Recently at work a colleague started to ask me questions regarding my faith. The conversation started off quite peaceably and he even said that he admired me for my faith. He mentioned that he had no faith so I quickly corrected him, for people exercise faith every day, whether it be in the mechanics of an elevator or in the skills of a bus driver. Granted, it is not faith in God, but it is still faith.
As the conversation progressed I continued to make a case for God's existence. It was interesting to note the change in demeanour of my colleague as I did this. He had been quite pleasant to me until now. However, he was starting to dig in as I talked. Then he came out with this statement: “It's time for God to show Himself.”
Many people will be quick to say that they will believe in God if He would show Himself to them in all His glory. But is this really the case? Would they believe in Him to the degree that they would surrender their lives to Him? There are two things to consider in answering this. Firstly, we see in Scripture examples of people not believing, even after seeing great miracles performed by God (John 12:37). Secondly, the Bible makes it clear that a person cannot submit to God and trust in Him completely unless God first does a supernatural work in His heart (John 6:44). It is not that a man will not believe in God, rather it is that he cannot believe in God (Romans 8:7). He is dead in his sin and must first be made alive (Ephesians 2:4-5). God must cause him to be born again (1 Peter 1:3).
I responded to my colleague by telling him that God had already shown Himself to this world and people still did not believe (John 1:11). Besides all this, His creation alone is sure proof of His existence, and it leaves all people without excuse before Him (Romans 1:20). He dismissed this and said that Jesus's death was too long ago to count, and that modern science had provided a far better and rationale answer for our existence.
It was a response I have heard time and time again. If I'd had the time to sit down with him and if he was willing to listen I could respond appropriately to his objections. But my window was short and we were already talking on work time, so I simply said: “Ultimately people do not believe in God because they don't want to believe in God. Evolution is embraced because to admit that there is a God is to admit that one day you will have to stand accountable before Him. God has already offered salvation to all who trust in Jesus Christ. God has indeed shown Himself, and His creation and His Word is a testimony to the truth of He is and what He has done.”
I praise God for this window of opportunity. I didn't get to say a lot, but the Lord uses many to sow, and He uses many to reap.
Do pray for my colleague and those who were listening near by.
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