If we want to share the gospel with someone and spark their interest, we must do so with serious thought. The secret lies in genuinely putting ourselves in their shoes. This will require effort and even sacrifice of our own comfort. Especially when working in the Lord’s vineyard and trying to lead someone to Jesus, we must pursue them and empathize with them. However, this is not always easy. Not everyone is likable. An experience of a preacher illustrates this:
The preacher invited Mrs. B to the services. “Yes, I will be coming to church now – I’ve wanted to come for a long time,” she said. “I’ve been waiting for my husband. You know, he’s actually a good person, but he doesn’t care much about church services. He often tells me that I should go and perhaps he will come later. Many times, I wanted to come, but then I thought, ‘If I wait a little longer, he’ll surely come with me.’”
The preacher told her that the best thing that she could do was to commit herself to God without delay. He explained that as a child of God, she would certainly have more influence on her husband than without God.
As the preacher was leaving, he said, “Please, greet your husband for me and tell him I’m sorry I missed him at home. I hope to speak with him soon.”
Some time later, he visited Mrs. B. again. “I had to promise my husband to tell you something,” she said, embarrassed. “He said that if you wanted to speak with him, you would have to meet him where he’s at right now.”
“And where is that?” was his question.
“Oh, perhaps you should wait a few days. He can then be reached more easily. You see, today he is working at the very top of the new church tower.”
That was enough. The preacher decided to visit B. that very afternoon. In front of the church, a magnificent building with a high and pointed tower, he learned that the person he was looking for was indeed working at the very top.
“You can’t go up there. You would have to climb up a series of ladders. Perhaps we can call him down,” suggested the construction supervisor.
But the preacher felt called to go where Mr. B. was. So he climbed up ladder after ladder until he found a very surprised man about 60 meters above street level. He remained with him for a short time in serious conversation. Then the preacher climbed down and continued with his other visits.
The following Sunday, Mr. B. was in the service. And much later, he became known as an exemplary child of God. His friends were amazed at this change in his life. He always explained it by saying, “The preacher who climbed 60 meters up those ladders to reach me could have found me any other time. He truly must care a lot about my soul’s salvation.”
But saving souls should not only be the profession of preachers. No, it must concern every one of us! We do not want to appear before God’s judgment seat empty-handed some day!
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