders, and as you turn quickly to look in that direction, you see that person die, right in front of you?
Where was your light then?
“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”
Ezekiel 3:18