|
Homesick
|
Homesick
When you meet people that don’t personally know the atoning perfect love of Jesus, don’t you just ache to pass it on? Oswald Chambers says you can never give another person that which you have found, but you can make him homesick for what you have. (My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers, Barbour and Company, Inc.)
Our goal when telling others about Jesus should be to have Him so evident in our life that people are homesick for what we have found. Jesus’ promise to us is that if they ask, they shall receive, if they knock, the door will open, and if they seek, they will find.
Matt 7:7-9
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. NASU
I believe our primary role in showing others the way to Christ is to make them want to ask, knock, and seek and then to tell them how. I took a Taxi to church on Sunday. When I told the Hindu Taxi driver where I was going, he asked me about churches. He wanted to know what a mass was and what the difference was between the various Christians. I described my love of church and told him how the various religions and denominations were similar. He sounded wistful. “Have you ever been in a church?” I asked.
“No, but I’ve always wanted to go in one,” he said. “They look beautiful.”
“Christian churches will welcome you with open arms. You can enter one any time you wish,” I told him. “Has anyone ever invited you to church?”
“No,” was his answer. “I think my son goes to a Christian church.” I went on to tell him how easy it is to become a Christian. I had a similar conversation with the Moslem cab driver on the way home. I believe that the wistfulness I saw in both of these men is instinctive. A natural homesickness for truth paves the way to tell others about Jesus Christ.
On the boat, the Mississippi Queen, I met a young woman who works on the boat. My Aunt Ka Ka and Uncle Bobby should be my agents. They tell everyone about the Pocket Full of Quarters book, ministry, and website. “That woman is interested,” Aunt Ka Ka said. “Go give her a card to your website.”
As I walked over and talked to the young woman, she was indeed homesick and interested. It wasn’t me she was interested in however, it was church and Jesus. She grew up Jehovah Witness but left it because she didn’t believe their teachings. She never joined another church. Because she travels with the boat, her daughter lives with the daughter’s father. I’m guessing that she and the child’s father are not married. “My daughter goes to Bible School in a Baptist Church,” she said wistfully. “She loves church. When I’m home, I go with her.”
“Are you a Christian?” I asked.
“Well,” she hesitated. “I believe in Jesus.”
“Have you ever asked Him into your life?” I pushed.
“I guess not,” she said.
People were standing in line needing to see her. It was time to move on. “It’s really pretty simple,” I said. “Tell Jesus you want Him to be part of your life. You already believe, which is the hard part. All you have to do is to pray, confess your need, and invite Him into your life. Finding a church is the natural next step,” I said, leaving her still looking wistful. I think she was homesick for her daughter and Jesus.
|
|