From the Grave

I must confess to being like the guy who had a bit too much to drink and stumbled into the cemetery on his way home.  He rambled midst the tombstones and came upon a freshly dug grave that was waiting on tomorrow to be filled and fell headfirst into it.  He landed in the soft dirt and passed out only to wake up as the sun was rising.  In his testimony he always said, "As I clawed my way out of that hole, I came to Jesus."  After that day he would often bring others whom he figured needed Jesus to the cemetery, not to show them where he came to Jesus, but to push them into an open grave hoping it would have the same effect on them as it had him.

 

I am kinda like that guy.  I want other people to come to know Jesus as I did.  I want them to kneel beside their bed, confess their sins, and open their heart to receive Jesus as their Savior.  But, what I know is that my way is not the only way.  The New Testament gives us two models.  One is called the Damascus Road experience.  This speaks to those who have what seems to be dramatic and almost instantaneous conversion experience.  Saul of Tarsus is the model.  The other is called the Emmaus Road experience.  Two guys are walking along their way not realizing that Jesus was walking with them.  This relates with people who say they have never known what it is not to know Jesus or to love Him.  Either way obviously works.  Either way brings people into life with Jesus and that is truly the important thing. 

Somewhere along the way it is important, no, it is imperative that we say "Yes" to Jesus.  According to John, He came into this world not to condemn us, but to save us.  He came that we might have a way out of the mess we have made of our life.  He came so that sin would not have to have the last word in our life.  Sin's last word is death and separation from God and all that is holy.  The word Jesus speaks is the word of mercy and forgiveness which restores the relationship with God we have broken with our sin.  Say it again now.  Say, "Yes" to Jesus.