Thoughts for reflection . . . (One minute)

A Christian sits beside a man on a train. It's the first time they have met and in the conversation that ensues it becomes apparent that the other man has no religion, has never read the Bible and has no understanding of why Jesus came and died on a cross. The train is about one minute away from the station where the man is getting off. The Christian may never see the man again, who may never have another chance to hear the Gospel. What does the Christian tell him in that final minute that will furnish him with enough knowledge and understanding that he will have an opportunity to repent, be converted and give his life to Christ? (Acts 3.19) What can he tell Him that will leave the right type of seed in his heart which the Holy Spirit can use to bring conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment? (John 16.8)

The Christian continues and tells the man, "... you see the Bible says it's appointed to man once to die and after that the judgment. You and I one day will die and we will meet God and He will judge us. What we deserve at that judgment is eternal hell, a place of suffering and torment that never ends. We deserve this because we have all broken God's commands, which is called sin and are guilty before him and the Bible says the wages or penalty of sin is death. Such things as lying and blasphemy are just a few examples of sin. But God, because He loves us, doesn't want us to perish and the only way our judgment could be lifted is if Someone took our place. That is why Jesus Christ the Son of God came and lived a perfect life, died on the cross and rose from the dead. When he died and offered His life to God, God put all our wrong-doing, that sin, on Jesus. This made it possible for you and I, if we turn away from all that we do wrong and from living life our own way, asking God for forgiveness through Jesus and give our life to Him, receiving Him as Lord over our life, for God to then to forgive us, wash us clean and make us His child. We then need to walk close to God every day in that new relationship with Him that comes by trusting Jesus daily and surrendering our life totally to Him. . ." The conversation closed with the Christian encouraging the man to consider seriously what had been said and handing him a small card with some Scripture verses written on the back, the man walked away to leave the train.

We meet so many people as we pass through life. We may be the only voice they will ever hear that will tell them the good news of the Gospel: that the pending judgment over their lives and eternal punishment that is waiting them (which they probably don't even know about) has been lifted away through Jesus and they can receive eternal life and experience God's love. They need to know why it was necessary for Jesus to die and why they must repent and believe.

Am I telling them? Am I looking for opportunities to spread the incredible news of the gospel with them? Even in a brief moment of time (60 seconds) we can pass on the keys of knowledge (the complete picture of the Gospel) to someone which the Holy Spirit can then use to set that person free.

May I daily be looking to the Lord for the boldness to be the voice that brings the words of life to souls heading for a lost eternity.

- sent from Palm T|T3