It is awesome to me how God so often works to orchestrate events for His good pleasure. Some weeks ago I arrived home from work and immediately began getting ready to leave for the weekly prayer meeting at my church. I had in mind to travel by train and it takes me at least an hour to get there. The meeting starts at 8.00pm so I left home at approximately 6.35pm. Prior to leaving I had prayed to God that He would give me opportunities to witness. Little did I know how He would intervene to do just that.
I arrived at the station just before 7.00pm and looked at the train times to see when my train was due to arrive. I had just over ten minutes to wait. The train came at 7:11pm and so on I got. Looking around I was disappointed to find that there wasn’t really anybody I could approach and witness to. Of the passengers on the train most were either reading or listening to music. Whilst witnessing to strangers is something I do quite regularly, I do make a point of not being overly obtrusive.
After travelling for about fifteen minutes the train conductor arrived asking to see out tickets. I pulled out my ticket and showed it to him. I was surprised to discover that the train would not be stopping at the change-over stop I need (Clapham Junction) but would be proceeding onto Waterloo. I arrived at Waterloo and quickly made my way to the departure screen to see what platform I needed to head to. By now it was 7.40pm. I did not have much time and boy was I getting frustrated. I could not see my destination (Wandsworth Common) on the screen and so I headed for the information desk. What I discovered frustrated me even more. It turned out that I would have to go back to Clapham Junction, get off and change trains once more. Was I ever going to get to the prayer meeting?!!
I boarded my train at Waterloo. It would only be a few stops before Clapham Junction and so if I was to witness to anybody I would have to be quick about it. I do not believe we should ever rush through the gospel when witnessing, but with a little wisdom we can condense the message in such a way so that the person is still able to hear all the necessary essentials. I got talking to a young New Zealander named Stephen. He was a polite young man and willing to chat. I discovered that he was an agnostic in terms of his view of God. I was able to show him that the evidence for God’s existence is all around us. A building proves there was a builder. A painting proves there was a painter. And a creation proves that there is a Creator. Using the Ten Commandments I then reasoned with him of sin, righteousness and judgement. Unfortunately time did not allow me to share the entire gospel with him; we got to Clapham Junction and he had to leave. I can only pray that God will speak to him through that which was sown in his heart.
Arriving at Clapham Junction I was dismayed to find that the train to Wandsworth Common was delayed. Normally the particular train I need to catch comes through quite regularly. It is only one stop from Clapham Junction to Wandsworth Junction and so finally I was nearing my destination. Yet there was no way to tell how long the train was to be delayed, and so although any chance of arriving at the prayer meeting on time was no now far spent, I instead took hold of the opportunity and began to witness to those who were just standing about waiting for their train.
The first person I approached was a young guy called Andrew. Although at times he did seem distracted he was open enough to talk with me of spiritual things. I was able to share the whole counsel of God with him and for that I rejoice. He told me that his family was Rastafarian and so converting to Christianity would be a difficult thing for him to do. I do believe, though, that he understood his need to repent and trust in Jesus. May the Lord grant him repentance and faith!!
The next person I got to witness to was a guy called Tom. Rather than using the million pound note tract I decided to instead use the optical illusion tract that LivingWaters produces. These two pink and blue curved cards are identical in size but when you hold them up they appear different in size. As you switch them over the blue appears bigger and then the pink, etc. It’s a great optical illusion trick and people love it. Tom in particular thought it was very impressive. At this point I must point out that had it not been for something he said I would not have even used this tract (I had in mind to use a million pound note). As I approached him and began talking he asked me whether or not I was a magician. Perhaps the wallet of tracts that I was carrying in my hand gave it away, I’m not sure. It was great that I was able to live up to his estimation of me!!
The train for Wandsworth Common finally came and I climbed on board. It was jam packed and there really was very little room to move. It was a great opportunity to get real close to people! There was an American chap next to me so I decided to give him the million dollar bill tract. Some young girls saw me do that and they asked for some too. At this point I decided to impress them with the optical illusion tract. They were impressed, and so was everyone else standing near by! I had a captive audience! Unfortunately there was no time to share the gospel as my train arrived at Wandsworth. As I got off one chap said, “Thanks for the entertainment.” Quite extraordinary that God would give me the opportunity to entertain in order to provide some people with the gospel.
The Bible says, “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). God is looking for those who want to be used by Him for His glory. Be that person today.
I arrived at the station just before 7.00pm and looked at the train times to see when my train was due to arrive. I had just over ten minutes to wait. The train came at 7:11pm and so on I got. Looking around I was disappointed to find that there wasn’t really anybody I could approach and witness to. Of the passengers on the train most were either reading or listening to music. Whilst witnessing to strangers is something I do quite regularly, I do make a point of not being overly obtrusive.
After travelling for about fifteen minutes the train conductor arrived asking to see out tickets. I pulled out my ticket and showed it to him. I was surprised to discover that the train would not be stopping at the change-over stop I need (Clapham Junction) but would be proceeding onto Waterloo. I arrived at Waterloo and quickly made my way to the departure screen to see what platform I needed to head to. By now it was 7.40pm. I did not have much time and boy was I getting frustrated. I could not see my destination (Wandsworth Common) on the screen and so I headed for the information desk. What I discovered frustrated me even more. It turned out that I would have to go back to Clapham Junction, get off and change trains once more. Was I ever going to get to the prayer meeting?!!
I boarded my train at Waterloo. It would only be a few stops before Clapham Junction and so if I was to witness to anybody I would have to be quick about it. I do not believe we should ever rush through the gospel when witnessing, but with a little wisdom we can condense the message in such a way so that the person is still able to hear all the necessary essentials. I got talking to a young New Zealander named Stephen. He was a polite young man and willing to chat. I discovered that he was an agnostic in terms of his view of God. I was able to show him that the evidence for God’s existence is all around us. A building proves there was a builder. A painting proves there was a painter. And a creation proves that there is a Creator. Using the Ten Commandments I then reasoned with him of sin, righteousness and judgement. Unfortunately time did not allow me to share the entire gospel with him; we got to Clapham Junction and he had to leave. I can only pray that God will speak to him through that which was sown in his heart.
Arriving at Clapham Junction I was dismayed to find that the train to Wandsworth Common was delayed. Normally the particular train I need to catch comes through quite regularly. It is only one stop from Clapham Junction to Wandsworth Junction and so finally I was nearing my destination. Yet there was no way to tell how long the train was to be delayed, and so although any chance of arriving at the prayer meeting on time was no now far spent, I instead took hold of the opportunity and began to witness to those who were just standing about waiting for their train.
The first person I approached was a young guy called Andrew. Although at times he did seem distracted he was open enough to talk with me of spiritual things. I was able to share the whole counsel of God with him and for that I rejoice. He told me that his family was Rastafarian and so converting to Christianity would be a difficult thing for him to do. I do believe, though, that he understood his need to repent and trust in Jesus. May the Lord grant him repentance and faith!!
The next person I got to witness to was a guy called Tom. Rather than using the million pound note tract I decided to instead use the optical illusion tract that LivingWaters produces. These two pink and blue curved cards are identical in size but when you hold them up they appear different in size. As you switch them over the blue appears bigger and then the pink, etc. It’s a great optical illusion trick and people love it. Tom in particular thought it was very impressive. At this point I must point out that had it not been for something he said I would not have even used this tract (I had in mind to use a million pound note). As I approached him and began talking he asked me whether or not I was a magician. Perhaps the wallet of tracts that I was carrying in my hand gave it away, I’m not sure. It was great that I was able to live up to his estimation of me!!
The train for Wandsworth Common finally came and I climbed on board. It was jam packed and there really was very little room to move. It was a great opportunity to get real close to people! There was an American chap next to me so I decided to give him the million dollar bill tract. Some young girls saw me do that and they asked for some too. At this point I decided to impress them with the optical illusion tract. They were impressed, and so was everyone else standing near by! I had a captive audience! Unfortunately there was no time to share the gospel as my train arrived at Wandsworth. As I got off one chap said, “Thanks for the entertainment.” Quite extraordinary that God would give me the opportunity to entertain in order to provide some people with the gospel.
The Bible says, “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). God is looking for those who want to be used by Him for His glory. Be that person today.
