That's what Jesus did with the woman at the well. Yesterday's encounter focused on Relating to someone with a mission--their salvation. Today's encounter illustrates the other steps: Creating an opportunity to swing the conversation to spiritual things; allowing the effective use of the moral law, the 10 commandments, to bring Conviction and a desire to know how to be saved; and then Revealing the truth of the Gospel and the steps to be taken for salvation.
Shannon wanted me to pick up some things at the grocery store on the way home from work tonight. On the way out of the store, I pushed the cart to my car, moved stuff from the cart to my trunk, and then started to push the cart back toward the store. There were four teenagers who working for the store, gathering empty carts from the parking lot. I pushed the cart toward two of them so they wouldn't have to come get it (a bit of going the extra mile) and began to relate.
Me: How's it going? Thanks for helping me with the cart! Here's a million dollar bill for both of you! (As I passed them each a bill, the other two walked over to see what I was passing out. Here's where I begin to Create an opportunity to swing to the spiritual with them.) It's actually a gospel tract, I said, as I passed out another to one of the other guys that walked over. (As I pulled one out of for the fourth guy, I noticed that I had run out. All I had was a $10 dollar bill and some $20s, so I said to the last guy, who's name was Hondo)--Tell ya what, if you can pass the good person test, I'll give you $10. Think you can pass the good person test? (Now I will begin to walk through the law with them in a way that allows them to answer for themselves so I'm not judging them or coming off judgmental and enabling the law to bring Conviction where it may be needed.)
Hondo: Sure. I'm a pretty good person.
Me: Have you ever lied?
Hondo: Yes.
Me: That's the 9th Commandment, you shall not lie. Have you ever stolen anything, regardless of how small?
Hondo: No.
Me: Never?
Hondo: No.
Me: That's good. What about the 3rd Commandment, you shall not use God's name in vain. Have you ever used God's name in vain?
Hondo: Yes.
Me: The bible says that's a serious sin, blasphemy, and that God will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. God's given us life, breath, health, and all that's precious too us and yet we drag his name through the mud. We don't we even use Hitler's name in vain, do we. (they're all looking at me, nodding in agreement). What about the 6th Commandment, you shall not kill. Have you have killed anyone, Hondo?
Hondo: (Smiling) Nope. Haven't broken that one!
Me: I was hoping you'd say that! But did you know that Jesus said that God's standard of moral goodness is so far higher than man's standard that if you even hate your brother or get angry at someone you're in danger of judgment for murder?
Hondo: No, I didn't (not smiling anymore).
Me: That's just four of the 10 Commandments, Hondo, and it looks like you're like the rest of us--not really a very good person after all according to God's standard. (To the group)--The Bible says that we'll all stand before God in Judgment one day and He'll judge us by His law. On that day, would you be found guilty or innocent?
Hondo: Guilty.
Me: What about the rest of you?
Them: Guilty.
Me: Does it concern y'all that if someone crazy plowed through this parking lot right now and mowed us down that you would end up in hell for eternity?
Them: (Nodding "yes").
At this point, having seen that the law had done its work on their hearts and brought the necessary conviction (which is a good thing), I asked the group if they knew what God did so they could be pardoned of their sin and receive the righteousness they need to know for sure that they would be judged innocent on the day of judgment and granted the privilege of entering the Kingdom of Heaven. They just listened, which is good, too, because they could have walked off and blew off their fate. I Revealed the Gospel to them and explained what Jesus said to do to be saved: repent and believe, trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Mk. 1:15). I asked them one by one if they had repented and trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. One by one they said "yes" until I got to the last young man. He admitted that he had not done that yet. I asked him when he was going to do that, "because you never know when it's your last day. Michael Jackson didn't know it was going to be his last day." Hondo chimed in, "Ed McMahon didn't know either." That's right I said. So when are you going to repent and trust Christ and follow Him? "Right away," he said. "That's great!" I replied. I concluded by encouraging each one of them to follow the Lord seriously and focus on eternity and share their million dollar bills and the gospel with their friends and family, because "you can't take anything with you except yourself and other people!" They genuinely thanked me and we parted in the joy of the Lord! Praise God!
"I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10)."
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