March 23, 2025
The best thing that could ever happen to you is to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be certain that your sins have been forgiven and that your names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. You can be sure. As the Bible says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13 NASB).
The second best thing that could ever happen to you is to lead someone else to Christ. If you’re a believer, chances are you came to Christ because someone (parent, pastor, teacher, or friend) cared about you enough to lead you to the Lord. Wouldn’t you like to be that someone for the person who hasn’t yet found what you have?
Let’s say you were out for a leisurely boat ride on the lake and you spotted someone splashing and screaming–on the verge of drowning. Of course, you’d do everything you could to save them. Spiritually speaking, people all around us are drowning in sin and darkness. That said, throw out the life preserver ring that is the gospel so they can discover abundant and eternal life.
Once Jesus launched his public ministry, Andrew, who had been a disciple of John the Baptist, quickly joined the Lord’s team, becoming one of the 12 disciples. Then, the first thing he did was find his brother Peter and bring him to Christ (see John 1:41-42).
Later, Philip the evangelist spotted a royal official, sitting in his chariot, reading from Isaiah. When Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man responded, “Well, how can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30-31 NASB). Philip then guided him through the Scriptures, leading him to the Lord, even baptizing him when they found water nearby.
Why not be Andrew or Philip to a lost and wandering soul? You don’t have to be eloquent and learned, just ready and willing. As the Bible says, “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15 NASB). Understand, too, that you are not alone in the matter. God is preparing those on the receiving end through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Martin Niemoller, a pastor in Germany during the 1930s, made this sobering confession: “In Germany, they came first for the communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. They came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”
Speak up. Be a part of leading someone to faith in Christ. It’s the next best thing to making that discovery for yourself.
___
Rev. Gaddis has been a pastor for over 34 years, 25 of those in Georgia. He lives in Athens and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
