Only Two Chairs

Sometimes God works in our lives by giving us a desire and then limiting our choices. Tonight I am at rehearsal with my oldest two daughters and am trying to redeem the two hours of waiting but there's just not much to do. I brought a book to read, "Preaching God's Word," to sharpen my preaching skills (or develop them). As I began to look for a nice chair to sit in I found the only chair on the floor was connected to another chair. In that other chair was a Muslim man praying to his god and facing the east. What was my initial reaction, you ask? I thought, "Why did those crazy chair manufacturers have to join those chairs?" :)

Then I realized the irony of what was about to happen if I wanted to make the most of my time. I was about to sit next to a man praying to a god I don't believe in, and then read a book on how to effectively communicate to people the message of the God who wrote a book (the Bible) that this man doesn't believe in. Would I sit down next to him and study for my God's glory as he prayed for his God's glory?

I decided to sit down. Was it awkward? Yes. At first it was. Then I realized that he was not offended by my presence. I wasn't offended by his either. He wasn't pushing his faith onto me. Nor was I pushing mine on him. And there we sat, together yet separate, in those two chairs with each man praying to his own God.

There is a spiritual battle in this world that often goes unseen. This battle is for the souls of men and women and children. In essence, I see the battle represented by two choices, or two chairs if you will. We can either choose to glorify and worship God, or we can choose to glorify and worship ourselves.

Pray for this man in the other chair. Pray for me in my chair. Pray for the truth of God to be revealed on earth as it is in heaven. God has shown himself faithful, powerful, and loving through the death and resurrection of his Son. Jesus is the Messiah we have been waiting for. Let's engage our Lord and seek his Spirit to empower us and bring good news to people of all nations.

This Muslim man was praying to satisfy a wrathful god. But God's wrath is already satisfied through Jesus. This man also believes that no one can truly know if they are going to heaven, so he does not have the peace of knowing his sins are forgiven.  But this man can have life and peace and forgiveness when he embraces Jesus as his Redeemer.

Pray earnestly.

P.S. I did have the opportunity to speak to this man about my faith, and I also listened to him speak of his faith. While this man didn't have a divine moment of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, it's very encouraging to know that these conversations of who Christ is CAN happen. I pray God will open more doors of opportunity to sit down and share the testimony of Jesus Christ.