Our message this morning was about knowing how to share your faith well in a world where the truth is often watered down so as not to offend – where absolute truth has been replaced with whatever truth you believe. I loved the analogy my pastor used because it hit home. I am never good at retelling these sorts of tales, so please forgive me.
Imagine that a blind man is wandering aimlessly and is headed directly toward the edge of a cliff. He stops you and asks you which way he should go. Rather than telling him the stark truth, that if he stays on the course he is taking he will plunge to his death, you tell him that whichever path he chooses, he will be just fine. You will ultimately be responsible for his soul if he goes over that cliff because you had the opportunity to tell him another way and you did not take it.
This may sound harsh and cold, but we make this choice every time we are given the chance to speak the truth of the gospel into someone’s life. Yes, we need to learn to speak the truth in love because NOT speaking the truth is not love at all. We often opt out of the truth-telling because we are afraid of offending, but how much more offensive to let someone wander into hell when you hold the key to another door in your hand. Surely we should not let those around us continue on a trajectory toward hell without sharing the truth we have come to know. And yet I am guilty over and over and over again.
We don’t always get a second chance. In fact many times, we get but one. Death often comes suddenly and without warning. A few years ago my father was preaching about a similar topic. He was talking about making sure that you love well so that those around can see Christ through you. He had the congregation take hands while he spoke. He finally asked them if anyone had ever held the hand of someone who was dying. After a minute he then said, “How do you know you’re not doing that now?” Wow. How true. Life can change in an instant. And that day it did. You see my brother was visiting my dad’s church that day and he was bearing up under the news that my sister had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He had been trying to find the right time to share this news with my parents. Of course my dad didn’t know that when he wrote his sermon for the day. Nor, did he know why my brother began to weep. A few hours later they sat down and spilled tears together.
What does loving well look like to you today? Who will you cross paths with this week that needs to know the story of Christ who came to shed His blood on the cross in order that we might live? Who needs to know that God loves them no matter what they have done? Do you value them enough to risk rejection? Do you believe that God IS who He says He is? If you are like me you probably had at least one face come to mind as you were “hearing” this.
There is a lyric from a song I remember Rich Mullins singing years ago. I might have shared it in a previous blog but it is apropos here in this context as well.
You can’t make up for love you never gave
By placing flowers on a dead man’s grave
Now is the time to love
Tomorrow soon enough will steal from you all that you failed to love.
If you are reading this blog and no one has ever shared the gospel of Jesus with you, please know that God in heaven loves you with an everlasting love. He sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for your sins that you might have everlasting life. Your sins can be forgiven. (John 3:16) You can find peace with God. You do not have to strive for His love and grace and mercy. Nothing you can do will make Him love you more and nothing you have ever done will make Him love you any less. He loves you. (period). If you want to know more, please comment below. I would love to talk with you.
If you already know the love of our Father in heaven I challenge you to love well this week. You never know if you are looking into the eyes of a dying man or woman.