Some of us with Born of Him Ministries witnessed at the atheist convention in Springfield last weekend. We handed out Gospel tracts and some people refused them, some handed them back to us and others tore them up. We also got into some good one on one conversations.
Steve talked to one gentleman (with many others around listening and joining in) for about an hour and they had a very good conversation. This young man video taped the atheist’s event and he interviewed a bunch of atheists and asked them what they were thankful for. He asked Steve this same question and they put Steve’s interview (where he shared the Gospel) in the video!
I talked to a young man who broke my heart. He said he used to not only be a Christian, but that he was a former pastor as well. He said he lost his faith and his goal is to de-convert as many Christians as possible. I told him that I didn’t believe that he was truly saved when he was younger and that I also didn’t believe the people he is “de-converting” are really Christians either. Jesus says in John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
This ex-preacher understands the 10 Commandments and he understands that if he’s wrong, he will suffer eternal punishment. In fact, he even went so far as to say that he believes that if he’s wrong and there really is a God, that he will suffer worse punishment after he dies – because he’s leading others astray. He even quoted me the bible verse about it being better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and thrown into the deepest ocean (Mark 9:42) than to suffer God’s wrath for leading people astray. But he didn’t want to talk about threats.
He listened while I went through the Law and the Gospel (the good news of Jesus) and then he said he didn’t want to discuss anything supernatural. He didn’t want to talk about Jesus living a perfect life and then dying on the cross for guilty sinners. He didn’t want to talk about Jesus rising from the grave. Nothing supernatural.
So he didn’t want to talk about God’s righteous judgment that is coming (Acts 17:31) or the supernatural – Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the dead (Matthew 28:7). He only wanted to know why he should be come a Christian. The fact that Jesus suffered and died on the cross for my sins, that he took my punishment for me and that He saved me from eternal damnation is good enough for me. In fact, I’m so grateful that Jesus saved me that I try to tell everyone that I can that Jesus can do the same thing for you – if you repent and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15). That you need to turn away from your sins and put your faith in Jesus. The young man didn’t want to hear this.
He kept asking the same question: why should I become a Christian? I thought a lot about his question this last week. I still believe the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ is the main reason to become a Christian. But I’d also add that my relationship with God is very important. God has drawn me closer to Him.
As a false convert, I wasted 33 years of my life and I missed out on that close relationship with God. I can’t change that, but I am enjoying my relationship with God now. It is a supernatural thing. When God saved me, he took away my heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh. When God saved me, He put His spirit inside me (2 Corinthians 1:22).
One major benefit of becoming a Christian is your relationship with God. I’m not talking about wealth, health and prosperity. In fact, the Bible says we will have trials, temptations and persecutions (1 Peter 4:12, James 1:14, 2 Corinthians 12:10). I’ve truly been saved now for four years. As I’ve grown closer to God, my life has gotten tougher, but that’s alright. God has asked me to step outside of my comfort zone and share the Good News with others. God has been with me every step of the way and that makes it a great journey. Thanks be to God!