Before I post this, I wanted to tell a little bit about me. Some people say that Christians are "Self righteous" because they witness to people. And that couldn't be further from the true. I am one of the greatest sinners ever, who happens to know the greatest and ONLY Savior Jesus. As a wise person once said, "Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread."- D.T. Niles
Friday night a group of Saints got the opportunity to go to the mall and witness. We have been several times, but this time was one of the best. I really thank God for the opportunity to be able to share the BEST news imaginable, that Jesus Christ died for our sins and how amazing of a gift that is... I would love to write about some of my encounters so I can remember to pray for these people.
One of my first conversations was with a group of teenage girls. One of the girls cousin was murdered in the shooting in Old Bridge not that long ago. I asked her if she's been thinking about what happens after you die since that happened, and she said yes. I shared the gospel with her that Jesus never sinned, died for our sins and took the punishment we deserve, then rose again on the 3rd day conquering sin and death for those who repent and put their trust in Him. It was a short lived conversation, but you can tell she definitely was thinking about it.
Another conversation, tho we had many, was with a teenage guy whose father is a Christian and hands out gospel tracts similar to the ones we were handing out. I asked if he was a Christian, and upon further examination he mentioned that he was a satanist tho he really didn't believe in it. He heard the whole gospel many times and basically knew everything I was going to say next. I asked him if the reason he was doing that was because he was trying to get his father angry (since he mentioned that he and his father didn't get along bc he said his dad had a lot of issues), he said that is exactly the reason. I reminded him that we aren't to follow others as the example because people will always ALWAYS let us down. There is one who will NEVER let us down though and that's Jesus! I told him that none of us are perfect and then he mention that he hated someone who tried to kill his brother in Colts Neck. We didn't get much into it but I basically told him that he knew everything that I was going to say and he has heard it before. And that if he really knew that Jesus was real and willingly denied him and chose to reject him, that he should live life however he wants to (basically live it up), because this is the best it will EVER get. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"- Matthew 16:26. I have been praying for him a lot and his conversation definitely affected me a lot. I think it's because I meet a lot of people who don't know the gospel correctly, or don't know it at all. But here was someone who actually knew it, and rejected it. He came by later on in the night and had his satanist buddies with him and I wanted to say a verse that I couldn't remember. Something about having bad friends corrupts good character? I'm not sure but should probably research it. My heart really went out to him.
One of my other conversations, was with an employee from H&M. He was a gentlemen and was very open to discussing it and hearing what I had to say. I took him through the law and all of a sudden he blurts out that God won't want him because he's gay. I reminded him that I didn't bring that up, he did. I was taking him through the 10 commandments to show him he is unrighteous for lying, stealing, blaspheming, etc... I gave him a copy of "A Case for Christ" and he said he would read it which was pretty awesome.
Then I spoke to a cute couple named Rocco and Alexandra. He was a salesman which got a funny reaction when I asked how many lies he has told. But he said not many... I then took him through the rest of the 10 commandments to show him that we are ALL sinners. Some of it went well but he seemed to have created a false god in his own mind that doesn't punish sin and will let anyone into heaven. I reminded him of sin of idolatry and we should be going by the bible in order to find the characteristics of God, not just something we make up in our mind. I used to do the same thing, I was very comfortable with a "god" that I made up in my mind which is really no god at all. He also accepted the "case for Christ" and was definitely a gentlemen and I am very happy to have talked to him and pray that God will call him to repentance and salvation.
I ran into another teenager that I must have spoken with several months ago. I asked him if he did anything with our last conversation and he said he was now a Christian. Then I asked him how often he was reading his bible and he said hardly at all. I asked him if he had a girlfriend who wrote him 66 love letters and he never read them, what would it say about his relationship with his girlfriend? He got the point and I told him that I didn't want him to go to hell but there was absolutely nothing I could do about it and he need to make Jesus the Lord of His life. I told him I hoped to see him at the pearly gates one day!! I really do!
One of the last conversations I had was with this couple. I think I was being blonde through a lot of the conversation because for some reason I thought the guy grew up in a church and heard it all before, but then at the end of the conversation he said he never heard the gospel before. Luckily it doesn't depend on me, it depends on Jesus! "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."- 1 Corinthians 1:21.
The girl was very receptive to the message but asked a lot of different questions, one that I never heard before was "If I accept Jesus will I live longer". I was kind of thrown off and told her no, but I wish I had a more researched response with biblical references.
Overall, it was a really good night and it seems as if people are really searching for something but there truly aren't enough people sharing the good news out there. I pray for more workers into the field and I think a good thing came from the hurricane because people really were considering the most important question in life, which is "what happens next and why am I here?". If you are not sure if you are saved or where you will go, please visit this website www.NeedGod.com
