OUR WITNESS: How Hope is Shared

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. …And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:41, 47b) 

Good news is made for sharing!  There is certainly a plethora of bad news in our world.  The resistance of hardened sinners, however, often leads us to be mute, when we have the very thing they need to hear.

The first Christians might have made the same excuse and been silent.  Jesus had preached in the temple at Jerusalem, and they rejected Him.  Never was a greater evangelist present than Him!  But, they stopped their ears, despised the truth and cried out, “Crucify Him!”  That was the very crowd which the church was sent to preach to—an audience that had nailed Jesus to a cross. 

Peter underscored this as he proclaimed, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death…” (Acts 2:22-23).

That would not seem to be a hopeful situation to find a positive response to the Gospel.  But the first altar call is given and thousands were saved.  Not a day went by that the church wasn’t reaching people.  So, through the ages the church has faithfully sown Gospel seed—some on stony ground, some shallow ground, some choked with weeds, but also, always some fertile soil that has yielded eternal fruit.

In a world that is desperate for hope—that is the message God has given us.  There is hope for new life, hope for forgiveness, hope for peace with God, and the hope of heaven when we die!  The church says to the lost world, there is hope and you can find it here. 

We have prospects everywhere!  You don’t have to look for pagan people—they are proud of it.  They parade it and proclaim it on their bumper stickers.   Have you seen this one, “Tree-hugging Dirt Worshipper”?

Despite our fearful, sinful reluctance to give the Water of Life to those that are dying, the fact is there is a great spiritual thirst and willingness to discuss spiritual things.  People are trying all kinds of isms—only we have hope!  God will bring you into contact with some hurting, helpless, and hopeless soul today.  As the Christ denier who became a Christ declarer said, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” (1 Pet.3:15 ESV).