One of my friends recently passed away with no warning. It sure did bring heavenly reality into focus because I never asked her about her faith. I’m sure she knew that I am a Christian. I am open about my faith. But I never directly asked her if she knew Jesus. And now it’s too late to ask. The regret that I feel reminds me that God didn’t call me to spend my life making sure my friends know about my faith. He called me to find out about theirs.
My life is not patterned after the love of Christ if I am not sharing the gospel with others. If I love them and love God, then I should be eager to talk to them about their faith. When Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:14 “For Christ’s love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all,” the word compel means to “force” or “overpower in an irresistible way.” In other words, we can’t help but tell others about Jesus! The truth inside of us is bursting to be shared!
How often have you been to a great movie or restaurant and enthusiastically told your friends about it? Do we not have much greater news living inside of us that we should be bursting to tell others about? Then why are we so hesitant to talk to people about spiritual matters? I think it is because many people view spiritual matters as an opinion rather than a truth.
Our society largely embraces the view that truth does not exist. We must be “tolerant” of others’ views to the point of believing that no truth really exists. We don’t want to offend others, so we let them believe that “it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you believe something.” But all roads do not lead to heaven.
Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Am I blocking others’ path to Jesus with my own apathy? Truth does indeed exist. Paul was saying in that passage that he was convinced of truth, and that is why he was compelled. He felt an urgency to share the gospel because He knew it was true. He also said in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ.” His passion to know Christ flowed over to a passion to share Christ. I long to have that same urgency. I don’t want to ever again have to say about one of my friends, “I never talked to her about Jesus.”
Paul’s Passion
Forget what’s behind; press on toward the goal.
Take hold that for which Christ took hold of my soul.
How I long for Paul’s passion- such a deep inward burning
That I may gain Christ Himself and lose all other yearning.
Oh, Lord, please just teach me all things are a loss
Compared to the gain that I find at the cross.
For the little I know Him convinces me more
That He is worth any sacrifice there might be in store.
And what little I know of His glory and grace—
To think someday, intimate, I’ll gaze in His face!
In the meantime, I’m driven—this one thing I do—
Strain toward what’s ahead—there’s a prize I pursue.
For I want to know Christ—that’s the goal I run toward.
Christ in me, hope of glory, He is my reward.
-c. Bobbie Perkins