LIVES WORTH LEADING
NOW IS THE TIME
WITNESSING GOD’S GRACE FOR ALL SINNERS BY COLIN MCCARTNEY
O
ften, in my ministry, I have the incredible opportunity to participate in people getting baptized. In most cases, the person being baptized has experienced some really rough times since I serve in inner-city neighbourhoods. What I love about these baptisms is that each person going under the water has experienced God’s eternal love for them. They are testimonies of God’s immense love for all people at all times and in all circumstances. Each baptism reminds me that at this very second God is at work on every single individual on this planet — drawing them towards his salvation in Christ Jesus. Incredible isn’t it? I know gang bangers, drug dealers, pimps and more who have come to accept the love of God in Christ Jesus and each one of them will tell you that even in their darkest sins God was working on them because God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (See 1 Timothy 2:4). So, God is busy at work in all people’s souls. The Apostle Paul said this; “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” – 2 Corinthians 6:1,2 Did you catch that? Paul says; “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” This is true for every person you meet and see. The time is “now” for them to be saved because God’s favor is “now” in their lives.
THE TIME IS Let me illustrate how this “NOW” FOR to let this man, witch looks. I know a Pastor who and all, to be the church THEM TO had new neighbours move photographer. BE SAVED in next door to them. This One day, months later, BECAUSE Pastor went over with her the witch invited the husband to welcome these Pastor out for a coffee to GOD’S FAVOR newcomers with a steaming chat about something. It IS “NOW” IN hot plate of homemade was here, over a cup of THEIR LIVES. cookies. In return, the java, that he told her that neighbours invited this he asked Jesus into his life. Pastor and her husband over for He had changed his prayer room to dinner that night. While touring the Satan into a prayer room to Jesus! How house they were introduced to what did he become a Christian? He was the host called their prayer room. moved by the testimony of someone Inside this room were candles, strange in the church in whom he got to know statues and pictures and an eerie by taking his picture for the testimony ambiance of evil. The host declared section of the church newsletter! that he was a witch and it was here “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is that he prayed to Satan. This began the day of salvation.” an incredible friendship of a Christian This witch was never out of God’s couple and a pagan couple, a Pastor favor, never out of God’s salvation. and a witch, living as neighbours in a God was always working on him and nice suburban neighbourhood. in time this witch, in whom most One Sunday at church the Pastor Christians would say is out of God’s got up to make an announcement grace, came to know of his sin and about the need for a photographer accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. for their church newsletter. To her What a wonderful God we serve! surprise, sitting at the back of the sanctuary was the witch! It shocked the Pastor to see him at her church. / COLIN MCCARTNEY is an ordained What shocked her more was that at minister, speaker, and a bestselling the end of the service he volunteered author. He is also the founder of to be the church photographer. The UrbanPromise Toronto and now leads Pastor was at her wit’s end. Does Connect Ministries in Toronto where he, she allow a witch to be the church his wife Judith, and their two children photographer? If yes, does she tell the reside. For information in booking Colin rest of the pastors that their church as a speaker, please visit photographer is a witch? She decided www.connectministries.org.
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019 SEVEN 31
