Sister Jenny has been my buddy in Romania ever since we arrived just a couple of weeks ago. I can’t even explain the almost instant connection. While praying that first night after meeting her, I knew that for some reason, God was calling me to visit her each day. No question – she was going to be the focal point of my ministry for the month. It’s funny, prior to Jenny, I never gave “older people” a second thought. I never cared to serve at retirement homes and never felt called to hang out with the oldies. I figured it would be too difficult because they would have a tough time hearing. Or wouldn’t see very well. Or they would just tell the same story over and over again and I‘d get bored. Yet, with Jenny, I don’t see that at all. Granted, she is only 56 years old, but her body looks like that of an 80 year old (due to the severe arthritis). Immediately after meeting her, I felt a connection and age didn’t matter. After spending time with her, I realize the wealth of wisdom and knowledge she maintains; not to mention the bank of memories she preserves. Her strong faith and trust in the Lord is unbelievable. The beautiful part is, when Jenny leaves this earth, there is a perfect body waiting for her in Heaven. All her pain and suffering will be no more. Jenny knows for certain where she is going when she dies and is waiting in anticipation to see her Lord Jesus face to face.
Hanging out with Jenny has gotten me to think about the oldies in my own life. My grandparents on my dad’s side are amazing people and have been married for many, many years, but are not believers. Sadly I haven’t given that much concern over the 24 years of my existence. I have never had the conversation with them about where they think they are going after they die or what they believe. Here I am, going on a missions trip to share the gospel with the nations and I haven’t even really evangelized to my own family who I deeply care for. Sometimes it seems a lot easier to witness to complete strangers than to my own family. But why? Aren’t those the people who should be of my first concern? Our time here on earth is only a fleeting moment in comparison to eternity. Grandma and Grandpa, if you are reading this, I want to apologize for not having a conversation with you about what it means to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am sorry that I have been too worried about how you are going to react or what your opinion is going to be about your crazy ‘Jesus Freak’ granddaughter. I want you to know that I do care about where your souls end up in eternity and I desperately pray to see you both with me in heaven. Selfishly, I have been lazy, afraid, distracted, apathetic… The excuses are countless but not in any sense valid. As Christians, we are called to plant the seed and then the watering will follow but I apologize for not even making sure to plant. Jude 23 says to “save others with fear, pulling them out of the fire…” I’m finally beginning to understand how vital evangelizing is to my life as a believer.
Hanging out with Jenny has gotten me to think about the oldies in my own life. My grandparents on my dad’s side are amazing people and have been married for many, many years, but are not believers. Sadly I haven’t given that much concern over the 24 years of my existence. I have never had the conversation with them about where they think they are going after they die or what they believe. Here I am, going on a missions trip to share the gospel with the nations and I haven’t even really evangelized to my own family who I deeply care for. Sometimes it seems a lot easier to witness to complete strangers than to my own family. But why? Aren’t those the people who should be of my first concern? Our time here on earth is only a fleeting moment in comparison to eternity. Grandma and Grandpa, if you are reading this, I want to apologize for not having a conversation with you about what it means to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am sorry that I have been too worried about how you are going to react or what your opinion is going to be about your crazy ‘Jesus Freak’ granddaughter. I want you to know that I do care about where your souls end up in eternity and I desperately pray to see you both with me in heaven. Selfishly, I have been lazy, afraid, distracted, apathetic… The excuses are countless but not in any sense valid. As Christians, we are called to plant the seed and then the watering will follow but I apologize for not even making sure to plant. Jude 23 says to “save others with fear, pulling them out of the fire…” I’m finally beginning to understand how vital evangelizing is to my life as a believer.
Please don’t make witnessing an option in your faith. We are called to bring the good news of Jesus to the lost. It starts with our own families, our brothers, our sisters, our parents, our grandparents. God gives us lost friends and family for a reason – so we can help lead them to the Savior. Is it your hearts desire for loved ones to be saved? Are we like Paul who says he would literally give up his relationship with Jesus so his friends could come to know Christ?
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” -Romans 10:1
