“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

If Not Now, When?

I have always been curious why some people take so long to decide to accept Jesus. I know that God can work miracles in this area, and I have prayed for just that in my unbelieving friends and family. I have also heard that as we get older, the percentage of new believers professing Christ as Lord and Savior is pretty slim. The older we get, the more we get set in our ways and don’t want to change.

Here are just a few reasons given by my friend:

  1. There is no God. Just look around at creation and you can’t help but wonder how someone could really believe there is no God. Man certainly didn’t create everything we see!
  2. I’m not a sinner. We all fall short. Just read the 10 commandments. If you’re honest with yourself, you know you have broken (sinned) at least one of them!
  3. I was raised as a (put in whatever denomination you want here) so I’m “good to go.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me” (John 14: 6). YOU, alone, make the personal decision to accept and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and what He has done for you. No one can do it for you. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).
  4. All beliefs/faiths are the same/equal. How can that be? Every other great prophet has died and has not come back to life. Jesus was the ONLY One to die and resurrect (come back to life). No one else.
  5. (And my personal favorite): I am the master and in complete control of my life. I make it happen. All I have, all I have worked hard for, all I have obtained in life, has been by me, through my efforts and know-how. We think, because we landed the job and work hard at the job, we are owed the job, and of course the paycheck. We think, because we eat right and exercise, we expect to be healthy and have no illness or calamity of disease. It is so hard for people to believe that God is in control and the provider of everything!

I know you can’t beat a person over the head with your Bible in order for them to “see the light” and profess Christ. I also know, through personal experience, that the “ram and cram” of the gospel down their throats in an arrogant, know-it-all manner is not the way, either. I do know we need to be aware of the opportunities God gives us, and be prepared to answer questions in a loving way, with biblical scripture and our own testimony. The power of prayer is another powerful tool.

Thank You, Jesus, that I am a living example of Christian parents who “prayed” me back to God. I know God will equip us in every witnessing circumstance, as we ask for His help to step out and be bold in sharing our faith.

Lord, equip me and give me boldness, not arrogance, in every opportunity You give me to share my faith in You with others. In Jesus name. Amen.