Day 142 - Answers for the Agnostic

Fish don't often jump in the boat, but when your church is also a polling place where people in the neighborhood come to vote, then it can happen.  A young man walked in the church and asked me where to go to vote.  I pointed where to vote and handed him a million dollar bill gospel tract.

I asked him if he knew what his eternal destiny would be if he were to die today, and he said no.  I asked him if he would like to know, and he said yes.  We walked through the law together, and he admitted that he had broken God's moral law and would be found guilty on the day of judgment if judged according to God's standard.  He also conceded that his destiny would not be heaven, but hell.  I emphasized to him what Jesus said about hell, leaving out none of the awful details that Jesus shared with his audiences.  If Jesus was point blank with people about the reality of hell, then we should be, too.  I explained to him that hell also magnifies the depth of Jesus' love, since he paid the ultimate price to provide a way for us to escape the judgment we rightfully deserve.  I wanted Conner (that was his name) to be concerned about his possible destiny and to think seriously about his eternal welfare before it's too late. 

I then explained what Jesus did in order for Conner to be pardoned of his guilt and granted the privilege of eternal life.  After explaining how Jesus said that he must repent and believe that Jesus is God who died to pay the penalty for his sins so he doesn't have to, I asked him if he had ever done that--repented and trusted in Christ alone for salvation.  No, he said.  I asked him when he was going to do it, because he doesn't know when his last day will be.  He said he wasn't sure.

He then said that he was agnostic and is not sure whether to the believe the bible.  He had many questions, and I proceeded to address them one by one.  Thankfully, the Lord has given me the grace to spend time over the past several years equipping myself to defend the hope that lies within me (1 Pet. 3:15).  He thanked me for taking time to talk to him and said he would seriously consider what I had to say.  I encouraged him to come back to TBC to continue to seek the Lord.  I pray the seeds sown today will be eternal fruit.