I have to speak

"Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!' 'I tell you,' he replied, 'If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'" Luke 19: 39-40 NIV.

Sometimes I have to find this passage and read and ponder on it for a while. This passage reminds me not to keep quiet about my faith, about my relationship with Jesus, about how Jesus redeemed me before the judge, and about the purpose of my life. I am a Disciple of the Lord Almighty Jesus Christ, before no one else will I bow. The devil prowls about looking for a soul to steal, but I know my name is written in the book of Life. Jesus has done for me what he has done for all people that believe.

That being said I was out and about today. I sat in an outer waiting area while my wife was attended to. Note it was only routine. The lady sitting near me struck up a conversation. She was nice and had a European accent, Ukrainian. I found through talking she was neutral in her religious views. She question me about my religion, to which I said mine is not a religion but a personal relationship with My Lord Jesus Jesus died for my sins and raise from the dead for my way to heaven.

She asked that don't I think other religions are good? She said she followed the commandments and lived a good life. I asked if she read the Bible, and she said there are too many different translations to believe the Bible is true any more. The other religions in the world are good too. I said only Jesus gets you to heaven not ourselves doing anything good. I pointed to how evil the Quran is and how Mohamed taught the evils of his ideas.

We than moved on to politics. She said she was sad for our country, it's going down hill. There is no middle case any more and Trump was the fault. I tried to counter all her arguments with the facts I knew, but to no avail. I even told her that a person has to dig to fine the truth and not trust what is told on TV. That I think hit a nerve, because her arguments became more heated.

After I did another rebuttal and tried to point to her the truth, she would not listen. So I said to her," The Lord be with you and God bless." She tried to continue but I said when I say good-bye I always say God bless to every body. She then asked if I was a clergy and I said yes. Her face went blank.

I did not hide behind a wall, I did not hide behind my book to read. I talked to her about faith, hope, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. It was liking throwing seed on the road and the seed could not find any soil to grow in. I felt sad but I could only pray. I tried to spread the Gospel and let the Holy Spirit work from that point. My efforts felt in vain, but if I had not confessed my faith in Jesus would the walls have spoken because I would not.

It was strange and different encounter for me, but I learned more today. The world is still a dark place where many have drunk the kool-aid of the devils words, and the Good News of Jesus falls on deaf ears. I still pray that a single seed may grow in her heart. God bless.