I tell you this because this story does not have a fairy tale ending. It has a real life ending. I shared the Lord with this guy over the following weeks. I watched him wrestle with the concept of Jesus running his ruined life rather than himself. He had made such a mess of it yet still wanted to maintain control of it. We met several times more and as he wrestled with the Master and my job was to love him, empathize with him and continue to impress on him the wonder of a life that only Christ could offer.
My new friend came to church once and Bible Study once, but he was choosing not to give in—Hell, he had lost everything! There is nothing logical about evangelism. Why would anyone in their right mind not choose The Way, The Truth and the Life?!
But that is Evangelism Lesson #5: Evangelism is not rational. It is spiritual and some choose to receive while many more choose to walk away. The rich young ruler walked away. The cost was too high to become a disciple.
This man to date has done the same thing. So was I a successful witness? I believe so. I tried to listen to what Jesus was saying. I tried to be as genuine as possible rather than fabricated. I became a friend first. I love this guy to this day and am praying for him because there is a fairy tale person inside me who somehow, someway believes that this guy will one day come to Christ and that those visits were seeds for the Kingdom.
Evangelism Lesson #6– Every encounter is a seed for the Kingdom. Paul wrote that some plant, others water, but it is God who gives the growth.
Lastly, Evangelism Lesson #7-Wherever God shows up, so does the devil.
Jesus shared this truth in parable form. A farmer went out to plant wheat. His enemy came at night and sowed weeds that looked like wheat in his field. This is what happened during my eight or nine weeks of witnessing to my friend. The devil sent people and situations, and bitterness to work against this man coming to Christ. I am convinced, however, that the seeds Jesus planted will have a longer term effect on this man than the enemy’s. But know that the enemy is out to sabotage all that the Holy Spirit is doing. So pray! Pray for yourself and pray for those whom you are sharing the Gospel with.
Evangelism In A Nut Shell-Final Recap
- Don’t be fooled by appearances.
- SHOULD-OUGHT. Pharisee words.
- Follow the Holy Spirit over "Sunday School" answers. He is ALWAYS right!
- A successful witness is one who has followed the Holy Spirit and shared the Faith with another whether they receive Christ or not.
- Evangelism is not rational. It is spiritual and some choose to receive while others walk away.
- Every encounter is a seed for the Kingdom.
- Wherever God shows up, so does the devil.
Blessing,
Fr. Scott +
