Hope of Heaven

The team from theSowers Class arrived early Saturday to set up a table with gospel tracts and cold water.



Jim was having a great morning, riding along the Constitution Trail. The temperature was perfect at about 65 degrees. AJ got him to stop with an offer of free water. I asked Jim if he believed in an afterlife. "Sure" he said.


Heaven and Hell?"

"Yes."

"Where are you going?"

""Heaven, I hope." Jim said. Man, if I had a new tract for every time I get that answer I probably wouldn't be running out of them right now!

Jim considered himself to be among the 'good people' inhabiting this earth. "I wonder if you'd let me test that theory, Jim?"

"Sure, why not?" he said.

When I asked Jim to review his life and give me the number of lies that he's told, he hesitated. Finally he said, "Quite a few."
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"Me too, Jim. I couldn't even give you a number. Have you ever used God's name in vain? You know, OMG?"

"Yes, I've done that."

"Blasphemy is really serious. God said, He won't hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain-did you know that? What about adultery? Ever done that?"

"No, I've never done that!" he exclaimed.

"The seventh Commandment says, 'Don't commit adultery but Jesus kicked it up a notch when He came. He said, 'Whover looks at another person with a sexual or immoral thought is guilty in their heart.' Ever looked at another person that way Jim?"

Jim was silent for a moment and then quietly nodded to the affirmative.

"If God judged you today, Jim would you be guilty or innocent of breaking His law?"

"Guilty."

"Heaven or Hell for you?" I asked.

"Well, I still think I would go to Heaven...I believe in God."

"So do demons Jim, are they going, too?"

"Well...no they aren't."

"It's not enough to 'believe' Jim. You've got to repent and put all of your faith in Jesus Christ. He's the only way in. John 14:6 says I am the way, the truth and the life-no man comes to the Father but by Me."

By now Jim was getting antsy on his bike and I could tell he wanted to leave. "Please take this little booklet and read it before you go to sleep. This is so important!"

"I will. Thanks for the conversation."

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Survey your life...

The young man handed Dennis the clipboard as he asked, "Would you be willing to take this survey?"

We were attending the National Kidney Foundation Labor Day Surf Contest in Cocoa Beach and trying to make contact with as many people as possible. Dennis took the clipboard and as he did I said to the guy, "While he's filling that out would you be willing to take my survey?"

He smiled and said, "Sure."

"Now, my questions aren't easy-they're going to make you think."

He told me his name was Lido. I asked him where he would go when he died. He seemed a bit surprised at the question. I believe in getting to the point. (Whenever I speak to someone in a nursing home environment I never know just how long I will have before someone interrupts us-I guess that's what formed my lightning-like approach.) Lido told me he was going to Heaven. When I asked him how he told me, "I believe." Years ago that was enough to get me off the hook, but now...I have to make sure we're talking about the same thing.

I took Lido through a few of the 10 Commandments and asked him how he would fare if God were to judge him today.

"Guilty."

"You are going to Hell, Lido." I let that sink in a minute. "Does that concern you?"

"Yes, very much." He began to look very worried. When I told him about Jesus dying for him, Lido looked relieved. Then he began to tell me how much he tried to do 'the right thing every day'. I reminded him that we can't get there with 'good works' and then suddenly he stopped telling me how good he was. You could see his shoulders slump. We talked about simply believing and repenting. Complete surrender.

I gave Lido a CD of Hells Best Kept Secret and True and False Conversions. These are free for duplication and I try to make sure I always carry some with me. I also gave him a Good Person booklet. These are clear and concise. Good gospel tracts are called 'silent preachers' because people will read them long after we are gone.
2 Corinthians 13:5 examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith, prove your own selves...

the Trail. . . .

Jen and I went to Bloomington, IL to visit her family. We were able to go out “the Trail” which goes for several miles thought Bloomington-Normal. Jen’s father's class has a ministry to take bottled water and witness to the runners, bicyclists and dog-walkers - Sowers Class

There were 8 of us in our location and another group a mile or so away. Most folks would not slow down but a few did and we were able to give out a case of water and several tracts. Overall, most were polite but focused on their exercise.


While Jen was speaking to a guy, she pointed to across the street where a few guys were discussing something outside at an apartment complex. It was not the kind of place I wanted to go to but the Lord had other ideas so I went. The result was pretty good. While a few of the folks did not want to listen, one fellow did and really was interested in what was said and how he could get to heaven. I left and felt I had accomplished what He has commanded us to do by presenting the Gospel.

Next was a more interesting event. A girl jogged by then stopped. She took a million dollar bill, acted very prideful and said she was a “Christian” but let’s just say her light was not shining. She left and within a minute returned to get more MDB’s to give to her family who at first she said were Muslim, then said they don’t believe in anything Muslim, etc…. This all went a bit nuts when I tried to give her a DVD about a converted Muslim which is entitled “Who is God”. Every time I started to speak she interrupted with an incredibly arrogant comment. She said that she was informed directly by “Him” and pointed up to the sky and she speaks for “Him”. One of the other guys with us (The church’s Pastor’s son) sure saw what it was like to witness or try to witness to a proud arrogant, false convert. If I had to try to fit her into a religion I would say she is a demonically possessed, false convert, former Muslim, Universalist, New Ager. Each time I would try to say something she accused me of patronizing her even though I got about 3 words out of my mouth, or she already knows what I am going to say – however it was her eyes that gave her away as she had an evil penetrating stare. Her point was that her family are Muslim and as she said, but they do not even believe in Allah or Mohammed. She said I don’t know them so I can’t witness to them. Also she said I can’t because I would have to approach them on their level which made no sense as I will witness to anyone, regardless of their religious claims. Unfortunately, there is no way that her family will see the fruit of a true Christian through this girl. Think about the influence she could have if only she were truly born again.