It was windy, cold, and raining yesterday afternoon as we hit the boardwalk. We had our heaven test signs with us hoping to strike up conversations with people passing by on the boardwalk. A few stopped but most were trying to avoid the rain and moved by us quickly.
After a while, the rain slowed to a trickle. A lady approached me from the hotel adjacent to our location. She stopped and looked at me for a moment which told me she had an agenda to accomplish.
I greeted her and asked how her day was going. She said fine and the proceeded to ask me how I defined Heaven. So I told her that heaven was a place that God had prepared for those who love Him. She then wanted to know how many ways there are to get to heaven. I told her that the only way to get to heaven was through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
From there, we were off and running. She denied that there was only one way and claimed that God had many sons and daughters. She told me that she knew God in her heart and He had spoken to her to tell me that I needed to be more open to the idea that there were many paths to get to God. I told her we would disagree on that and that Jesus said he was the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no man comes to the Father but by him.
I stood my ground and told her that I was bound by the scriptures and wouldn’t be changing my mind. “Well, the Bible was written by man 2,000 years ago who are prone to error. There are many scriptures. ” I told her that there was only one that was inspired by God.
She then moved on the the number of religions in the world and how they all had their ideas about God. I said, “There are many religions but only one Savior who died on the cross for our sins.” I knew the conversation wasn’t going very far but knew she needed to hear the truth.
I then asked if she considered herself to be a good person. She said she did. So I took her through some of the Ten Commandments. She admitted to lying and stealing but not to hating someone or lusting in her heart. I pointed out that she had had broken 2 of the commandments and that if you break 1 commandment, you are guilty of breaking them all (See James 2:10).
Her response was, “Well, I did that before knowing any better.” I pointed out that ignorance of the law was an unacceptable excuse before the Lord.
“What would happen of you came down here to OC and broke a law that you didn’t know about. Then went before the Judge and said, “Your honor, I didn’t know about the law.” What would that judge do?”
She again pleaded that it was done in ignorance. I pointed to the fact that she would still be convicted. “It is the same with God’s law.”
By this time she saw that I would not be convinced of her “many ways” perspective. She walked away and the conversation ended.
I never got her name but God knows. Pray that some of what I said would pierce her heart and that she would see her need for Jesus.
Until the Net is Full,
Darrel
