Today I’m going to speak to some college students in Jacksonville about their walk with God. Tomorrow I fly to Washington D.C. for meetings with a major newspaper in the hopes of broadening the influence of the Jesus Alliance and then that night I will attend a church service with several legislators that is actually conducted within the walls of Congress. I fly back to Jacksonville Thursday to attend a meeting with several prison ministries to discuss ways we can join with each other in an all-out effort to reach every inmate in Florida with evangelism and discipleship and to help with their eventual reentry and reintegration into society.
There is one problem. I’m suffering greatly from my Hepatitis C chemo treatment and its damnable side effects. I have blinding headaches, serious fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea. Ugh! I dread driving to Jacksonville, the flights and layovers, and terrible hotel food.
So you ask: Why do it?
And I say: If not me, who?
I hope to motivate some of those college students this morning to step up and be counted for Jesus. If there is to be a future for this great country, they are it. Hopefully hearing my testimony and words of encouragement will inspire them to take time to serve Jesus.
There is a story that alludes to this that the evangelist Billy Sunday used to tell that was published in “Our Daily Bread,” in 11/83. The story was about a professing Christian who got a job in a lumber camp that had the reputation of being very ungodly. A friend, hearing that the man had been hired, said to him, “If those lumberjacks ever find out you’re a Christian, you’re going to be in for a hard time!” The man responded, “I know, but I need the job!”
The next morning he left for camp. A year later, he came home for a visit. While in town, he met his friend who asked, “Well, how did it go? Did they give you a hard time because you’re a Christian?”
“Oh no, not at all,” the man replied. “They didn’t give me a bit of trouble—they never even found out!”
Sigh . . . If you worked somewhere for a year would anyone know you are a Christian?
A friend of mine’s son visited FSU this weekend to explore the possibility of perhaps enrolling there. This 18 year old was astounded by the immoral behavior of the students (and adults) over the weekend. This young man comes from a good Christian upbringing and came home having decided he would go to a Christian college in middle Florida where he could find a more wholesome environment
Hmmm . . . I can understand the logic, but don’t you wish kids like this would walk on into the “lion’s den” and stand tall to make a difference to their peers?
The truth is that those of us who love the Lord should be using our gifts to make a difference in the lives of our business associates, friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers at every opportunity. Together we can make a huge difference, but make no mistake a single individual can have a big impact.
Step out today and follow Christ and not the world. You will never regret it; however hiding in the shadows you are sure to regret when finally kneeling before our Lord and reviewing your life’s work with the one that suffered so terribly for you and me.
If you happen to think about it over the next three days, please pray for me. Thanks!
Phil. 1:27
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.
October 20, 2015 – Click here to listen