I have worked overseas for the past 14 years and lived in six different countries. Dealt with six different languages and adapted to the local way of life in each place. Everything from driving and shopping, to eating out and staying out of trouble were new experiences in each place. The State Department is pretty good about helping us settle in and they assign a sponsor to show you around, but that is never enough. You quickly learn to ask lots of questions. You ask a lot before you arrive and don’t stop until you leave. There is such a thing as a dumb question, but you ask any way to avoid more serious problems.
After you have lived somewhere for a while, you begin to answer questions yourself. Your experiences or the information you received from others becomes the help someone else needs. Because we live and work among the local population, we are also subjected to local conditions. We share news on traffic, weather, and dangerous conditions that might affect the lives of our coworkers and their families. We warn them of dangers or tell them how to avoid trouble. Many times, this sharing is for practical reasons, but it is often because we care about them and their well-being.
I thought of that the other day when I overheard a coworker saying he doesn’t like people talking about their religion. It seemed strange coming from this friendly person, who has a very outgoing personality. In our office, he loudly proclaims his views on a wide variety of topics to all who will listen. I also knew he was compassionate and stood up for the weak and less fortunate. He even spent some time as a missionary for his Church.
I believe if we were in danger, he would warn us and even go to extremes to try and keep us from being harmed. He wouldn’t be shy or hold back. If a fire broke out in our office, he wouldn’t just run out of the building without telling anyone. I am sure he’d sound the alarm and see that everyone got out. He would get angry if people ignored his warnings and drag people out, rather than leave them to burn to death.
If he cares so much about our safety, why would he not want people to be warned about Hell and told how to avoid it? Would he be embarrassed? The Bible clearly warns of the judgment, “if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15). We must warn them. Maybe the people around him haven’t heard the Good News that, “GOD so loved the world, He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him might not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We have to tell them. Some have risked their lives and even died to warn others and tell them. Maybe we can risk a little something ourselves?
Wayne Lance (2016) – That’s Good News to Share!