Jesus came for a reason. His mission: to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10). He lived each day on purpose with a purpose. When Jesus arrived in Jericho one day to preach His message of repentance (Matt. 4:17), He took each step on purpose with a purpose. He knew who He was seeking: a lost, wealthy, tax collector who used his position of power to steal -- Zacchaeus. Showing His divinity and omniscience, Jesus spotted him in a tree and called him by name: "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today (Lk. 19:5)." That night, likely after hearing Jesus teach how to be born again to enter the Kingdom and inherit eternal life (see, e.g., Matt. 4:17; Mk. 1:15; Jn. 3:3-16) (which is likely the very reason Zacchaeus had been hiding in the tree to get a glimpse of Jesus -- to find out how to know for sure that he could be saved despite his life of moral wickedness, which was the very reason Nicodemus came to Jesus by night (Jn. 3:1-3), Zacchaeus repented of his sins (as evidenced by vowing to go the extra mile in making due restitution of his ill-gotten gain), and Jesus declared: "Today salvation has come to this house (Lk. 19:9)." Do you live each day on purpose with an eternal purpose - to seek opportunities to share the Word of Life with the lost?
I prayed for opportunities to share with someone today, opportunities to live on purpose with an eternal purpose in the course of my normal routine. I had to get gas for the lawn mower. That meant I may have a chance to speak to someone who may be at the other side of the pump. As I pulled up to the gas station, I saw that there were certain pumps where people were getting gas. I could have found a pump off by itself. There were some. But, living intentionally for an eternal purpose, and with God's grace, I chose a pump right next to two ladies who just got out of their car to start getting gas. I grabbed two "celebrity" million dollar bill tracts - they have celebrity caricatures painted on one side to make them entertaining to receive. I stepped out of the van and walked around the pump to other side.
Me: (With a big smile and warm and friendly) If gas prices keep going back up, we're going to need a million dollars just to pay for it (handing them each a bill)!
Them: (Laughing and taking the bills) What are these? These are cool!
Me: Do you know who those actors are on the front?
Them: (Trying to figure it out)
Me: One was in the "Gladiator" and the other stars in "National Treasure."
Them: Oh yeah. Those are cute.
Me: They're actually gospel tracts. They have the million dollar question on the back, "Will you go to heaven when you die?" If you died today, do you ladies know what you're eternal destiny will be?
Them: (Looking at each other and laughing). Oh yes. We know for sure.
Me: What's so funny?
Martha: We share the gospel with people all of the time, too.
Me: Really, that's awesome. So you know what Jesus said about how to know for sure that you've been born again and will enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Them: (Looking at me and still chuckling a bit).
Me: Jesus said in Mark 1:15, repent and believe. Have you repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
Them: Yes.
Me: That's fantastic. So you share the gospel pretty regularly with others, too, huh?
Them: Yes, laughing.
Me: Why are you laughing?
Martha: Because we share a lot, too.
Me: That's great. That's rare, too, because statistics show that only about 4% of all "Christians" actually share their faith with others. Well, keep these tracts and pass them along to someone who may not know their eternal destiny. My name's Chris, what's your names?
Martha: Martha.
Dorothy: Dorothy.
Me: Well, it's great to meet you and good to talk to you! Keep up the good work, ladies and have a great day!
Them: You, too. Thanks!
Wow. What an encouraging encounter. Ladies who are actually sharing their faith regularly with others, too! That's always an encouragement to me to hear. I hope it encouraged them, too. We need encouragement in our daily walk, encouragement to keep fighting the good fight of faith in the face of constant opposition and discouragement.
After finishing off my tank with gas, I put the pump back. Before getting back into the van, another couple got out of their SUV to get gas. I walked over started with the same intro: "If gas prices keep going up, we'll need a million dollars just to pay for it (handing each of them a million dollar bill tract)." They smiled and took them and looked at them. "It's actually a gospel tract. It's got the million dollar question on the back, "will you go to heaven?" You can't take a million dollars with you. You can only take yourself and your friends!" "God bless you and have a great day!" "Thanks," they said. As I started to get back in the van, I watched them read the back of the tracts. More seeds sown. Wonder what type of soil their hearts were? I pray they were "good ground" who'll produce fruit, some 30, some 60, some 100fold!
Go live today and each day on purpose with an eternal purpose! Nothing's more exciting!
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