Last night as I was waiting for our beloved UNF shuttle to escort me to my car 2 miles away, I was handed a "Track" by an elderly gentleman. I had seen the man around campus before, witnessing to various students, and was interested as to his beliefs. Here was my chance. As I opened the track to read the material I must admit that I was fairly skeptical as to what the content would be. However, as I began to read, I was pleasantly surprised to find a well-presented, efficient and doctrinally sound pamphlet on the gospel. Here it is (I apologize for the spacing, but sometimes the HTML acts up):
ARE YOU A GOOD PERSON?
Narrator: Meet Mr. Nice Guy. If good people go to heaven, he will be the first in line.
Mr. Nice Guy: Well... I try to do whats right.
Narrator: Have you kept the ten commandments?
MNG: Pretty much.
Narrator: Really? Do you mind if we look at them?
MNG: Ummm... all right.
Narrator: Have you ever told a lie?
MNG: Yeah, who hasn't?
Narrator: What do you call someone who lies?
MNG: A liar.
Narrator: Have you ever stolen anything?
MNG: Nope.
Narrator: But you just told me you're a liar...
MNG: Hmph. Well, I did steal some candy once as a kid.
Narrator: What do you call someone who steals?
MNG: A thief.
Narrator: Have you ever looked at a women with lust?
MNG: Of course.
Narrator: Jesus said, "Whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28)
Narrator: Have you ever used God's name to curse?
MNG: Well, yeah, but only because that guy really deserved it!
Narrator: that's called blasphemy. "the lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (Exodus 20:7).
Narrator: By your own admission you're a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, and an adulterer at heart. And that's just four of the ten commandments.
MNG: OK, so I'm not perfect.
Narrator: Actually, its worse than that... sin isn't just doing things we shouldn't. It's also not doing the things we should. "Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." (James 4:17). There's more... suppose we could put a device in your brain that would record all your private thoughts for a week... and then play them on a movie screen for your friends and family to see.
MNG: that would be embarrassing!
Narrator: "God knows the secrets of the heart" (Psalm 44:21).
MNG: Well... compared to some people I'm a saint!
Narrator: But the standard is God's law, not other people. Besides, even if you sin just five times a day, in one year, that's 1,825 sins! if you live to be seventy, you'll have broken God's Law over 127,000 times! You'll have to answer for every sin on judgment day, when "each of us will give and account of himself to God." (Romans 14:12)
MNG: But won't God just forgive me?
Narrator: Try that in court. "Mr. Judge, I know I keep breaking the law but can't you just let it slide?" Only a corrupt judge would do that. A good judge would say, "Justice demands that you pay for your crimes." God is a holy, righteous judge. He hates sin! Jesus warned that God, in his wrath, will cast all who sin against him into eternal fire "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth". (Matthew 13:42)
MNG: 'Gulp'. Then how can anyone get to heaven?
Narrator: There's only one way... If a sinless person offered to take your punishment, then justice would be served and you could go free! God loves you so much, he sent his son Jesus to suffer and die for you sins. Then, he rose from the grave -- defeating death! You can't earn eternal life. It is God's gift to all who humble themselves and come to Jesus. "Turn to God in repentance and have faith in the Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:21). He will forgive your sins and give you a new heart! "If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation!" (2 Corinthian 5:17).
Even though this might have been a little "corny" in some parts, I still think it did an excellent job of showing our need for a savior, and how God wonderfully bridges that gap through Jesus Christ. In addition, I thought the wealth of Scriptural support was very helpful. Not only was it applicable to the point the Narrator was trying to make, but it was convicting as well (as all scripture is). When I finished reading, I couldn't help but thank God for the "track" that was being handed out to hundreds of other students, and ask that he use it to draw the hearts of the lost.
-Kyle-
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3 comments:
Wow, that was actually really good. It was encouraging to see that the tract talked about one needing to humlble himself to be saved and depending completley on God. This is giving all glory to God for our salvation. Thanks for taking the time to past this Kyle.
This is a really good post Kyle. It is encoraging to know that there are people out there sharing the one, true Christ-centered Gospel with students who really need this. This was really encoraging to me. Thanks Kyle!
It felt like a knife went into my heart when I read "if you sin just five times a day, in one year, that's 1,825 sins." I felt so ashamed knowing I sin many more than 5 times a day and what that adds up to! But God in his mercy, counts me as righteous because of the amazing sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. How can that ever get old?! God is good! Thanks, Kyle.
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