On the way home from Wednesday church I realized I had not given anyone a gospel tract nor witnessed to anyone today, so I pulled into the Fred’s Dollar store near my home. There was a young guy riding a BMX bike in the parking lot. As I pulled up to him I could tell he was a rough looking character. He had tattoos all over his body and some kind of weird Mohawk. I used the “Curved Illusion” gospel tract to break the ice, which he found very amusing. This whole encounter took about 20 minutes in which I never left my vehicle.
Here is a brief summary of our encounter. Brian was the young man riding his bike in the parking lot and he was 24 years old. After I told him the “Curved Illusion” was a gospel tract and decided he was not offended at this, I asked if he has had a Christian background. Brian said that he did not have any kind of religious background at all. I went on to ask Brian if he believed in God, heaven and hell, which he replied he believed so. When I asked Brian where he thought he would go if he were to die tonight, of course he said heaven. When I asked why he would go to heaven he gave me the obvious response, because he has been a pretty good person.
Well it did not take long to figure out that Brian was just like the rest of us, not very good. He was gracious to get up on the witness stand and see how he faired with God’s standard (10 commandments). Within about 5 minutes Brian had admitted to being a liar, thief, blasphemer and adulterer at heart. He was still holding onto his self righteousness and believing his good deeds outweighed his bad. I explained the analogy of being in a man’s courtroom and trying to convince a Judge of this defense.
“Your honor I know I’m guilty, but I have done a lot of good things with my life too. I think you’re a good Judge and should just forgive me.”
Brian quickly realized that this would not work in a human court room, so it was not going to work in God’s courtroom. Once Brian seemed to understand his guilt and after he admitted that God would have no choice but to send him to hell, he was ready for the gospel. When I asked Brian if he knew what God had done for him so he would not have to be sent to hell, he had no idea.
I went on to tell Brian the good news about Christ and how through Christ’s blood, suffering and death at the cross, God can now legally commute his death sentence. I explained that just knowing this will not save him and that he needed to repent of his sins and put all his faith in Christ.
I asked Brian if he was concerned that if he died tonight and God judged him based on him being a liar, thief, blasphemer and adulterer at heart he would end of in hell. He responded yes it does concern him. I asked Brian when he thought he was going to get right with God, repent and place his faith in Christ, which he responded soon.
Please note everyone that I could have easily pushed harder for a prayer (sinners prayer), but I was getting the impression that he was not quiet ready yet. Although there did seem to be some concern in Brian’s face and tone, he just did not seem broken about his sins. I personally do not believe in praying a prayer for someone or even asking them to pray after me. I believe the prayer should come from the heart similar to that of King David after Nathan showed him that he had broken God’s Laws and sinned against God. I strongly encouraged Brian to make sure he was right with God before leaving the parking lot. I pointed out that we are not promised tomorrow and he needs no one to help him get right with God. Repent and Faith. Repent and place all your faith in Christ is what I told him. I did pass on my information to Brian in hope of him contacting me.
Please pray that God will work heavy on Brian’s heart and that he will come to true repentance and faith in Christ.
My prayer is this:
Lord help me to be satisfied with only spreading your truth and not concerned about getting decisions, as I realize salvation only comes from you. The field and harvest is yours and I’m only your worker. Lord help me to continue spreading the seeds of truth wherever I go and I pray you will grow it in the hearts of the hearers. Lord please stir in Brian’s heart and do not let him rest until he falls upon his knees in genuine sorrow for his sins. Please Lord I beg you to save him and allow him to grow into a strong witness for you, so that you and only you will get all the Glory, Honor and Praise, because you and only you are worthy of it. In Jesus name, amen.
Here is a brief summary of our encounter. Brian was the young man riding his bike in the parking lot and he was 24 years old. After I told him the “Curved Illusion” was a gospel tract and decided he was not offended at this, I asked if he has had a Christian background. Brian said that he did not have any kind of religious background at all. I went on to ask Brian if he believed in God, heaven and hell, which he replied he believed so. When I asked Brian where he thought he would go if he were to die tonight, of course he said heaven. When I asked why he would go to heaven he gave me the obvious response, because he has been a pretty good person.
Well it did not take long to figure out that Brian was just like the rest of us, not very good. He was gracious to get up on the witness stand and see how he faired with God’s standard (10 commandments). Within about 5 minutes Brian had admitted to being a liar, thief, blasphemer and adulterer at heart. He was still holding onto his self righteousness and believing his good deeds outweighed his bad. I explained the analogy of being in a man’s courtroom and trying to convince a Judge of this defense.
“Your honor I know I’m guilty, but I have done a lot of good things with my life too. I think you’re a good Judge and should just forgive me.”
Brian quickly realized that this would not work in a human court room, so it was not going to work in God’s courtroom. Once Brian seemed to understand his guilt and after he admitted that God would have no choice but to send him to hell, he was ready for the gospel. When I asked Brian if he knew what God had done for him so he would not have to be sent to hell, he had no idea.
I went on to tell Brian the good news about Christ and how through Christ’s blood, suffering and death at the cross, God can now legally commute his death sentence. I explained that just knowing this will not save him and that he needed to repent of his sins and put all his faith in Christ.
I asked Brian if he was concerned that if he died tonight and God judged him based on him being a liar, thief, blasphemer and adulterer at heart he would end of in hell. He responded yes it does concern him. I asked Brian when he thought he was going to get right with God, repent and place his faith in Christ, which he responded soon.
Please note everyone that I could have easily pushed harder for a prayer (sinners prayer), but I was getting the impression that he was not quiet ready yet. Although there did seem to be some concern in Brian’s face and tone, he just did not seem broken about his sins. I personally do not believe in praying a prayer for someone or even asking them to pray after me. I believe the prayer should come from the heart similar to that of King David after Nathan showed him that he had broken God’s Laws and sinned against God. I strongly encouraged Brian to make sure he was right with God before leaving the parking lot. I pointed out that we are not promised tomorrow and he needs no one to help him get right with God. Repent and Faith. Repent and place all your faith in Christ is what I told him. I did pass on my information to Brian in hope of him contacting me.
Please pray that God will work heavy on Brian’s heart and that he will come to true repentance and faith in Christ.
My prayer is this:
Lord help me to be satisfied with only spreading your truth and not concerned about getting decisions, as I realize salvation only comes from you. The field and harvest is yours and I’m only your worker. Lord help me to continue spreading the seeds of truth wherever I go and I pray you will grow it in the hearts of the hearers. Lord please stir in Brian’s heart and do not let him rest until he falls upon his knees in genuine sorrow for his sins. Please Lord I beg you to save him and allow him to grow into a strong witness for you, so that you and only you will get all the Glory, Honor and Praise, because you and only you are worthy of it. In Jesus name, amen.
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