Don't "Try Jesus"

From a sermon by Ray Comfort:

Two men are seated in a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put it on as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first because he can’t see how wearing a parachute in a plane could possibly improve the flight. After a time he decides to experiment and see if the claim is true. As he puts it on he notices the weight of it upon his shoulders and he finds that he has difficulty in sitting upright. However, he consoles himself with the fact that he was told the parachute would improve the flight. So, he decides to give the thing a little time. As he waits he notices that some of the other passengers are laughing at him, because he’s wearing a parachute in a plane. He begins to feel somewhat humiliated. As they begin to point and laugh at him and he can stand it no longer, he slinks in his seat, unstraps the parachute, and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fill his heart, because, as far as he was concerned, he was told an outright lie.

The second man is given a parachute, but listens to what he’s told. He’s told to put it on because at any moment he’d be jumping 25,000 feet out of the plane. He gratefully puts the parachute on; he doesn’t notice the weight of it upon his shoulders, nor that he can’t sit upright.

The second man is struck by the truth and knowledge of death without the parachute. Outside jeering falls short of the peace, security, and joy in certain salvation that fills his heart. Surely he is grateful to the giver of that parachute. The first man just wanted the parachute solely to improve his flight, but ends up humiliated. Chances are, he wouldn't dare put that parachute back on to save any face he has left.

When leading others to Christ, don't falsely promise a great life. To do so is to sow seeds on the rocky places where there will be no root (Mark 4:16-17). Matthew 16:24 paraphrased is, "In the world's eyes, you gon' die if you follow Jesus. Prepare to get put up on a cross every second of your life." A life in Christ is most joyful, but trial is certain. Suffering is imminent.

It's a delicate thing, sharing the "Beloved child, God wants to hug you" Gospel vs. "Wretched sinner, God wants to save you from deserved wrath" Gospel. Both are vital. Yet I encourage those in the faith to not talk like a theologian when sharing to the lost, but use personal narrative to relate these truths. Don't testify about how bad life was before Christ and how your life is baller now (yeah, no); testify on how you're still short of His glory. how you don't deserve saving and repentance. how you're as wicked as the child pornographer and family-abandoning father.

and how you love your Jesus.