Jeffrey Smith's Blog

From the Inside Out

Today I have had an opportunity to sit back and truly think about what happened at City of Life through our Blink: The Door production.  It is one of the largest evangelistic outreaches in the history of our county. Since Blink began I have been getting dozens of messages every day from people who have found hope in Christ and that truly makes me happy.

 

One mom wrote me and said that her daughter had been taking boxing lessons before she knew the Lord at Blink. She came home after practice the next day and said, “Something doesn’t feel right anymore. I don’t want to hurt anyone now, I’m different”. Now I’m not coming down on boxing or other violent sports, (like football =)) but I think it is such a powerful thing when God turns people’s hearts and their outward life begins to reflect the inward change they have experienced.

 

One young man said that he was addicted to pills for two years and he hasn’t even had the desire since he accepted Christ on opening night.

 

Another satisfying element of what just happened is the powerful sense of purpose our church members have felt to reach others with the gospel. People do not want this to be the end of inviting people to church and telling them about Jesus in day to day conversations. I believe that is why we have experienced a true revival here in Osceola County. People are changed from the inside out. Now we move on to the beautiful task of trying to help these people grow in Christ and finish the race that they have just begun.

 

I’ll write more extensively about this amazing season very soon but I will leave you with a story that touched my heart. Before the Saturday night performance a couple approached me. They introduced themselves and told me that they were married and worked for Campus Crusade For Christ. As we began to talk the lady told me that they were so excited to see Blink again because she saw Blink 10 years ago when she was a devout Muslim that had just moved here from Iraq. Her life was radically transformed and now they are over the Middle East ministries for Campus Crusade. Joy just overflowed from her heart. It overwhelmed me at how good and gracious the Lord is.

 

It got me excited for what stories we might hear 10 years from now.

 

Fear vs. Hope

Living life with a Biblical worldview can sometimes be uncomfortable when conversations with certain people reach a point of contention. Such a moment occurred with me the other day when I was asked, very frankly, by a self proclaimed atheist if I believed in a literal hell. My answer apparently enraged her. She considers the notion of hell to be a contrived means of manipulating weak minded people into following a bunch of made up rules so that organized religion can manipulate people to eventually drain them of all their money, intelligence, and free-will. (or something like that) Though it is not a very original argument, I was enjoying the conversation.

She told me that I can only compel others by fear because of the prospect of hell. This brings up an interesting point. Can we effectively preach the gospel without preaching hell? 

A couple of points to ponder.

1. Jesus clearly taught on hell.

 Matthew 8:11-12, Mark 9:42-48, Luke 16:19-31

2. Since God is omnipresent, hell is the presence of God in His full judgment and wrath.

3. Hell is just because God is just.

4. Hell is ETERNAL.

There is no such thing as just disappearing when we die. Jonathan Edwards said,  “Wicked men will hereafter earnestly wish to be turned to nothing and forever cease to be that they may escape the wrath of God.”

When I answered the lady I was talking with I told her that I am compelled to preach BECAUSE I believe there is a literal hell. I told her my favorite part of the preaching is actually the hope of finding Jesus.

We need to preach with a balance. Preaching only hell would promote fear with no hope. Preaching only hope would make people lax because they wouldn't understand what they were being saved from. Luke 19:10 says that Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. He came to save people from what??? Hell. 

Talk about hope, but don't back down from reality. People need the truth even if it is hard to hear.

Christmas Shopping at the Mall

By: Jeffrey Smith Diverse faces in passage Tragic, damaged, hopeful, amused, vitriolic, oblivious. Souls compete for matter in tiny spaces The tangible becomes frivolous in the greater scheme With no regard for one another the mission is now a paradox Mathematics become fuzzy For the ones I know, love equals x But for these love equals…well, it just doesn’t seem to apply Even the strangers in the semi-circle see right through each other Nevertheless, off I go… I finished.

Love in Transit

     This past weekend I went to Traverse City Michigan with a friend of mine to a conference for fathers. It has been awhile since I've been in and out of airports for 2 days. Something really jumped out at me after a couple of days talking to other travelers and sharing my faith. People are so desperate for hope that they will generally put up with the idea of being uncomfortable for a few minutes, if someone who really cares conveys the truth in a loving way. I have shared my faith most of my life, but I admit at times I lose the motivation to deal with questions.       Let me encourage you if you feel that same way. Share your faith. Don't be afraid to ask people what they believe. It doesn't have to be some dramatic thing. It should be part of our daily lives. "As you go, proclaim the good news." (Matt. 10:7) Hmmm as you go. That is pretty intense. Stop waiting for a stadium filled with lost souls and someone to hand you a mic, and love the person next to you in line. Ask someone if there is anything you can pray about, or better yet, ask them if they know the Lord. What's the worst that could happen? You may not know an answer? That can happen while watching Jeopardy.