Now before you think I’ve lost my mind please understand that this is a story.
She sat on this bus beside me and Ethan. She had on a sun hat and spoke relatively good english. She asked me what my name is and began the discussion of why I was in Panama. It was a very casual conversation until I realized she was trying to dispute who Jesus Christ truly was, is and is to come.
As I sat on a bus on my way to Boquete for my birthday weekend and my last weekend here on the race, I met a woman named Alba. She is a Jehovahs witness and is working here in the mountain villages for the next 2 weeks. We began a dialogue about our beliefs and the differences. What was so hard for me during this whole conversation was watching here facial expressions and the way the devil blinds people to the truth. As a Jehovah witness you are taught that:
“Jehovah’s Witnesses believe God is the Creator and Supreme Being. Witnesses reject the Trinity doctrine, which they consider unscriptural. They view God as the Father, an invisible spirit “person” separate from the Son, Jesus Christ.”.
They also believe there is no hell, that your “works” will grant you salvation and that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross.
She was very prepared to defend her beliefs with scripture from the old testament and some new testament. She looked at me multiple times and told me: “I feel sorry for you, you don’t know the real truth.”. All I could really do through the whole thing was listen and try to understand how satan is working in all of this. I realized he is working in many ways but one of the main one’s is using certain verses from scripture and taking them completely out of context. While listening to her she brought up so many different references and to be honest I couldn’t defend them as well I should have been able too. But what I was able to do was what the Holy Spirit was telling me to do.
“Mack listen to her, she is so lost. She needs to know how much I love her and one way to do that is by showing her grace. Don’t condemn her, speak truth and life into her life. Pray that she finds the truth.”
And from then on thats all I did. I listened intently and at the end the Lord gave me this question to ask her.
“Alba, you believe in Jesus right? You believe that He came and died right? Then why would this loving God send down His only Son to die for nothing. Why would He do that? He did it because He loves you so much and wants ro spend eternity with you in heaven. That is why He did it, He did it for you.”
After that we got off the bus and all of our team just prayed for Alba. I also was convicted that I needed to look up scripture and see how to speak truth and back it up when necessary. And one verse for me hit home.
“Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””
John? ?20:28-29? ?NIV??
This story is not to condemn any Jehovah’s witness or any other religion for that matter. This story was to let you know that Gods word is forever living. It is the truth and no other book written has as much depth, knowledge and has upheld itself throughout. I would also encourage you all to pray for Alba and the people in your own lives that don’t know the truth. That they would be set free.
Here are some scriptures that I have been reflecting on today and ever since this conversation. I hope they are an encouragement to you.
• John 1:1
• John 1:18
• John 20:28
• Romans 9:5
• Titus 2:13
• Hebrews 1:8-9
• 2 Peter 1:1
Alba knew a few specific verses (taken out of context) just so you could prove her point and make her argument. But she admit-tingly said that she does not know the bible well and has not read it much. Im not saying I have the full understanding of Truth. But I know where to go to find it. I challenge all of us to read scripture for ourselves with open hearts allowing the Lord to speak to us and teach us His Truth, instead of trying to find random verses and take them out of context to justify our thoughts, beliefs, or actions.
“Spend time studying these passages not merely for the purpose of refuting false teachers, but to worship Jesus Christ fully and rightly.”
I love you all and will see you soon.
Much Love,
Mack
