We took a boat for a 1 hour trip to this island accompanied by 4 ship crew members. Three men to guide the boat and one cook. When we arrived at the island we eagerly put on our snorkling gear and headed into the clearish blue water to look at the coral reef and see just what kind of fish we would see. Immediately we saw all sorts of fish, fish I’ve only seen on television. Fish of all shapes, sizes, and colors were just in front of our face as Amy and I followed the current pointing in awe of God’s creation. After a while we headed under some palm trees to enjoy a seafood lunch. Shortly after lunch we got on our boat and headed home. While discussing all the fish I had seen and thinking the highlight of my day was over I was pleasantly interrupted by one of the crew members with a question…and God’s plan for salvation broke forth!
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the
prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and
everyone’s chains were loosed. 27
And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison
doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was
about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them;
and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
As I was sitting there the man told our translator to ask me to tell him about Jesus. Our translator spoke his native language and could have easily shared the gospel with him, but he specifically wanted to hear what I had to say. Maybe he believed he would hear something new. Whatever the case God knew that this was the day of this man’s salvation.
His opening sentence to me went something like this. “Some people say Buddha is the way to heaven, and others say Muhammad but what must I do to be saved?
From there I began to share with him that “all have sinned and fallen short of giving God the glory and the wages of this sin is death, but Jesus died in his place so that his sins could be forgiven and he could have eternal life.
While I was sharing all this with him he motioned for one of the other crew members to join him. I continued to sharing…
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General Scriptures
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: |
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt
be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.
