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Preach the gospel as if it all depends on you; yet know God is the One who changes the sinner's heart.

Because it is my responsibility to share the gospel as if souls could die before the sun goes down I must evangelize with urgency. Meanwhile, because it is God’s sovereignty that opens the sinner’s heart to hear the word, accept the word, understand the word, and believe the Word, I evangelize with confident trust that God’s sovereign purposes shall be accomplished.

Last night I had the wonderful privilege of meeting and sharing the gospel with a man at a BBQ. It was quite a lengthy conversation and this fellow knew Scripture—or, I should clarify and say that he knew some ‘random’ Bible verses yanked out of context to suit his own purposes. At any rate, he told me that all roads lead to the same ultimate destination. He told me that God speaks to him and that he also believes in reincarnation. Fundamentally, he finally agreed with the statement I posed to him that all relations essentially teach the same thing: man must work hard and do good to attain the best that the divine has to offer in the next life. He agreed.

Then I shattered the thinking with telling him that is not what the Bible teaches—at all! The faith of the Bible is of an entirely different form than any and every other religion. It is not about man doing good and ‘earning’ the ultimate utopia; rather, it is about God—the perfectly holy, the impeccably righteous, and the unspeakably just God—coming to man and saving his sinful, wretched soul.

Amazingly, there were others who were sitting and listening to the conversation. It was a wonderful opportunity to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ—and that salvation is only in Jesus Christ—not only to this fellow but also to others who were sitting at the table listening intently.

Every opportunity that God afforded me, I brought the issue back to the fundamental truths: (1) Everyone needs an objective standard (=the Bible); your thoughts, my opinions, another’s ideas will not do. That’s subjectivism and that leads only to debate and ideas. But God’s objective truth is unchanging and true. (2) Jesus Christ clearly taught that He was the only way to God the Father. Everyone who tries to get in the sheepfold any other way is a thief, a robber, and is destined for hell (John 14:6; cf. 1 Tim 2:4-5; Acts 16:31; Rom 10:13ff). (3) Everyone must come to grips with and answer this plaguing question: “How can I—an imperfect, unholy sinner—enter into eternal bliss with Almighty God who is perfectly Holy and CANNOT look upon my wickedness with favor?”

The night had to end because we had to drive home and put our son to bed. But I pray that God’s Word will work effectually in this man’s heart and soul. I pray that the other ladies at the table will take heart to what they heard from the truth of God’s Word.

I love evangelism. I love preaching the gospel. I love knowing that it’s my job to preach as if souls were going to die before the day ends and stand before a holy God with one of two destinies awaiting them. But I find greater comfort in the sovereignty of God who is the only One able to work in and change the dead human heart.

Isaiah 55:10-11 10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

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