That’s a question I often ask myself, and I pray it’s a question all believers consider. I always pray to GOD ALMIGHTY that HE uses me to not only be an example (a light) to the world by the way I live and conduct myself, but that HE also equips me with the fortitude to share and speak openly about Jesus Christ’s gift of Salvation with anyone under any condition.
I look to the apostles.
None of them had an easy time, as readers of the Holy Bible know. They were imprisoned, beaten, ostracized, murdered and tortured for obeying GOD’s will to teach the people and for wanting “to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to GOD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in ” Jesus Christ (Acts 26:12-18).
I think of Stephen, the first martyr for professing faith in Jesus Christ. In Acts 7, we read of Stephen and the message he shared with the Jewish religious leaders. They didn’t want to hear anything he had to say so they murdered him. But Stephen was faithful to death and didn’t even curse or condemn his killers.
57. Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord:
58. and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on GOD and saying, “LORD Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60. Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “LORD, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54-60)
I would think that many of us say we are willing to die for our faith, like Stephen did. But are we really? I, too, would like to believe that I am (and pray that the LORD strengthens me to that end) . GOD has shown me throughout my young Christian life that the only security, guarantee, friend and defender I have who will never ever fail me or betray me is Jesus Christ. As it is written, “When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me (Psalms 27:10).” That is a truth I try to walk in every single day.
But how many people really know and believe that promise from the LORD? And as for those who say they believe this promise, do they know why they believe it?
Although the Holy Spirit of GOD blesses each believer with different gifts and abilities to edify the Church, we are all expected to be able to explain at least to anyone who asks why we believe what we believe — that Jesus Christ is the only way man can be redeemed to the FATHER GOD ALMIGHTY.
I don’t believe that there is a set tactic that works. Neither does ‘guilting’ someone into the faith or promising that they are going to get all of these special blessings (for material, worldly needs) going to cut it either. When we share the Good News, we want to make sure we’re sewing into good ground. We want the Gospel of Jesus Christ to take root in a person and to not be just some shallow gimmick or illusion that will fade away or lose power for the person. You also definitely cannot bully or force someone into believing the Gospel…nor write them off if they reject you (because they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Jesus Christ).
But we can’t control how people will react to the Gospel. Only GOD ALMIGHTY can since Salvation is by grace and the FATHER has marked beforehand those whom belong to HIM (Romans 8:18-30). And predestination is definitely not an excuse to sit on our butts all high and mighty thinking GOD will draw all HIS people to HIM on HIS own time in HIS own way. That is very true, but we are the vessels which HE uses to fulfill HIS purpose.
It is vital that we live an exemplary clean and holy Christian life and are able and willing to share why we believe that Jesus Christ is LORD (1 Timothy 4:12-16; Romans 12:9-21).
Of course, there are those who will want to contend by flesh (intellect), demanding to know who wrote the Bible, who created GOD, why do bad things happen to good people, etc.
But you know what, when you were really saved, when you were really convicted by the Holy Spirit — were these questions on your mind?
But thank GOD, since all Christians have different spiritual gifts and abilities, there are those of us who can take the scholarly approach for those who need it. There are those of us who affect hearts and minds just by how we behave and carry ourselves. There are those of us whose testimonies are enough to help light that spark in another that makes them want to know Jesus.
As Paul wrote, we are all vital members of one Body – Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 12). We all have a role to play, no matter how big or little or special or plain we think that role is. The bottom line is, we must be willing (gladly willing) to do what the LORD Jesus commands us to do — share the news about the gift which you have received through no power of your own.
As Paul exhorted Timothy:
2 Timothy 4:1-5
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
As I said previously, we are not all teachers, preachers or evangelists, but we are all to share the Good News any way we can — it is our duty (Luke 17). It should pain us to see and know that millions of people (people in our own neighborhoods, on our jobs, etc.) die everyday without ever fully knowing the blessing of eternal life through Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 3:13-17
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
And I have to note, we cannot be fully equipped to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ if we don’t read the Holy Bible:
2 Timothy 3:14-16
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (Also, Hebrews 4:11-13)
