Who will tell them the truth?

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” -Isaiah 6:8.

As most of you already know, my wife & I followed the Lord's leading into Africa, and were there for some 31 months. While we were there, we ran into much gross mishandling of scripture; even from those who had been so helpful in terms of our moving about and finding places to stay. How do you handle this? How can we dare to criticize such acquaintances?

The answer to this dilemma is simple, but also difficult; God sent us to south central Africa, 8,000 miles from home, and there was NO OTHER REASON for us to be there! To tell these people the truth had to be at the very core of reasons for which we were sent. If they hadn't been learning crucial Bible doctrines correctly in their own nations, or even from highly esteemed missionaries, then WHO would ever tell them the truth? We're talking about the very teachings of the Lord Jesus, for which they will answer (John 12:48). This was obviously a responsibility we needed to embrace, a duty to assume as one for which the had Lord sent us.

We read in the Bible that we are to warn every man, for in the last days dangerous times will come, and mankind will have a form of godliness that actually denies Him-and ultimately we must turn away from such who will continue in this way.

But our general direction in response is also clear, as we read later in 2 Timothy 4:2-4;

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

When I considered the simplicity of our circumstances; that God had taught us by His Word, and through His Spirit, and had then led us into Africa after many years, showing the truth to others was clearly a DUTY we needed to embrace. I suppose this was easier to see from a foreign land!

Yet now upon returning to the U.S. I have to consider; shouldn't we have this sense of duty at all times, and in all places? As we commit our ways to the Lord, we believe His promise that He will direct our steps, and even establish our thoughts; isn't it our duty to preach the Word, and share what we've learned? Shouldn't we show them what is true, and what is a fable? The devil is an expert at twisting parts of the Bible to deceive, but God told us that we are to live by EVERY WORD of God, and not just adhering to what we find comfortable.

So perhaps God has brought you into a specific place, and maybe you have knowledge which pertains to an individual's life, or some that otherwise relates to a situation you've encountered; I gently but firmly urge you through the grace of God to share what God has taught you by the experienced application of His Word. Isn't this what the body of Christ is all about? Just as another person's strength may help in your weakness, so your strength can be a provision for their shortfall. Romans 15:1 tells us that, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

And this is perhaps our key hindrance; when we are seeking to please men by remaining inoffensive, rather than saying the truth that people desperately need to hear. Jesus offended many by telling the truth, as we see in places like John 7:7, or 8:40; please take the time to read these verses. But yes, this is the real key; that we may be ill received for such faithful obedience.

In my current job, I worked with a woman a few years older than myself, and the very first day I worked with her she asked me some very prying questions of a religious nature. I honestly found it offensive because we'd just met, but as it was she that initiated this interaction I felt it was only right to share truth from the Bible with her. I had good knowledge on the subjects we discussed, and as these were salvation issues, they are vitally important. I shared as gently as possible, but still needed to convey the truth. When I saw that she wouldn't receive my words, but only defended her own error filled beliefs I pulled back from trying to persuade but still listened, yet with limited responses.

About 2 weeks later the store owner pulled me aside because apparently a complaint had been filed because of this conversation. He said I should just “live my faith” without preaching about it, although he claims to be a Christian! Myself and the woman were the only ones present for this conversation; either she, or someone she shared it with had complained to human resources, who waited 2 weeks while the owner was on vacation, and then told him. Although I was respectful, I told him I had only RESPONDED to her initiated questions, and I should be allowed to do this. I also gently pointed out that he was taking her side over mine, when no one else was a witness, and he had heard this only 3^rd hand. Things such as this are what we well may face, as we stand up for the truth.

Remember that we have been bought with a price, and are not the servants of men. If we won't tell them, who will? Hasn't the Lord of your life directed such encounters for a purpose? Let the comfort that God has shown you in life become a comfort for someone else, and tell them the truth, regardless of what it may seem to cost.

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” -Luke 12:48B.

Here is the link to the YouTube video that I did on this subject https://youtu.be/Lis9PHLpwSQ.