My trip to the office from home this morning was dramatic, significant and interesting. Inside the taxi came a middle aged woman with tracts in her hands to proclaim the message of salvation. She briefly shared the love of Christ with the occupants of the taxi. As a follow up, she handed over tract leaflets to everyone in the vehicle.
That's obeying the great commission. The tract I was given is the reason for this message. No. It is not about the basic message of salvation. It is about challenge of our faith by atheists and others who does not share our faith in Christ.
A story was told of a courageous atheist who gathered an audience and right there spoke about the non existence of God. 'There is no answer to prayer' he quipped.
He believed that there is no hereafter. When we die, that is the end. Any achievement is based on common sense and imagination.
To round up his 'sermon', he challenged the audience to prove him wrong.
That was a call for a debate about the existence of God and the power of prayer. These are principles of faith dare to children of God.
Did he found anybody to take him up on the debate? No. But a man came out with a testimony.
These are his heart touching words 'I'm not a public speaker. I did not intend to dispute anything this man has said. But when he said there was no value in prayer, and challenged anyone to prove him rworng, I had to come forward.''You see standing before you a man who was once a s big a liar, drunk, gambler, and wife beater as you could find in this city. I was all this and more! My wife and daughter dreaded the sound of my footsteps. ANd yet. bad as I was, and unknown to me, my wife had prayed for me for years-and even taught my child to pray for me.
'One night, quite by accident, I ended up at home sober and much earlier than usual. When I opened the door, I could hear my little daughter praying, 'Dear Lord, save my Daddy!Please save my Daddy!' As she prayed her childlike prayer, I heard my wife in the background sobbing, 'Lord Jesus, please answer her prayer.'
'I left the house quietly, with strange feelings. My daughter's prayer was ringing in my ears. Did that child really care that much for me? Why? She had never known a father's love. I don't think I had ever kissed her. I got a lump in my throat and tears filled my eyes. I cried, 'Lord, help me!Lord, answer my daughter's prayer!' And guess what? He did!
'That was years ago. Today I am respected in this town. My sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus. I am a new creation in Christ. I am saved and a living testimony that God did answer my daughter's prayer'.
That was not the end of the story. Here is the conclusion. 'Friends, wouldn't I be a coward if I kept silent today? How can I do anything but believe that there is a God, and that He not only hears, but also answers prayer?'.That was the end of the debate and the atheist was put to shame.
There is power in testimony. When challenged of what you believe, confront it with how Christ turned your life around. There is a wonder working power in the blood of Jesus.
See how the 'mean' man confounded the 'great' atheist with the power of his testimony. 'Let no man deceive himself. If any amn among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise'.
Text: Ps. 14:1, Roman 6:23, Is. 55:6-7. Romans 10:13, 1 Cor. 3:18-19
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