Hello again all and God bless!
Two posts in one day? And I just said that I may not post every day in my previous post, go figure. This was not planned, but I hope no one minds. Reading is good, right?
I went to Chipotle for lunch and had my usual, a burrito bowl to-go with brown rice, chicken, veggies, half scoop of hot salsa, cheese, and lettuce. It's so tasty. I used to get black beans and double white rice instead of a single serving of brown rice, but I am eating healthier now by God's strength and through prayer to him. I'll save that story on why for another day. I'm in line, Gospel tract in my pocket, hand in my pocket praying in my mind to God for an opportunity to witness, the boldness to do so, and that the tract will be read by someone. I try to pray like this when I go anywhere with tracts in my pocket and I usually do get opportunities. There have been rare occasions when I don't, but God's will will be done always. I get to the cashiers, a young man and lady both, and smile at them. I pay for my food (if I had cash on me or the credit card reader had given me a chance to tip, I would have) and then pull the tract out of my pocket. I think I was still smiling (it's hard for me to remember for sure in the moment because my mind is racing a hundred miles per hour thinking about all the things that could go wrong or wondering what people will think of me) as I extend the tract out to them and ask, "Can I give you one of these to read later, please?" I rarely get told no at stores thankfully. I wish I had more time to witness more or see them read it but I know they have to be quick since other customers are in line. The young gentleman smiles widely at me and replies to me, "Sure". I thank him and tell them both to have a good day. I really need to get in the habit of saying "God bless you and have a good day" or something like that, but again, my mind is racing at the time I am going through this and don't always say what I want to. I watch the young man put the tract beside the register as I walk away and he helps the next customer. I really hope and pray that he, the lady, or someone there will read it and come to know God and their need for a savior.
Heavenly Father, bless the reading of your word and speak to those who read it. Call out to them and save them. Draw them to you by the reading of your word, prick their hearts and show them what a sinner they are and teach them the true and only way of salvation and eternal life. Give them your living waters that they may never thirst again and let me meet them when we all get together in heaven. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Here is a link to the tract I hand out most of the time (https://livingwaters.com/store/gospel-tracts/are-you-good-enough-to-go-to-heaven/). I also have a stamped message on the back (click here for image), giving them my Christian email address eyes2thesky79@gmail.com if they have any questions or want to reach out to me. I don't want to leave them without a definite way to learn more. We're commanded to make disciples and hopefully I'll get the chance to disciple someone one day. I have been trying different tracts, but this is the one that I have used most often. It first tells them why they need a savior and then tells them how to be saved. If a person thinks they are healthy, you wouldn't try to give them medicine first, would you? You must first show them that they need the cure and then they are more likely to take the cure you are showing them with open arms instead of rejecting it, thinking they are okay without it. Most people don't see themselves as sinners. They see themselves as good people and most of the ones that do believe in heaven, think they can get there by their actions, such as doing more good than bad. We who are born again though know that you must be born again to enter heaven and our actions can't get us to heaven, no matter how good we try to be. You must repent (turn from) your old sinful ways and turn to God and his ways, having faith in Jesus Christ. Not just "knowing he exists or he can save you", but saving faith; the type that makes you a whole new person (born again). If your life has not changed from before accepting Jesus's sacrifice for your sins, then you may not be really saved. I can't judge and say if you aren't for sure since I can't see what is in your mind, but God knows. If you bear no fruit for God, you aren't saved. None of us will ever stop sinning in moments of weakness on this earth because we are fallen, but to live in sin on purpose is totally counter to God's way. You are either living in God's way and not sinning on purpose or you are against God. There is no middle ground. Those who are against God have chosen to live eternally separated from God. God doesn't send us to hell eternally. It's OUR choice where we go. If you choose to live separate from God during this life, you will die a second death and your eternal home will be the lake of fire, prepared not for you, but for Satan and the fallen angels. You make the choice of where to live. Not God. He gives us the choice. He gives us free will, but he is sovereign. He is omniscient; he knows every decision that will be made by everyone and so he's predestined who will go to heaven and who will go to hell.
Getting a little deeper here, but there are two main theological systems: Calvinism and Arminianism. So many people are divided on these two subjects and I could go so deep into what they both mean, but that would take a while. If you don't know what they are, I encourage you to look them up; Google them and you can find tons of info on them. There are Bible verses that sound like they support both sides and I believe that is the mystery. We don't know everything and we can't know everything clearly on this earth. Once we are in heaven, everything will become clear though. I believe, and I could be wrong since some verses lean one way and others lean the other way, I believe that both sides are right. As I said, I could go a lot deeper into both sides, but the example I gave earlier in the previous paragraph is a good example of my beliefs. Calvinists believe that God chooses who will be saved (predestination) and man has nothing to do with it at all. It's God's choice totally. Arminianism on the other hand believes that it's man's choice because there are so many verses that say we need to believe to be saved, sounding like it's something that we do. I think it's a combination of both, a perfect union of Calvinism and Arminianism. God knows who will and won't have saving faith in Jesus beforehand so he doesn't even call them, since he already knows their decision. That leaves the free will of man intact since God knows what decision we would make beforehand, and also makes it God's saving us totally, apart from our works, since we can't come to him on our own. He has to draw us, and all those he chooses, obey him. I hope I am making it clear and not just rambling on. If you have any questions or comments on this, please let me know in the comments or email me (eyes2thesky79@gmail.com). No attacks or rudeness though please. Many people disagree on details of Christianity, but we should all love one another and speak from love. I'll wrap this up for now. It's already much longer than I thought this post would be. Until next time:
With love in Jesus,
Michael