A Witness . . .

I teach a great Sunday school class and have for a number of years. Tomorrow’s lesson comes from 1 Corinthians 9. It is in that chapter where the Apostle Paul writes of his great passion for sharing the Gospel message with every person he can find. He said, “I become all things to all men in order that I might save some.”  Of course Paul knew that he could not save anyone . . . not even himself, but he knew the One who could save them. That was the One of whom he spoke and wrote so much. I would, using today’s terms, translate Paul’s declaration as being, “I am simply a nobody, telling everybody about somebody who can save anybody . . . His name is Jesus!”

I spoke with a lady at the pool recently who had a peculiar view of life. She told me of her life-long struggle with alcohol and immoral living (she is like 80-years-of-age). She declared that she now had it all under control and that she faithfully “attended AA meetings.”  As she spoke about her turnaround she declared that she had discovered the “higher power.”  That mindset always saddens me . . . one believing that there is a guiding force, yet unwilling to put a name on it. I told her, “Ruby, dear lady, you have a prearranged, predetermined appointment with Jesus at some point in the not too distant future . . . it would be so much better for you if you knew Him before you meet Him.”

She smiled and said, “That was nicely stated,” but was unwilling to take the step of faith that is required. Of course, I would really like to see the poor lady get to that place, but that is not mine to decide. I, like Paul (and you, too) am only responsible to be a witness. A witness is simply one who tells what he knows or has seen or has experienced. I can serve as a witness simply because I have accepted Christ and have been forgiven and redeemed. Actually, I am compelled and commanded to serve as a witness of my experience (you are, too).

I once heard it described as “One beggar telling other beggars which door they could knock upon to receive free bread” . . . It Seems to me . . . that describes it perfectly

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