Almost everyday God provides big opportunities to share his message if we just opened our eyes. The guy in line at the store, the text message from a friend, the buddy at the gym who happens to be there the same time as you today…these are just a few of the small opportunities that can allow God to make a huge impact with his big love in the hearts of all those around us.
One happened to me the other day. When I saw him at first I thought he was about the same age as my boy Jeremy (who is five years old) but after taking my seat next to him on the plane I could tell that he was much older. I’m not sure the politically correct term (“dwarf”, “little person” or “person of short stature”), but this thirteen year old teenager had dwarfism.
After just a few minutes what struck me about him the most was not his lack of height but his abundance of manners. He was well spoken and very polite to the flight attendants who were taking care of us.
As we talked I found out that he was a teenaged actor who was appearing in an upcoming television series. I was impressed. As we continued to talk he told me that he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
But instead of arguing with him about the tenants of Mormonism verses the creeds of Christianity I just said something like, “Let me ask you a question that I have asked thousands of other teenagers, do you KNOW for sure that you are going to heaven when you die?”
At first he seemed a little surprised by the question, but then he thought about it and answered “I hope so.” I then asked, “If I could tell you how you could KNOW for sure would that be good news?” Without hesitation he said yes.
I opened my Bible to I John 5:13 and had him read the words aloud, “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you can know that you have eternal life.” Several minutes and a few verses later this young man put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ as his Savior right there on the plane.
What’s the point? There are two.
The first is that everybody needs Jesus. It doesn’t matter if somebody is a dwarf, doorman, dictator, dope dealer, Mormon, miner, monk, mobster or maid. We should share the good news of the gospel with everyone every where we meet them!
Secondly, most of the time the best argument we have as Christians is not an argument at all, it’s the gospel of Jesus. Instead of picking apart somebody else’s belief system it usually is much more effective to share the good news of the gospel. Why? Because the Spirit of God is much better at destroying arguments and pretenses than we are! When he is unleashed into a soul at the moment of salvation he can begin to fix them just like he continues to fix us!
Who is the person you need to tell about Jesus? No matter what their height, weight, eye color, shoe size or religion they need to hear, see and sense the good news of Jesus from you, in you and around you right now. Will you share it with them today?
Don’t miss those opportunities to share God’s big love with those right in front of your face today!