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Truth which should be obvious for a need which is obvious.
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“Show me your redeemed life and I might be inclined to believe in your Redeemer.” Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)
“Preach the gospel at all times; and, when necessary, use words.” Francis of Assisi
“Feed the starving children; when necessary, use food.” R. Comfort
“I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.… For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me. John 17:4 & 8.
The final preceding quote was from the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Look at it again. In Revelation 3:14. He is called “the faithful and true witness.” Isn’t that a wonderful commendation? Do we desire anything less? Do we do anything less?
As suggested by the first quote given, there certainly is much to be said for a godly life. “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” James 2:18. Our Lord Jesus challenged those who did not believe His witness to examine His works, the works which corroborated His witness: “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.” John 10:37. And the story has been told of a Christian mechanic (from Scotland, if I remember correctly) who was sent to work temporarily in a heathen oriental community. He could speak only a few words of the language, but his character so impressed his neighbors that, after the mechanic had left, the locals sought out a missionary, wanting to know what made that Christian mechanic so good. God does use well-lived lives.
People often quote “St. Francis” (the second introductory quote on the first page); but we should ask ourselves if that very popular quote is indeed well supported by either experience or by Scripture. Suppose that the above-mentioned mechanic had had not only a knowledge of God’s ways and Word, but also had a working knowledge of the local language, and had not spoken for Christ. Would that not have been a serious failure? God says, “He that hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully.” Jeremiah 23:28. And the Apostle Paul says, “We also believe and therefore speak.” 2 Corinthians 4:13. And in Acts 14:1, we see the effect of Paul’s speaking: “They … so spake that a great multitude … believed.” More-over, the Lord Jesus prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.” John 17:20. God certainly uses words. The Bible itself is ample witness to that.
The prayer of the Lord Jesus cited in the above paragraph is very encouraging. Many believers hesitate to speak for Christ because they don’t know what to say and do not trust their memory to be able to quote Scripture correctly. But, while God’s Word is most effective, the Lord can use what we say from our hearts as long as our hearts represent His. That is why Jesus prayed, saying, “their word.” In fact, God can use anything He chooses to use, but He delights to use what we willingly give in concert with Him.
Driving through my home neighborhood one evening long ago, I smelled strong smoke, suggestive of a sizeable trash fire. Because local law prohibited trash fires, I pulled over to investigate, and discovered a fire in an otherwise dark house. After pounding on the doors with no response, I ran to the well-lit house next door and pounded on the door there. I didn’t give much forethought to what I should say. I simply said, “Call the fire department. The house next door is on fire.” The man who answered the door believed me, called the fire department, and the house was saved, and nobody was hurt.
What is the point? I simply spoke as the occasion and its urgency de-manded, as no doubt you would have; and there were positive results. The lost are all around us, in great danger; and God gives us occasions and waits to help us with those occasions, as we wait on Him for them. All believers may be considered to be stewards of the Gospel. “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2. “Faithful” is God’s chosen term—not “brilliant,” or “eloquent,” or “perfect.” Observing the current conditions and the prevalent distress, don’t we smell the smoke of imminent judgment?
Timothy, in Scripture, appears to have had something of a backward, retiring, shy nature, but Paul (in 2 Timothy 4) exhorted him to “Do the work of an evangelist.” What did Paul expect him to do? “Preach the word.” And the context makes it plain that Paul was not recommending mere lifestyle evangelism.
Gospel tracts can often be very useful for developing the occasions God gives us. Presented with a smile and perhaps with a friendly comment, tracts may often be accepted, and they carry God’s Word where we often cannot go and may be used in ways we never suspected down here and which will absolutely amaze us when revealed in glory.
Perhaps the quote by R. Comfort at the beginning of this article may deserve a little attention. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:4. Francis of Assisi appears to have suggested that good works alone might be adequate to communicate the gospel. They are not. Our Lord Jesus lived a perfect life and He spoke for God. The word of God should indeed be translated in our lives, but it is the literal Word of God (the communicated message) which brings life: “Of his own will begat He us with the word of truth.” James 1:18. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.” 1 Peter 1:23. He who holds the Word of God in his heart and hand, holds the greatest power ever committed to man. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16.