Imagine you are in a hospital bed, lonely and sad-hearted because there is no cure for your suffering. Then someone enters your room, takes your hand, and looks compassionately into your eyes. Quietly, they speak the words, “ I have the cure.” 

Hope. Tears. Relief. And Joy comes all at once.

The strain of looming death lifts. 

Or you’ve gone through life with some suffering, but you accepted it. The rest of life was pretty good. You heard about God through church tradition and thought you were a good person, maybe even a Christian. Then, someone enters your life who is full of joy, fun, commitment to Christ, faithful to her local church, and a winsome friend to you. You notice. She’s free. She has a fulfilling relationship with the Lord. She trusts Him with her life. 

Such a person named Evelyn entered my mother’s life just that way—a life with purpose, and with the cure for my mother’s sin problem. And as only God does, He planted her in my mother’s boarding house to share the Gospel regularly,and with authenticity.

But first, my mother passed through the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home from age four to adulthood. The boarding house was her next residence, and where she began her career working as a secretary. But God had so much more.

Before, at the children’s home, my mother attended church every week and chapel services on campus. A recipient of abundant blessings, my mother had nothing but good to say about her upbringing. She was fortunate to have the same house mother through her life there. Even though my mother benefited from the goodness of God, it wasn’t until she lived in the boarding house that she understood her sin problem.

 Evelyn and my mother’s friendship developed, but telling my mother about Jesus and her need for Him was no easy task. Convinced of her goodness, she couldn’t understand why she needed a Savior. Maybe she thought she was a Christian. But over time, thanks to Evelyn’s loving faithfulness, my mother came to understand the truth. And one day, with a surrendered heart, she decided to share in God’s great gift of redemption provided by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for her.

From that point on, my mother went from hearing about God to knowing Him through Jesus. Her life changed. She understood a Christian for a husband was worth waiting on, and all her life, she did her best to point her children toward the Lord.

Thank you, Lord, for Ms. Evelyn.

So why tell this story? Perhaps you are a Christian who has been sharing your faith with someone for a long time. Maybe the person isn’t actively resistant to your message, but they haven’t recognized their need for Jesus. They think they are ok the way they are. Or maybe they are like the first scenario, in desperate need of a cure. Hopeless with nowhere to turn, but prideful.

I want to say, don’t give up. Keep sharing the Gospel. Continue to emphasize the urgency of accepting Him now. Remind them that everyone needs Jesus. None of us is good enough to enter heaven. We need God’s mercy and grace through Jesus, His Son. 

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one…Romans 3:10

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt.
    There is none who does good,
    not even one. Psalm 14:3

Stay with it. Have you considered what would happen if a friend or family member placed their faith in Jesus?

• A heart is forever changed. 

• Possibly, generations are impacted.

• They gain eternal security starting that moment they believe.

• Life is filled with hope.

• They find a local church of people to love. 

• Their friend group changes. 

• They miss hell and have a heavenly home.

• Jesus becomes a friend for life.

• Power and strength to live are theirs.

• They gain a good and loving Heavenly Father.

• They become a worker in the Kingdom.

• The Kingdom is advanced when they share the Good News with others.  

• They get a manual for living every day – the Bible.

• Their purpose is defined and countless other benefits~

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Our sinful spiritual condition is why the world’s system ultimately does not have the answer for peace, order, joy, purpose, meaning, focus, goodness, and so much more. Yes, because all humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we can reflect His beauty. But many worship themselves, and do evil, and so the job of sharing redemption’s story is the assignment our Lord gave to His children ( Christians) in Matthew 28:19-20. The Bible assumes every Christian is a proclaimer of the Gospel.

Once we lived across the street from a single guy who cranked up the music and the crowd on the weekends. As a service to him, we called the police whenever it got too loud. Additionally, my husband would often go over to share the Gospel with him on non-party days, and I would send food over to him. He never knew we were the ones calling the police. We never talked about that. We did share Jesus and food. I wish I had been home the day he walked across the street, knocked on our door, and told my husband that he’d become a Christian. I can tell you the change was drastic. Not only did his friend group change, but his heart also yearned to worship, and he began attending church. His new life ushered in a Christian lady who shared his interest in serving in the church, and they were soon engaged.

 

CHALLENGE:

If you don’t know your neighbors, take the initiative to get to know one or two, even if it feels awkward. People love to know their neighbors even though it can be hard to break the ice. And remember, not everyone who attends church knows Jesus. The Spirit of God will help you, and you will feel so good that you are trying. I know someone now who’s had an ongoing, gospel-focused conversation for a couple of years with one of her neighbors. Additionally, she shares biblical resources, and prays for that neighbor. I believe that faithfulness and her prayers for the lost person will ultimately lead to their salvation. 

Be the best kind of friend and introduce someone you know to the Friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).

© Valerie Rumfelt