A Life of Fire

I recently finished reading an incredible book my sister gave me for Christmas titled “Hearts of Fire” (purchase here). It hit home on something I’ve been thinking about for a while. The book tells the stories of 8 women who were missionaries or Christians in nations where Christians are heavily persecuted. Stories like these always move me but one thing made these tales different from those that I have heard in the past. Of the 8 stories told only 3 took place over 50 years ago. It’s easy to forget that there are Christians still being persecuted all over the world. 

Most of these women were not born into Christian homes, when they came to Christ they were disowned by their families and forced to live a life on the run. It would have been easier for them to denounce Christianity and return to living “happy lives” with their families. But they didn’t, why? For every woman the answer would be the same, when you know what you have been saved from, you never want to go back. 

Radicals

For years I’ve heard pastors say some version of, “I was radical for the devil, now I’m radical for Jesus”. This is so true, when we were living in sin, we were radicals for the devil, even if you weren’t out partying or killing people, you probably liked your sin, because it’s fun for a season (Hebrews 11:25). When you sinned, you most likely weren’t trying to hide it (unless you were a rebellious church kid). People in the world are bold about what they believe, especially in this day and age, the world is shoving their agendas down our throats. 

A few weeks ago at church, something in the sermon struck me, the pastor was talking about how Muslims are willing to blow themselves up for what they believe. This sort of dedication is somewhat unfathomable. They are so devoted to a cause that they would die for it. What makes this kind of faithfulness even crazier is that these people are living and dying for a lie. When we were sinners, we were the same way, maybe we weren’t blowing things up, but we were dead inside, and we were as lost as they are. 

As I thought about how radical Muslims are for what they believe and how everywhere we look someone is trying to force some ideal on us, I began to wonder why Christians aren’t that way. When was the last time you heard of a Christian doing something crazy for Jesus? I’m not talking about violence, or doing something stupid and saying it was “for the Kingdom”. I mean something revolutionary. Better yet, when was the last time you did something radical? 

Sow the seed

Many times when someone talks about being radical, I think of someone doing something crazy or wild. Yes, this can be “radical”, but doing something radical for the Kingdom isn’t always standing up on a table and preaching. A life on fire starts in our daily lives, the decision to start your day off in prayer and Bible study, the decision to stop listening to sinful music, the decision to guard your eyes. All of these choices are things we can do daily to build a solid foundation to fall back on when life gets hard. 

However, while doing the seemingly “mundane” or “small things” is important, there is no substitute for “getting your hands dirty” so to speak. As a Christian who is part of a fellowship of churches that believes in evangelizing, it is easy for me to hand out flyers or Gospel tracks to invite someone to church. In some cases that alone could be considered crazy, you don’t see people doing that every day! Still, I heard a sermon about witnessing not long ago that challenged me to do more. The pastor said we need to beware of “becoming professional flyer distributors”, so true. While passing out flyers is great, nothing can compare to a one-on-one witness. 

Even though witnessing can be hard to do when you first start out or if you are naturally shy, the truth is, anyone, can witness, and it doesn’t have to be a perfectly scripted 3-point sermon! Just tell the person you are speaking to what Jesus has done for you or your family. I like to start with a question, “Has anyone ever told you that Jesus loves you and died for you?” 

If they say yes, then I follow up by asking if they are actively serving Him, if they were to die right then would they go to Heaven? 

If they answer with no, there is your open door to share the Gospel!

Witnessing, just like anything else in life, takes practice, and similarly, sometimes we will mess up or we won’t see the results we want. We just need to do our best and let God do the rest. Our job is simply to plant the seed, God will bring the increase. 

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

Witnessing is a wonderful way to share your faith, and thank God we have the freedom to do that in America. We also have the freedom to preach and publicly proclaim God’s word. My church will frequently go out to a street corner with poster boards, flyers, and a bull horn and begin proclaiming the Gospel to anyone who will listen (Luke 14:32). Even though I am sometimes terrified when it’s my turn on the bull horn I won’t ever turn it down. Why? Because I know that 1. What we are doing has an eternal impact, 2. It will strengthen my relationship with Christ, and 3. I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I am doing this for Jesus. If you always shy away from participating in outreaches like this I encourage you to step out in faith and do it! You will not regret it.

When my mom was in high school she would stand up on the tables, planters, and chairs at her school and start “street preaching”. She knew that she was one of the only true Christians in her school and she felt responsible for all of their souls (now she realizes that that’s not true, but she acknowledges that there were kids at that school that would’ve never been exposed to the Gospel unless she told them). Yes, she was ridiculed. Yes, her siblings were embarrassed because of her. Yes, she went through school with no friends. No, she doesn’t have any regrets from her 4 years of high school. Have you ever witnessed to anyone at your school? Do your friends or classmates know that you are a Christian? Sharing your faith at school seems daunting but, just like my mom, you may be the only person to ever tell one of your classmates about Jesus. 

It’s time to stand on the tables

If you want to live a radical life sitting and thinking about it or reading books about others who did won’t help you, you just have to do it. I am so inspired when I read stories like the ones in the book I mentioned. I am often convicted as well, these women went to prison and were tortured for sharing their faith. Never in my entire life have I faced anything like that, yet at times, I am still hesitant to share the Gospel, usually because I am uncomfortable or nervous about what their response will be. These are lame excuses in comparison to what those women faced, don’t you agree?

It’s time we stop thinking about changing the world and we get out there and do it. I also believe we must do it while we can. Thank God for the freedoms we have as Americans, but we would be foolish to think that things will always be this way. Aside from our freedoms, we must work while it is still day because it will soon be night. Jesus is coming back very soon and our time is limited.

John 4:9

I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

I don’t want to leave this earth feeling that I have done less than my very best for God. Granted, that has been the case in the past, we all have had times where we “shoulda, coulda, woulda”. Instead of letting those times discourage you make up your mind to not let any more opportunities to witness or share the Gospel pass you by. The road we are on is not always easy, but the eternal reward is exponentially greater than the temporary struggle. So to quote one of my favorite songs, “What are we waiting for?”