The Most Important Thing to Share

The Most Important Thing to Share - Nathele Graham -

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Sharing is a basic truth of life. We share family stories with our children or we share secrets with friends. Unfortunately, the most important thing to share is the one we seldom share...the Gospel. As a Christian, your life needs to be a reflection of Christ so there should be no doubt in anybody's mind whether or not you're a Christian. Are you ashamed to let people around you know of your faith? Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world and share the Gospel. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15. Are you a disciple? Do you follow Christ? Then He's talking to you. This doesn't mean you have to go to a strange land to share your faith. You can share it with your neighbors, family, and friends.

 

People around us may seem nice, generous, and have high moral standards. Those traits won't bring them eternal life. Everyone has a sin nature and that is what separates us all from God. Even nice people usually don't see anything wrong with "one-night stands" or other sins that are acceptable by human standards. Only the blood of Jesus can take our sin away. We have to repent of sin, that means to change our mind about it, and truly believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We need to look to our own life and judge it by Biblical standards, then lovingly share the Gospel with others. If nobody tells others about sin and how it separates us from God, how will they be able to repent and accept Jesus for salvation? God doesn't send anyone to Hell. It's a choice we make whether to accept His free gift of salvation or reject it that sends a person to Hell. As Christians, we need to stop being ashamed of Christ and speak up for our Lord and Saviour. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16. The word "power" comes from the Greek word "dynamis", which is a very strong type of power. After all, it's the "power of God unto salvation". It's not your own power, but the power of God. So, don't be ashamed to share the Gospel. You just might be the one who says the right words in order to bring another person to salvation.

 

Why is it so difficult to speak up for Jesus? Somehow the world around us has made Christians feel uneasy about speaking out for Christ. So often I am offended by the messages on t-shirts, bumper stickers, and vulgar language, but that vulgarity seems to be acceptable in society. There was a time not so long ago when such public displays of vulgarity would be shunned and looked down upon, but today it's accepted and called freedom of speech, although my freedom to speak of Jesus is being systematically silenced. What has changed in our society to make it acceptable to be vulgar? Christians are allowing it to happen. Sadly, there are even some Christians who see nothing wrong with putting forth a worldly message rather than being uncompromising as they stand upon the Gospel. We whisper among ourselves how sad it is that the few who find it offensive to say things like "Merry Christmas" have been able to silence the majority of us who aren't offended, yet we whisper in secret rather than speak out. Christianity is not something that should be kept secret and it needs to be shared. "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10:14-15. How will anyone come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour if nobody tells them? Brothers and sisters, it's time to speak out. We must speak with love, but we need to stop compromising God's truth because we might offend someone. Our silence stops us from sharing the Gospel.

 

Attempts to silence the Gospel began at the very beginning of Christianity. Jesus was crucified in an attempt to silence the Good News. Later, we read that Peter and other apostles were publicly teaching about Jesus "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." Acts 5:14. This offended the high priest, who had them arrested. God had other plans and displayed His power. "But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." Acts 5:19-20. These same instructions need to be followed today. We need to publicly speak of Jesus. If we don't, who will? The Apostles were not ashamed of Jesus and followed the angel's instructions. They were arrested again and brought before the high priest. This was one of Peter's shining moments. He wasn't intimidated by those in authority who wanted to silence the spread of the Gospel. "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Acts 5:29-32. The word "dei" is translated "ought" and speaks of necessity. Can you imagine what a difference you could make in the life of a co-worker or a neighbor if you found it necessary to speak up for Christ? Like Peter said, we ought to (or rather, it is necessary to) obey God rather than men.

 

Today, even pastors seem to be ashamed of Christ. How can that be? Shouldn't they be the leaders and examples of sharing the Gospel? It astonishes me that military "chaplains" or hospice "chaplains" have been silenced in sharing the Gospel. Really? That astonishes me. The Cambridge dictionary defines chaplain as "A Christian official who is responsible for the religious needs of an organization". Yet, these "chaplains" are easily silenced and barred from sharing the Gospel with people who may lose their lives on the battlefield or to disease. The cross on which Jesus was crucified stood between two criminals. "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss." Luke 23:39-40. All three men faced death, but only Jesus was innocent. At the end of his life, one of those criminals found salvation. "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Luke 23:42. Is it ever too late to accept the forgiveness that only comes from Jesus? Only after death is it too late. The decision has to be made in this life and a Christian who's too ashamed to speak of salvation through Jesus to someone who is facing death, or allows himself or herself to be silenced, denies their own faith. "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43. Think about it next time you keep silent rather than speaking the truth of God to someone who needs to hear. The person you declined to witness to may face death from a car accident or heart attack before they hear the Gospel. There's no sin which God will not forgive, but each of us has to ask for His forgiveness. Like Peter, you ought to find it necessary to speak to others about Jesus before it's too late.

 

I would love to tell you that I always speak up for my Lord. I don't. Two incidents really stand out to me. My husband wasn't a Christian when we got married. He was a great guy, one of those loving and generous people who you'd think was a Christian. I talked to him about Jesus and I prayed. One day he had been fishing with a friend who was a Christian. Elvin said the right words and Ron repented and came to know Jesus. From that day forward, Ron lived his faith. The other person that stands out is my father. I never talked to him about Jesus. I just assumed he was a Christian. When my father died it hit me hard that I hadn't shared the Gospel with him. The night he died I wrote my feelings on a slip of paper.

 

WHY DIDN'T I TELL YOU? - By Nathele Graham

 

I knew that, like me, you were a sinner in need of Grace. Why didn't I tell you?

 

I knew that sin, no matter how small, cannot enter Heaven. Why didn't I tell you?

 

I knew that you were searching, in need of peace. Why didn't I tell you?

 

I knew that eternity is forever. Why didn't I tell you?

 

I knew that we can choose where we spend eternity. Why didn't I tell you?

 

I knew that all roads do not lead to Heaven. Why didn't I tell you?

 

I knew that if there was any other way of Salvation, Jesus wouldn't have had to die on the cross. Why didn't I tell you?

 

I knew that Jesus chose to die on the cross for me....and you. Why didn't I tell you?

 

I knew that you had to accept that free gift which God gave us in order to be saved. Why didn't I tell you?

 

But now I don't know where you are. I was going to tell you tomorrow, but there are no more tomorrows for you. Where are you? Did somebody else tell you? Oh, dear God, forgive me.

 

Later, Ron told me that he had spoken to my father about Jesus and believed he was saved. A few years later, Ron died. My grief is still hard to bear, but I have absolutely no doubt that he is with Jesus today. Why didn't I share the Gospel with my father? For the same reason many Christians don't share. We assume there will always be time or we just don't know how to bring it up.

 

How about you? Have you told others about Jesus? We never know when death will come and tomorrow may be too late to share the Gospel. Today there's a virus that has taken many lives, and could take many more. I wonder how many of them had heard the Gospel. Have you shared the Gospel with your family and friends? Don't wait. The Gospel is the most important thing we have to share.

 

God bless you all,

 

Nathele Graham