Gone Fishin' SixSample

Gone Fishin'

Scared To Go!

Tomorrow morning, I get to have breakfast with my 21-year-old grandson. My daughter texts me all excited that his unsaved friend will be there, too.

She didn't ask me. I sat there, and honestly, I felt frustrated and scared. I just wanted to strengthen my grandson's faith. Now, I felt on the spot to answer a stranger's questions in front of my grandson! I waited before responding. I prayed. The Holy Spirit said, "So, you're OK with going to the waiting room and depending on Me, but not in this situation?" Well, that settled it. I had peace. Really!

Breakfast turned out to be fun—just like my days as a youth pastor in '69-'72. I was with a couple of 18-year-olds and laughed about stuff for about an hour.

While the young man went to the men's room, I asked my grandson if he expected me to talk about spiritual things. He said it would be fine, but he doesn't think he'd be very responsive because he has never responded much to his mother.

When he returned, I asked him where he was in his spiritual journey, and he referred to churches. I said, "I'm really not talking about churches because churches don't get people to heaven. I'm mainly just talking about between you and God." He just really didn't know what to say, so -

I asked him if I could tell him my personal story, and he said yes. I told my story from the age of 18 until I became a Christian, since he was 18. I related as much as I could to his current lifestyle compared to mine during those years. We interacted together while I shared it.

I asked him if he would go to heaven if he died. He said, "Yes, I think so." My grandson kind of flipped out at that answer. His friend was like, "What!??!" :)

So I said. "Do you mind if I examine your conclusion based on what the Bible says? And he went, "Oh! Well, then I'm probably NOT if you're going to base it on the Bible." And we all cracked up!

So I went through this with him. I actually opened up my phone and read these to him.

"Do you think you're good enough to go there?"
He said, "Yes". Again, the grandson was amazed.

"Let's test that by looking at the 10 commandments."

"How many lies do you think you have told?" (A lot, he said.) "What do you call someone who tells a lie?" He said, "A Liar."

"Have you ever stolen anything in your life, even if it's small?" He said, "Yes!" "What does that make you?" He said, "A thief."

"Jesus said whoever looks lustfully has committed adultery in his heart." "Have you ever done that?" He said, "Yes!"

"Have you ever used God's name in vain?" "Yes." "Do you know what you're doing? Instead of using a four letter filth word to express disgust, you're using the name of the God who gave you life. And he calls that blasphemy. The Bible says the Lord calls those who take his name in vain "Guilty."

I said, "I'm not judging you, but by your own admission, you're a lying, thieving, blasphemous adulterer at heart. And you have to face God on judgment day. And we've only looked at 4 of the commandments." Phew.

"So, If God judges you by this standard on the day of judgment, will you be innocent or guilty?"

"Do you think you will go to heaven or hell?" He said, "Heaven."

My grandson and I were amazed. I said, "Look, if you face God, He'll say "No!" But YOU face You, and YOU'LL say "Yes - you can go to heaven." We all laughed at how stupid it sounded.

I replied, "Is it because you think God is good and he'll overlook your sins?" He said that's what he thinks God is like. Good.

"Would you want to know if you were wrong?" He said, "Sure, OK."

If a guy said to a judge, "I believe you're a good man, and you will let me off?" "Would a judge say to a him, "Sure, that's okay." He agreed, "No, that wouldn't be right."

"The judge will say "You are right about one thing. I am a good man, and because of that, I will see justice done. Because of my goodness, I will see you're punished for your crimes."

"And the thing that you are hoping will save you on the day of judgment - the goodness of God - will be the very thing that judges you."

"Because if God is Good, he must be Just too. He must punish lawbreakers: liars, thieves, etc. God is going to punish sin wherever it is found."

So I said, "How about some good news?" He was OK with that.

I said, "Thank you again for allowing to me sharing my story! Now, did you know All the other religious leaders are six feet under the ground. Jesus rose from the dead. He is either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord, your choice. We discussed salvation for awhile. He wasn't ready.

I said, "I'm sure glad you are my grandson's friend! And we had to go.

God will provide opportunities if we ask for them, especially during this current time when people want peace and security. When we love them, we are cooperating with the will of our Lord and Savior.

We are learning to love the people with whom God’s Spirit is prompting us to share His story. We never know what God might already be doing in their lives. The love of Jesus has stirred within us and overcome our fears and obstacles to sharing.

Praise the Lord! What an adventure! To God be the glory!

Please pray for this college student to trust in Christ as Savior and Lord. Thanks!

Be Encouraged. Be Inspired.

Have GOALS.
Go. Open Your Mouth. Ask Questions. Listen. Share your story.

Once, "Daws" said that that would be the LAST time when he was witnessing and caught without a Scriptural answer. So, he memorized thousands of verses. Scripture memory is required for all their missionaries. You are following in some terrific footsteps! Dawson Trotman founded THE NAVIGATORS, a worldwide discipleship organization.

PS That event, of course, DID strengthen my grandson's faith! "Our God is in the heavens. He does whatever He pleases." Ps 115:3