Anyone who knows me well understands the importance I place on Apologetics and my desire to make a difference in the lives of others through Apologetics.
I don’t know how large a role I can play, but I do know I have a part, and I’m determined to continually identify, better understand and execute that part faithfully, energetically and enthusiastically.
My passion is to share Apologetics with everyone and anyone who will hold still and listen! Especially non-believers, because I know most of them aren’t Christians precisely because they don’t know about the evidence that I myself was unaware of in my pre-Christian days.
“If they only knew what I know now!” is my conviction.
I don’t want anyone to be left behind because their questions weren’t addressed by the Christians they have met over the years who were unable to “give an answer.” God didn’t leave ME behind, so the least I can do in response to His infinite grace is help Christians reduce the incidence of lost opportunities! I would have been left out in the cold if it had been up to me, or up to all the Christians I had encountered for 30 years that provided circular arguments, or “faith” only explanations for the hope that they had.
I am not blaming those Christians: I am more responsible than they are! I’m not even upset with myself, because I know that everything in my life has happened for a reason, that I wouldn’t be the person I am today with this passion for Apologetics if any aspect of my life that led me here was missing!
The role and PURPOSE we all share.
I mean only to emphasize the importance of our roles as Ambassadors for Christ from one who was once on the other side of Salvation, the perspective of which is still crystal clear in my mind. I didn’t have then the clarity I have now when I “place myself” where I once was, because at the time I had both feet in the grave and didn’t know it! We as Christians DO know it!
I had an excuse then –I was ignorant and blind, but we as Christians have no excuse!
As such we should not turn our backs on the ones who don’t know! Those on the other side who can’t know what we as Christians know rely upon us to describe our knowledge in their terms and in their language and dialect! How can they see The Door if they don’t know it exists and if we don’t help them find it and their need to walk through it?!
It’s a life or death situation but I don’t see most Christians taking seriously our responsibility of spreading the Gospel of Reason as commanded by 1Peter3:15.
If we don’t do it who will?
“Oh, it doesn’t matter what WE do, Marc! It’s all in God’s hands!” You may say.
“Yes,” I must emphatically reply, “but aren’t WE God’s hands? Aren’t WE the Body of Christ? Doesn’t God use US and involve US in HIS plans?!”
Make yourself available and “Always be Prepared”!
Forget that Peter commands it. The command isn’t necessary! Let’s exult in God’s desire to use and involve us in His plans! The God of the universe, the Creator of the cosmos, who created space, time and matter in an instant, wants each of us to play a part in the unfolding of His plans! We just have to make ourselves available and to “always be prepared”!
I have to tell you that there is nothing more exciting than to be used by God! There is no greater honor! To play a direct part in the preparation of another man or woman to accept the free gift of salvation and eternal life is beyond words.
And isn’t that something to be wondered at? Shouldn’t we be in awe of that? God doesn’t NEED us to play a part in His plans, He WANTS us to play a part in His plans! It is our purpose! What greater love is there than that?! He involves us because He loves us!
I remember when my son was a little boy he always wanted to help me with whatever I was doing, and when I let him play a role he was overjoyed, giddy, animated and a joy to behold! How much more is the joy of our Father in Heaven when we too want to help, to play a role in His plans?!
The Book is not closed!
Where am I going with this? That God loves us? Yes, but beyond anything we can imagine. How do I know this? Because I see it in my own life, the lives of others, and in His Word. Because I am Alive, I have Being, a Soul and Existence -all gifts from the One who loves me! Also, I know he loves us because of the Grace He has shown me and others by not closing The Book before we were brought to Truth. Because He keeps it open now in the very moment I write this and in the very moment you read it, so that no one is left behind. He leaves The Book open because as Peter explains …”He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation,” 2 Peter 3:15
What’s in it for ME?!
I know too that God loves us all because He gives each of us a role to play, and a specific “shape” with which to play that role. He made me for a specific purpose, and if I ask Him to help me identify who I am and for what purpose I was designed He will show me. If I then faithfully embrace and pursue the purpose for which He designed me I will be fulfilled beyond that of any mortal man, because I will no longer be mortal, rather, I will be the immortal child of God breathlessly following his Father around the Heavens asking, “Father, can I help you?”
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