Reaching the Marketplace for Jesus

YES, YOU MAY! 

FIRST SATURDAY 

Two Saturdays ago Cathy and I had the opportunity to visit a house right across the street from our church. Our outreach pastor (Pastor Don) asked that we stop over there and talk to the elderly couple that lived in the house. He was pretty sure the wife was a born again Christian and he was also pretty sure the husband wasn't – Pastor Don had visited them a couple of weeks prior. 

Anyway, Cathy and I were invited in by the wife. Her husband wasn't home but their 8 year old grandson was there. We chatted for a bit and got real folksy. After a while I asked her about her church background. After she told me about some of her experiences I gave her my testimony and told her how I had accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 14 years old. The whole time her grandson is sitting on the floor next to her chair listening intently to our conversation. 

I asked her if she was 100% sure that, if she should die, she would go to heaven. She said she hoped so. And her grandson chimed in and mimicked her answer – I hope so. As I pulled my New Testament out of my coat pocket I asked her if I could share with her from the Bible how she could know beyond a shadow of a doubt. 

I went down the Romans' Road and told her how everyone is a sinner, there is a punishment for sin that Jesus paid on the cross and all we have to do is accept what He did for us to be assured of heaven. The whole time she is giving me a lot of positive feedback saying things like, "yes", "I believe that", "of course" and the like. The interesting thing was that her grandson was mimicking her the whole time. It was obvious that he was looking for grandma's approval and did not necessarily agree (or disagree) with what I was saying. 

I've been taught, at this point, to ask the person I'm talking to if I can pray for them. No one has ever told me no. I usually pray (out loud) that God would show the person I am taking to the truth of my words. Since I had the feeling that she was saved, I changed my prayer slightly. I asked God that if there was anyone in the room that already knew Jesus as their Savior that God would give them the assurance they need to know they were on their way to heaven. I then asked God, if there was anyone that wasn't saved, that God would open their heart so they could receive Jesus. 

The next thing I was taught to say, right after the prayer, is, "If Jesus is willing to accept you just they way you are, and He is, would you be willing to accept Him and ask Him to come into your heart and save you?" This time, instead, I asked her if she had ever asked Jesus to forgive her and come into her heart. She said yes she had. 

Now, here's the miracle. Up to this point, the little boy had been mimicking his grandmother. But this time, after she said "yes" he said, "You know, I've never done that before." He came over to sit by Cathy and me, bowed his head and prayed to receive Christ. 

SECOND SATURDAY 

This last Saturday we went back to the house to do some follow-up with the grandson and I was hoping that grandpa would be home. The grandma was there and the grandson. But, the grandpa was down in the basement working. Cathy and I talked with the grandma and her grandson for a bit – the whole time I'm praying that her husband will come up stairs. God answered my prayers: the husband came up, introduced himself and proceeded to sit in the chair across from me in the living room.

Again, we were folksy for a bit. Everyone was in the conversation, including his wife. Then, when I was about to ask him about his church background, he started telling me about the church he attended as a boy. I then shared my testimony and asked him "The Question": Are you 100% sure that, if you should die, you would go to heaven? He said he lived a decent life and hoped so but he didn't think anyone could really know for sure. As I took out my New Testament I asked him if I could share with him what the Bible says. He agreed and, from that point on, his wife didn't say a word – I think she remembered how her grandson was led to Christ the week before and she didn't want to interrupt as her husband had a chance to get saved. 

I showed him how no one can be decent enough to get to heaven and how we all need Jesus to get there. 

Now, this next part was funny (at least, it was funny to me). When I got to the point where I asked him, May I pray for you?", before he had a chance to answer, his wife yelled out, "YES, YOU MAY." I think she was just a little bit excited. He said it was ok, also. I asked God to open his heart and God did. 

He bowed his head and, in front of his wife and his grandson, prayed to ask Jesus to come into his life, forgive him of his sins and save him. 

D L Moody once made a vow to talk to at least one person everyday about their eternal destination. When I went to the Philippines with Pastor Don last month I noticed he had the same mindset. Everywhere we went he would start a conversation with someone and turn it to the spiritual – bus stations, in a cab, at restaurants, in the hotel lobby or just walking down the street. I want that closeness to God. I want to get to the point in my life where every time I look at someone I ask, "Are they going to heaven?" and then I want the utterance and boldness to find out and help them know.