Last fall I looked out my office window to see a man sprawled out on the lawn under the shadow of the Calvary Bible Church monument sign. I watched him for a few minutes to see if he was moving. He wasn’t. He had a backpack under his head and grocery bag next to him but remained motionless. I hurried outside to check on him. He said he was just tired and needed to rest a bit before he could make it back to the home he was renting, a couple blocks away. I offered some water; he declined. Is there anything I can do for you? No.
I returned to my office and got back to work. About an hour later I looked again to see that he had not moved. When I checked on him a second time, he said he had lost all sense of strength in his legs and was too weak to walk. I offered to take him to the hospital or call an ambulance both of which he refused. I pleaded with him to let me take him home. When he reluctantly agreed, I drove my truck out on the lawn as close to him as possible, lifted him up into the seat, buckled him in, and drove to the place he was staying. Once there, I unbuckled him, lifted him out of the seat onto the sidewalk where he shuffled along as I carried most of his weight through the front door and onto a couch. You sure you don’t need a doctor? Do you want me to call a friend? Is there anything else I can do for you? No. No. No. He was ready for me to leave. As I stepped out of the house and closed the door, he thanked me and lived happily ever after.
I hope.
The fact is, I don’t know what happened to him. I thought a lot about him in the following days and tried to check on him but never did see him again. I wanted to do more, but it is hard to help people who don’t want help – even when they’re in obvious trouble.
All this reminds me of what it’s like today trying to help people see their need of Jesus. So many are in a terribly broken place, feeling weak and powerless. Their need for spiritual renewal is obvious. But they go on insisting: I’ll be OK; I don’t need help; I can do it. I just have to rest, center myself, and everything will be fine. I’m good!
As frustrating as it may be, we can’t make people accept the gospel – we can only keep telling it. This is the primary responsibility and work of the church: Preach the gospel! Sometimes people reject us. Sometimes the scales fall off and broken people believe in the name of Jesus. John 1:11, 12 describes the pattern this way:
He [Jesus] came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
The rejection of Jesus is commonplace. The salvation of repentant sinners is the miraculous work of God. We can’t do it, but we can tell the gospel that leads to it. Jesus promised he would empower his followers with the Holy Spirit to be witnesses right where they were – and then ultimately to all the world.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8
Our “Jerusalem” is Boulder, Erie, and Thornton. Let’s keep our eyes open for the broken who need the Savior and pray God will deliver them. I’m asking God to save hundreds of people through the ministry of Calvary in 2025. I’m asking you to pray for two or three people in your circle of influence to come to faith in Jesus this year.
Extending the gospel is our mission and our joy.
With you on the journey,
Tom
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