“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9
Before Jesus left earth to return to heaven, He gave us a job to do. One verse that records His directive is Mark 16:15. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
There are a myriad of ways a person can share the gospel of Christ. For me, I aspire to share Christ through my novels, my blog, and various ministries at my church. There is nothing that thrills my soul more than leading someone to Christ. However, there is one person that was so challenging to me that I became “weary,” and my efforts to share with her the gospel waned.
I was 12 years old when I accepted Jesus as my Saviour. I was so excited about it that I told anyone who would listen to me. My mother was the one I most wanted to tell. She had been raised in Japan as a Shintoist, and I desperately wanted her to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour. I spoke to my mom countless times, explaining as best I could of how Jesus was God’s Son who came to earth to take the punishments for everyone’s sin. I explained how He died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. I explained about the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection, and I quoted verses like John 3:16 and Romans 10:31. Through all of our discussions (quite one-sided, I might add), my mother listened politely, but she never made a decision to trust Christ.
As I grew into adulthood, our conversations about salvation were less frequent, and truth be told, I had little hope that my mom would ever trust Christ as her Saviour. When my mother was in her 50s, she developed some very serious health issues and was in and out of the hospital. On more than one occasion, she had come close to dying. I was afraid she would die without Christ, and I wrestled with the Holy Spirit as He prompted me repeatedly to share Christ with my mother one more time. I agonized over what to say, afraid that my mom would reject both Jesus and me. Finally, I could resist God no longer.
As I walked into the hospital, I seriously doubted my mom would accept Christ, but I had no rest in my soul, and I knew I wouldn’t have it unless I obeyed God. So, with a deep breath, I entered her room. As always, she was happy to see me, and we initially chatted about trivial things. I was so uncomfortable with what I knew I had to do. I had witnessed to my mom for years without any results. Perhaps part of me was afraid this would be her last chance to accept Christ, and I feared this conversation would end as all the others.
But it wasn’t. This time, when I shared the story of God’s amazing love, my mother listened, and then she made the decision to accept Christ’s forgiveness and trust Him as her Saviour. By the time she had finished her simple prayer for salvation, tears were streaming down both of our faces. Hers were from the realization that she was now a child of God, sins forgiven and would one day live forever with Him in heaven. Mine were from the immense gratitude I had for my Lord, shame at my lack of faith, and awe at how He worked in my mom’s heart. After all these years, He answered my prayer, even when my faith had dwindled to near-non-existence. I was greatly humbled as I remembered Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Why this long story about my mother? Because it took more than 25 years before my mother made her decision for Christ, and it took me just as long to realize that God’s timeline is not the same as mine. If we persevere, we will see results. How do I know this? Because that’s what today’s verse is all about. I experienced it with my mother as well as in other occasions in my life. The Bible tells us that “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).
Don’t give up on someone just because they don’t respond immediately to your witness for Christ. Keep praying for them; keep showing them Jesus through your own life, and keep believing. We are called to be the laborers for the Lord, but He is the one who is responsible for the harvest. “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2) If you are faithful to your work for Him, He will be faithful to answer.
In His time, in His time
He makes all things beautiful in his time
Lord please show me everyday
As you’re teaching me your way
That you do just what you say in your time
In your time, in your time
You make all things beautiful in your time
Lord my life to you I bring
May each song I have to sing
Be to you a lovely thing in your time
(from “In His Time” – author unknown)
“Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” – Micah 7:7
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Have you almost given up on someone? Listen carefully. Maybe God is calling you to share Jesus with them one more time.
How blessed that you were able to lead your mother to Christ! The admonition to keep praying and keep witnessing is an encouragement. Also, it is a reminder of the need for missions to various cultures and religions. May God continue to bless your labor for the Lord!