I was asked to write an article for the LIFELine about how I have shared my faith, witnessed, and/or led people to the Lord. I said “yes”; for I had many years of many experiences. Evangelism is one of my passions that drives me as a child of God.

I had story after story of being used to lead the lost to Christ in my home, at work, on the street, neighborhood, and with my family. Story after story; “trophies” if you will; of times of God using me in street witnessing, in bible studies, in preaching, in situations with family & co-workers, and in times of divine encounters with complete strangers. Stories of seeing thousands come to Christ at Crusades & prayer tents.

A multitude of situations flooded my mind as I pondered which story, which trophy to take down from the shelf and “polish up” to share. I even wondered how I would limit the article to one story, one article, and one situation.

But as I was driving one day, thinking about the article, I found myself painfully aware at what my stories, my experiences had become. My nose seemed to be filled with the smell of “Brasso” for it seemed to me that all of my past evangelistic experiences had been just that; FROM THE PAST. In fact, it had been over 5 years since the last time I had led someone to Christ. My heart was pierced and I was deeply moved to tears.

My stories, my trophies had all been in the past. I had become one of the many who had grow cold in the work of evangelism. I had been content with telling old stories of what Jesus did way back when; content with polishing trophies instead of pressing in to crying out for souls TODAY.

I had grown cold in my passion to see the lost come to the Lord TODAY. Jesus said in Luke 19: 10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost”; not to polish trophies.

What had become of the passion that caused me to go to the downtown areas of the Twin Cities to seek the lost once a week? What had become of the passion that would cause me to seek to share the Gospel on a daily basis?

Had people stopped going to hell? Was the seating capacity of heaven all filled up? Had God closed the doors and was no longer taking reservations?

No, I had become content with polishing trophies instead of winning souls. Jesus said that, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”; But we are still called to seek “What can I do to be a co-laborer with You, Lord?”

There are many reasons why I had grown cold. Some were for reasons of protection as I drew back to seek refuge and healing in my life. Some were because of feelings as thought God had no longer any use for me as I pondered areas of compromise and sin in my own life. Some were from apathy as I drew further into isolation. Some was from not believing that God’s mercy was still new EVERY day. Some were from being content with polishing trophies; forgetting that fresh stories were waiting just around the corner. Some were from not seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Jesus is still calling each of us to share His good news with the lost and broken of this world. Jesus said, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32).

My friends, it is time for us to allow the Holy Spirit to take us to new places in our experiences like those we read about in the Acts of the Apostles, this month, this week, this day.

We need to ask for boldness: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6: 18-20).

Join me, won’t you, as we together cry out and seek to co-labor with the Lord Jesus Christ for fresh stories of His grace. Today is the day of salvation. God wants to reach the lost today. And then next time an article is written, it will be of fresh “trophies” of new lives now in the family of God. For His Name’s sake, Amen!