Planning how I could start a conversation.I knew I had to open the cage and face this 600-pound gorilla called fear.
So when she attempted to buy something from the hawker and she did not have change-I grabbed the opportunity.
I quickly reached for my wallet and offered tax-free change-to which I received a silky voiced “Thanks”
I was still far from starting an interaction though. All my initial questions got a cold reception.
After some persistence, I finally broke through. She told me her names- clearly indicating she was Muslim.
This kind of sent chillers down my spine.I absentmindedly swung the Joyce Meyer magazine I was holding in her direction to kind of send off the “Am Christian” signals.
“So where do you think people go when they die” I asked
I knew by all means I had to share my faith with her. The launching was going to be the problem.
Unbelievers often think Christians are hostile to what they believe so i decided to ask her first how I could become a Muslim.
“You just believe… in your heart”
I gulped and in turn asked her whether she knew how someone becomes a Christian.
With full guidance from above, I simply started there. Told her my salvation story. Thoughts on death and eternal life. Took her through the Ten Commandments for her to see that we are all naturally sinners who need divine intervention.
I introduced Christ’s offer to take the punishment that was meant for us on the cross. All that so we may repent, believe him and get eternal life.
Because she was a university student-I found it intellectual to also share that the Nazarene’s death and resurrection could be proved, even outside the Bible.
By the time she stepped out of the bus. She looked all relieved and thanked me for the conversation and promised to “Think about these things.”
I was glad I had not listened to my fears, the scenario also reminded me you might face the same gorilla (fear) next time you attempt to share your faith.
But doesn’t perfect love cast out fear anyway, 1 John 4:18 seems to suggest so. And indeed it did cast out my fear that day.With the lady on the bus
May the love for the lost throw out all your fears too next time you talk to your non believing buddy.
