you must accept to receive

Several weeks ago, Bill preached a Sunday evening service at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas.  During the invitation, he placed a $20 bill on the communion table and offered it to anyone who would come to the front and take it.  He did this as an illustration as to how easy it is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Several minutes passed and no one would come down and accept the money.  Perhaps this was because they were afraid, or maybe embarrassed, or maybe they didn’t really believe it was actually free. But whatever the reason, no one would take the money.
As Bill continued to offer the money, a young boy came running down the aisle. He ran right up to the table and everyone assumed he was getting the money.  But he didn’t stop at the table.  Instead he just ran right on by.  He was so close to accepting it, but he still didn’t. He passed it by.  An older gentleman took the small lad and led him back to the table but he still would not take the money.  He actually turned his head away from the table so that he couldn’t even see the money.  The money remained on the table.
Bill continued to offer the $20 bill.  He elaborated on all the things you could do with a $20 bill, such as make a trip to Dairy Queen after church.  He said everything he could think of to make the money more desirable. Finally, after much persuasion from Bill, another child slowly came down the aisle and accepted the money.  The money was then hers.  Just because she was willing to step out on her own, she now had $20 to spend as she chose.
As I watched this scenario take place, I thought, “Isn’t this exactly how lost people react to the calling from God?”  They hear about the Lord and they know they need to accept Him; but for some reason they never take the final step.  Perhaps, they are afraid, or maybe they are concerned about what their friends and family will think.  Sometimes they may just be waiting for a better day.  Nonetheless they never accept Jesus as their savior.
As Christians, it is our responsibility to tell others about Jesus.  We need to be striving to lead lost people to Christ.  We do this by praying for lost people, ministering to lost people, and of course, witnessing to lost people.  However, it doesn’t matter how much we pray, minister, or witness; the lost person must be the one to actually take the initiative and accept Jesus.  We cannot do it for them.  In Romans 10:9-13, we are told, “That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.”
We cannot make the final decision for our lost friends and family.  However, we can try to live life in such a way that others watching us will want to have what we have.  We can practice what we preach. We can do our best to live as Jesus did.  So my question is, “If a lost person is watching you, is your life a reflection of a life they would want to have?”
This is Nana Nancy, Let Jesus be YOUR Guide as you enjoy YOUR ride!

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