Yes. Those are the people who hand out Bibles. If you've ever stayed in a hotel room in the U.S. (or elsewhere), chances are good that you've slept next to a Gideon Bible. That's because of the faithful service of these men and their wives who recognize the importance of God's Word, and who are dedicated to making sure everyone has access to it.
It wasn't that long ago that I would have scoffed (sorry to say) at such ambitions, and such an organization. I thought that everyone who wanted to hear about Christ had already had the chance to do so, and that it was rude and pushy to share the gospel with people. After all - who was I to make others feel uncomfortable? To tell them how to live their lives? To try to push my religion on them?
Now I've come to realize just how wrong those thoughts were.
I'll tell you who I was then (though I didn't realize it), and who I still am today. I'm an ambassador of Christ. That is my whole purpose on earth. (By the way - if you're a Christian, that's your purpose too. If you're not a Christian, it could be yours soon. Send me a message. Give me a call. We'll talk.)
Don't get me wrong - I'm sure people do think I'm being a little rude and pushy sometimes when I put one of those New Testaments in their hands. It probably makes them feel uncomfortable, like I'm trying to tell them how to live their lives, and push my religion on them. But that's because I am, and I do it because I care.
I care because I've heard too many people tell me that they're not sure what happens after a person dies, but they're okay with that. I care because I've known too many people who have vague aspirations and hopes of going to heaven, but haven't got a clue about how to get there. I care because I've finally come to the place of putting eternal salvation before momentary discomfort.
It's about time, too.
Perhaps the best explanation I've ever heard for why I want to share the gospel with people came from Penn Jilette, an avowed atheist. In a video segment (see below) that he made after being handed a Gideon Bible, Penn states the following:
If you believe there is a Heaven and a Hell, and that people could be going to Hell...and you think, 'well, it's not really worth telling them, because it could be socially awkward,' - how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible, and not tell them that?
Ouch. Well said, Penn.
So, that's why there really is no choice for me but to tell people about Jesus, and to share God's Word with them. It was in a kitchen in a farmhouse in rural eastern Iowa that I gave my life to Christ on June 8th, 1988. It was just me, my savior, and a little Gideon Bible with a green cover, but it was a moment that changed my life and my eternity. I'd hate to think someone else missed the chance to have their precious moment with the Lord just because I was afraid of making somebody uncomfortable - especially if that somebody was me.
To find out more about the Gideons - including powerful testimonies about how their work has brought people to Christ, check out their website-
Press play for more of Penn Jilette's eye-opening thoughts about evangelism. It's worth watching. And, I'm praying for Penn to come to know Christ. I know, first-hand, how effective those little Bibles can be, if you'll just open them up and read what's written inside.
No comments:
Post a Comment