Evangelism Encounter: D.J.

    

 I work as a third shift security officer here in North Carolina, which is both good and bad. It's bad because I'm always tired, sleep is not my friend. But on the other hand It's good because I have a lot freedom on my shift.  One of the freedoms that I have is being able to converse and share the gospel with a variety of people. Tonight, I had the chance to talk with a young man named D.J. He's an African-American in his mid to late 20's. I've seen this dude around quite a bit. Tonight though was the opportunity that I've been waiting and praying for. As he sat alone in a booth at the local McDonalds, I approached him and asked, "D.J. can I ask you the most important question you'll ever be asked in life? Of course this caught his attention and curiosity, "Sure", he replied. I then asked, "D.J. if you died tonight, where would you spend eternity"? He gave the classic answer, "I think I'd go to heaven". I then asked him if I could ask a follow-up question. "Sure", was his reply. "Ok, you've died and you're standing before God and He asks you, "Why should I let you in to my heaven". I asked, "What would you say"?     This second question is what stumped him. He thought for a moment and started appealing to his personal goodness, "I'm not perfect, but I'm a good dude". "I've not crossed every "T" nor dotted every "I", but overall I think I'm good. That's when I proceeded to ask if he would take the, "good person test" to validate if in fact he is as good as he thinks. He said, "OK" I then told him that this test is based on the 10 commandments. I then asked, "Have you ever told a lie? He said, "Yes". I said, "what do you call a person who tells a lie"? "that's right! "A liar". I then asked, "have you ever stolen anything ever in life"? He responded, "Yes', I said, "What do you call someone who steals?, "that's right", "a thief". I finally asked, "Have you ever used God's name as a cuss word"? He said, "Of course", I said, "The Bible calls this kind of person a blasphemer".   I then told him, "D.J. by you own confession, you are a lying, thieving, blasphemer - No he didn't punch me - I said, "if you were to stand before God, on the basis of these commandments, would He find you innocent or guilty? He replied, "Guilty". I then said, 'therefore, would you go to heaven or hell"? He said, "Hell". "D.J. does that concern you? At this point, D.J. has become visibly uncomfortable and begins to argue with me. He say's, "I don't agree with your interpretation of the Bible". "I don't want to talk about this anymore". I said, "Before I go, I must tell you the good news". I then told him of the work of Christ on behalf of guilty, condemned sinners. "D.J., Jesus is man's only solution for his sin" Only through faith in Christ alone can you be rescued from the power and condemnation of your guilt and rebellion before a holy God" and receive new life. In fact the Bible clearly teaches, that if any man is in Christ, he is a new person, the old is gone and behold the new. I closed by saying, "D.J. you must put your total trust in Christ alone as your Savior and Lord" He was sitting on a bench inside the restaurant and I illustrated faith, by telling him, "Just like you have trusted this bench to hold you up, is the same way you are told to trust Jesus, you must put your whole weight on him". At this point i could tell he was ready for me to leave. So I told him, that I hope to see him again and if I could do anything to help him, to please let me know. and the encounter was over.
      Please pray for D.J. that God in his Sovereign grace would be pleased to save him by His mercy. Men every time God gives me the opportunity to share the faith(i.e. the gospel) I'm reminded afresh of why He left me and us on the earth.

For His Glory
Rev Todd