Romans 1:19-20 English Standard Version

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

What is not obvious to the lost is that God the Father wants to be known. In my experience God is able to make Himself known. I have no excuse. God revealed Himself to me, He found me, He initiated first contact. I would say that my experience is not normal. I tend to shy away from telling anyone of my first encounter. The lost have just now moved from skepticism into listening. Do not destroy that trust with tales that are hard to accept by those seeking to understand.

Do not endanger the trust you just gained.

Perhaps it is better to ask if they have sought comfort somewhere, from someone. Allow them to tell you where they sought help. That will give you a base to work from. Listening to them gauges a measure of understanding in their experiences, success or failure. Listening will only improve your trust value. Do not judge, analyze.

Luke 12:14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

Do not get in a hurry. Force feeding a starving man only leads to choking on what is good for him.

Remember these people are coming out of dangerous lifestyles so it is important not to invoke the threat of eternal damnation. We want them to know that our God is a loving God before they discover all the attributes of God.

The bible invokes the term “fear not” sixty-three times.

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

His Kingdom is a new way of living and unlike anything they have been through before. The promise of that is God’s promise not ours, we are just the messengers. Never make a promise you cannot keep.

It is important for them to know that it is Jesus Christ that makes the difference in this life and that we too were estranged from God at one time. God’s plan from the very beginning was to gather all of His children together into one family.

Matthew 25:31-40 English Standard Version

The Final Judgment

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Jesus told us that we are to get involved for His sake, not our own. Doing all these things begins with the intention to glorify Him not ourselves. Lost souls will see right through any deception, they view all things with an eye of skepticism. At some point, when they see you have no self interest they will ask, “Why are you doing this?’ Your answer should be, “Because I was where you are today.”

• Ephesians 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
• Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

It is important that we know how they feel because while our stories might differ slightly the cause is the same and the answer to their dilemma is the same.

Once we have earned their trust then the real work of the gospel can begin. The plan God the Father set in place to bring His sons and daughters home.

It begins in discovering the One True God for there is no other.