Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Poetry Post: These Are the Lost and Unaware (ft. Ramblings on Evangelism)

Today I want to talk about something that makes most of us inwardly squirm with discomfort.
Evangelism.
For some of us, it's easy. For most of us...it's hard. Sure, I could talk to my friends all day, but you'd have to pay me to go up and talk to a perfect stranger. Especially if I want to talk to them about Christ. Why? Why is it so hard for us to talk to people about our Savior? Why is it so hard to share the good news?
Well, there's a couple things, at least for me.
First and foremost: I'm afraid. Plain and simple. Of what? Rejection mostly. Also, the possibility of being mocked or laughed at or being thought less of.
Secondly, I have this terrible ailment called pride. I don't want people to think I'm "one of those crazy Christians". Am I wrong in this? Absolutely. I mean, I'm SUPPOSED to be "set apart", right? Trust me, I'm working on it. By God's grace I'll overcome this pride one day.
Lastly, I tell myself that'll I'll only mess things up if I try to share the gospel. God doesn't need our help to get His Word out to the people He wants to hear it, right? He could just have a Bible fall out of the sky and land in the hands of some person who was ready to accept the Truth. So why should I risk turning someone away from God by my rambling approach to the good news? 
I can't remember where I was or who it was that said this, but recently, someone said something that struck me as utterly profound. (Please don't laugh at what I'm about to disclose to you. I'm sure you thought of this LOOONG ago, but give us slower ones a chance to catch up, ok?)
Evangelism is a gift. It was one of the spiritual gifts mentioned in Ephesians. God GIVES us the opportunities to evangelize. And when we don't take them, it's actually turning down a gift from God.
When I realized this, it gave me a whole different aspect on evangelism. I realized that when I felt prompted to go up to someone and ask them if they knew about God and His Son's sacrifice, to refuse to reach out to them was to refuse a gift from God.
Does this mean I'll never be rejected again? Does it mean I'll never be mocked either directly or behind my back or have people think I'm some crazy weirdo? Does it mean I'll always present the gospel in the best possible way for that particular person? Ha! NO. Of course I'm going to be rejected. Probably a lot. But I only have to try. That's all God wants from us. He wants us to try.
It's like us taking that gift and beginning to unwrap it. It might take a long time for the gift to be opened, but if God wants that gift opened, He'll make it happen. And if we get to produce the first rip in the wrapping paper, it's because He decided we got to play a part in His plan. And doesn't that sound amazing?
Ok, ramble over.

I really wanted to post this because I wrote a poem recently and wanted to share it with you. But I got carried away with talking about evangelism. Sorry about that. ;) Hey, maybe someone out there needed to hear this. So I'm leaving the rant in.
However, now I'll go on to the real post by introducing, without further ado:

These Are the Lost and Unaware
A poem by Rebekah Eddy
 
Happiest smiles hide the most hurting hearts
Where the scar ends is where the wound starts
To the rest of the world life seems almost unreal
Desperate for someone to hear their appeal
When they cry out in fear or in pain
When used by others for their own selfish gain
Their whole life feels worthless and empty
A mere raindrop in the vast open sea
But they put on a show for the world
A stage where their life is unfurled
They practice their lies day and night
Until even they have begun to lose sight
Blinding themselves with deception
Nodding at their phony reflection
They think they can make it to heaven
Convinced their flour outweighs their leaven
Clutching in a hundred thousand sweaty palms
Their good deeds, their dirty rags as alms
These are the lost and unaware

We were once like those poor fearful souls 
Believing in things that were quite full of holes 
Only by the grace of our God alone 
Can we look forward to the judgment throne 
But while we are here in amongst the cries 
The broken hearts and the same old lies 
 Are we gonna just stand around down here 
Ignoring a world of faces full of fear?
Are we gonna go and share the good news
Or hide behind our precious church pews
The harvest is ready, the fields are white
Why stop now when the goal is in sight?
The harvest is plenty, the workers are few
Stop waiting around, there is so much to do
Open your bible, go talk to that person 
Open your ears and be there to listen
Share God's truth without hesitation
All it needs from us is some presentation
We are the sinners saved by grace



Don't forget, my giveaway is still going on! If you haven't entered yet, here are the links you need! :) Three lucky people are going to walk away with a copy of one of my books...don't think YOU might not be one! :D Have fun!

First giveaway: An autographed copy of "The Silver Flower"!
Second giveaway: An autographed copy of (my yet to be released) "Alice & Alyssa"!
Third (and final) giveaway: An autographed copy of my newest novel "The Princess and I"!

Until I post again, let everything you do be done for the glory of God! :)





10 comments:

  1. This was convicting and difficult and I loved it. I need to go find someone to share the gospel with.

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    Replies
    1. <3 Thank you . It was convicting for me as I wrote it, believe me.

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  2. there are so many people in need of Jesus. I think we need to hear this more often, so thank you for sharing❤
    Janelle
    《 The Ramblings of a Bookworm 》
    https://rozandnellie.blogspot.com/?m=1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, there are. I know I need to be reminded more often! ;) Thanks for your encouraging comment. <3

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  3. Great thoughts and a great poem. I love the idea of evangelism being a gift! That is a really great way to explain it! Thank you for sharing your poem, Rebekah :)

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad my ramblings made sense! ;) thank you for enjoying my post. ^_^

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  4. So inspiring, Rebekah! We all need to hear this more often. It's too easy to go about our daily lives and forget about all the lost souls out there. I've been thinking about evangelism a lot recently. The way I've been evangelizing lately is quiet, but I'm praying it's helping people. I've been writing encouraging scripture verses on shells, and leaving them places (like outside a store, or the library, etc.).
    Feel free to use the idea if you feel called to. :)
    (And happy belated birthday! :D)
    -Tirzah

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    Replies
    1. That's so amazing! You go, girl! Sometimes quiet evangelism is the best way to go, especially here in America where we like our personal space and being left alone by people we don't know. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. This was really thought-provoking, Rebekah! Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you found it so. :) That was my goal. ;) Thank you for your lovely comment.

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