Opportunists
Monday 25th August
In the fierce competition of the business world today, successful salesmen have learned to answer the objections that most often are given as the reason for not buying. Sales psychology has discovered that the objection given is rarely the real reason for the hesitation and those with patience and skill are often able to find the real objection and answer it in such a way to complete the transaction.
When we come to the scriptures of truth, we should try to be just as efficient in answering the common objections which those outside of Christ offer. All too often the first spark of interest is ignored for fear that we will appear foolish and the opportunity to tell another of God’s saving gospel is passed up. The other extreme is equally wrong. These pounce on the poor unbeliever with both feet and tell him as fast as their breath will allow that he is all wrong.
There is a right way and a wrong way to present the truth. As children of God we must not only be ”ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us with meekness and fear” but we should also be able to do it in such a way as to arrest their attention.
Paul showed us how to do this when he stood on Mars Hill in Athens. He took their own words and used them to profit in saying, ”I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.”
Jesus in calling fishermen to become preachers talked their language and said, ”Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Paul in describing his preaching declared ”I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake.” For the Gospel’s sake we too must adjust to the times and conditions around us in order to save some.
This by no means implies that we water down the gospel’s message. Far from it! Paul, while telling the men of Athens that they were too superstitious, used their own words, admitting an unknown God to declare unto them the true and living God. Paul was an opportunist. Christ was an opportunist. We also must be opportunists.
To do this we must ”preach the word; be instant in season and out of season.” We must always be prepared. We should be familiar with the objections and arguments that are most likely to confront us. Does Lucifer son of the morning and the great red dragon of Revelations teach a supernatural personal devil? Of course not, but our friends deserve a true explanation of these verses.
We possess the pearl of great price. There is nothing on this earth that can be compared to it. We are commanded to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Are we preaching the truth to those we know? Are we presenting it with skill and humility? We live in exciting times. We know what Russia will do, the outcome of the final world war, and many other things that can secure the attention of those around us. Let us be skillful in the word knowing that he who converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.