Like for most of you, last week my life was going pretty normal. I had taught an evangelism class to some local believers in a nearby city, and was traveling around the country doing ministry like normal.
However, like many of you, that “normal” turned to “abnormal” pretty quickly.
The first case of CV19 was announced here Wednesday night. I had a flight booked on Friday to go visit some friends in a distant part of the country (while there were still fewer than 6 confirmed cases). However, while I was waiting at my gate, the airline announced that my flight was canceled, as were many flights to/from that region of the country. It was a late flight (we were supposed to take off at 11pm and land at 1 am), so it was a poor time to need to change plans or find a new place to stay.
I ended up deciding to see if I could catch a 8 hour bus ride home. The Lord was gracious and opened the door so I could do that. After the one hour transit ride from the airport to the bus station, I ended up getting the last seat on the last bus to my city, about 3 minutes before it was to leave the station! I didn’t even get a chance to use the bathroom before it left (which, I needed, by the way!)
Normally I try to sleep during overnight bus rides, but this time I wasn’t very successful at that, so when I got to the bus station in my city, I was pretty tired.
I caught a taxi home. When I got in, I felt this pull on my heart that I should share the gospel with my taxi driver. Because I was so tired, though, I ended up pushing that down and tried not to listen.
We started driving, and the taxi driver started chatting and asking me questions, as most taxi drivers do.
Now, I’ve felt convicted recently about Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14-15
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can not be hidden Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Jesus seems to be pretty emphatic about the fact that, if we’re truly following and obeying Him, the world will see it and know it.
If that’s true, then the only way that people won’t see the light of Jesus in us is if we purposefully hide it.
So, I’ve had the conviction these last few weeks to not hide the truth at all, no matter what. I’m not ashamed of the Gospel (Rom 1:16)
So, when this taxi driver started asking me about what I do, I was 100% honest with him. I told him I’m a student. I told him I’m a computer programmer. And then, I told him I’m a Bible teacher.
He replied, “The Bible? Like, Jesus and stuff?”
Me: “Yeah”.
Driver: “No way! That’s awesome. Hey, could I buy you a coffee some time? I’d love to hear more about that!”
Me: “More about what?”
Driver: “About the Bible, and Jesus, and all that. Like, I know we don’t have much time driving right now, but can you tell me about what you believe?”
Me: “haha…yeah… yeah I can”
So, I explained the gospel to him… probably more clearly and fully than during any “evangelism” time I’ve purposefully gone out for in the last couple years. He literally stopped me when I was explaining and said, “Wait, did you say that Jesus rose again from the dead?!?”
“Yeah,” I replied. “Jesus lived a sinless life, and was Himself God, so when He died, death had no power over Him. He defeated death, and rose again.”
“That’s amazing!” said the taxi driver. “Man… I wish I could have a Bible to read for myself… but I don’t know any English, and I don’t think they have it in my language.”
“Well….. actually…… ” I said, slowly reaching down into my backpack. “I have a Bible in your language right here, if you want it and if you’ll read it.”
“No way! Really? Yes! I’d love one!”
We chatted a bit more, and I explained a bit about the Bible – about the stories of Jesus, and how everything is divided, and all that.
In the end, he said, “Man, thank you so much! I’m going to read this. And when my work calms down and this corona stuff blows over, I’m going to buy you a coffee, and I’ll ask you all the questions that come up from reading about Jesus.”
“Awesome, man. I look forward to it!” 🙂
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