A Passion for the Gospel

We were driving in a taxi in China. A local church leader was sitting next to the driver and they started talking. It soon became clear that he was explaining what the Lord Jesus meant to him and what salvation meant. They were having a friendly dialogue with questions flowing both ways. As we were getting out the driver was given a leaflet that explained the gospel with a contact address.

The next day we were driving in another taxi with a church leader from a different church. A friendly discussion started up and they soon moved onto what life was all about. This then led to a friendly dialogue about the gospel. Again this driver was given a leaflet by the Christian.

These Christians meant business. They were so sure about the gospel that they felt it was important that everybody understands what it is about.

This morning, in my morning Bible reading, I read the opening section of John’s first epistle. He clearly had a similar passion about passing on the gospel about Jesus.

“. . . that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us . . . This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you . . “ 1 John 1:3-5

In chapter two, John mentions eight times ‘I am writing to you . . ‘ Why is he emphasisng this? Surely he is stressing the importance of his bothering to communicate what God wants them to know.

Similar phrases are repeated throughout this short letter.

“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning . . .” 1 John 3:11

“We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us.” 1 John 4:6

“And the Spirit is one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.” 1 John 5:6

“I write these things to you who believe . . .” 1 John 5:13

“And we know that the Son of God has come to give us understanding so that we may know him who is true.” 1 John 5:20

May I share one example of how talking about Jesus can have surprising effects?

A Christian, working in Thailand, was travelling along a dirt road in the local bus, a converted truck. It was very hot. He started chatting to a small, wiry man sitting next to him. After a while the man told him about a dream he had just had. He dreamt that he was suffering from leprosy but had been cured through a western man who apparently looked like his fellow traveller!

“What do you think of the dream?” The Christian asked. “Could it be that you are about to experience something special?”

The local man’s name was Mr. Gram and he lived in a nearby village. He clearly did not have leprosy so the Christian reasonably wondered if God was preparing him for something deeper than physical healing.

As the journey continued the Christian explained that he had a responsibility to share the news that God had provided new life, a very different life, for those who trust in Jesus, God’s Son. The man was keen to learn more but the noise of the bus and the swirling dust made conversation difficult so they arranged to meet up later in his village home.

A little later the Christian did visit Mr. Gram in his home and received a warm welcome and he returned several times over the following weeks. He was introduced to the family and was able to explain the gospel to them all. They committed their lives to follow Jesus.

One one occasion asked about Mr. Gram’s life and work. He replied,

“I assemble a group of workmen, and we go and build houses.” Then he added, ‘But I also have another job - I’m an assassin! On the day you met me on the bus I was going on a job to kill someone! After meeting you, though, I changed my mind. Something must have spoken inside me. So I got off the bus, crossed the road, and took the next bus home.”

The Christian was astonished to learn that his presence on that bus that day had not only prevented a murder but resulted in Mr. Gram and his family changing the direction of their lives. Those who are led by the Lord are the fragrance of life and death to those we meet day by day.

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15

Having given up his sideline in assassinations, Mr Gram became a key figure in the small Christian group that began meeting in the village. He was later chosen to be the builder of a new church in the local town.

What fruit from a chance meeting on a bus!

This article is taken from the prologue in ‘Mud, Bullets and Open Roads’ by David Robinson, published by 10 Publishing and OMF.