A man spent 40 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. The jury rejected the sworn testimony of fellow-workers to find him guilty. That’s an extreme example of witnessing fruitlessly.
Why, then, bother to bear a witness to Jesus since at least some, or most, will pay no attention? Well, one reason is that God’s Truth must have a witness. Jesus referred to that in his Triumphal Entry. The leaders criticized when he accepted praise from little children. Were they the best he could offer? Yes, because God used such innocence to praise his reality Matthew 21:16. And the leaders went ballistic when they heard the tumultuous crowd descending from Mt. Olivet praising Jesus, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” When they demanded he stop all that excess, Jesus replied, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” Luke 19:37-40. God’s word can’t return to him void of results Isaiah 55:10-13. And if the only result is the witness borne, those who still reject it do so from intention, not ignorance. True, every Christ-centered witness can be challenged by a Satan-inspired denial. And many will prefer to live in denial of God than confess their need of him. Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription, “The Lord knows those who are his, and everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness” II Timothy 2:19. Christians, take a chance. Bear a witness for Jesus. Some won’t like it. Some will object. Some will verbally attack you for being so bold. Or worse. A Jews for Jesus witnessed on a New York Street. Someone came by and slugged him to the ground. A fellow Christian Jew stood by and watched. “I wouldn’t do that for a million dollars,” he said. The prone Christian replied mournfully, “Neither would I.’ But he would for Jesus. Amen. Take heart, Christians; if we fail in our witness, we have failed in a cause that shall eventually succeed. Far better, then, to bear a failed witness in an ultimately successful effort. Far worse to be a successful proponent of a cause tht eventually fails. But, word of hope. We’ll often be surprised by how effective our witness is. Many want to know God in Christ. They will listen when we teach Christ’s word. They will obey. It’s like reaching a hand back to offer assistance to someone struggling to regain his balance or stance or escape some danger. The one reaching out will find that someone reaching back and holding on! God’s truth will be vindicated. Never stop talking about Jesus to unsaved friends. They need to hear what we have to say. And, whatever their response, they will know that “a true prophet has been among them Ezekiel 2:5. Fini
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
|