First the Bad News…
Imagine being at the Doctor’s office for a routine check up. Suddenly, your Doctor bursts in through the door: “I’ve got great news for you!” The Doctor can hardly contain her joy; as a matter of fact you see her eyes welling up with tears. Quite mystified, and not sure how to respond, you ask, “What is it? What’s the great news?” She approaches you slowly, places her hands on your hands, and says with whispered tones, “I have found the cure for you.” Now you don’t want to be rude; you actually like the fact that she’s so happy. However, one question is pounding around throughout your head that you can’t seem to make go away: “Cure for what?!!!?”
Christians in their zeal to “proclaim the good news of salvation” are often times like this Doctor. They tell people of how they can “be saved.” “Jesus loves you,” or “Jesus saves” may be phrases that are thrown around by excited Christians. Unfortunately, as true as these statements are, without sharing what Jesus saves us from, what He cures us of, these words may just mystify the average person. Like the patient in the Doctors office, the person is right to ask, “Saved from what?” In order for a cure to be seen as good news we need a diagnosis, as hard as it may be to hear.
The Bible’s diagnosis: “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23). Sin is any imperfection; any disobedience to God’s holy law (Matt. 5:48). The consequences are dire: “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23). What is death? Eternal torment in hell (Matt. 18:8). Since all have sinned, all people (including you) need a Savior, someone with the Cure. Now read these next words carefully: Jesus saves.
So you’re sitting in the Doctor’s office and the Doctor says, “You have cancer. It’s spreading all over your body and literally you would have a few days to live.” You feel like you’ve just been hit in the stomach, and your face has turned ghostly white. But then the Doctor smiles, places his hand on your shoulder and says, “Fortunately, for you I have good news…”
Imagine being at the Doctor’s office for a routine check up. Suddenly, your Doctor bursts in through the door: “I’ve got great news for you!” The Doctor can hardly contain her joy; as a matter of fact you see her eyes welling up with tears. Quite mystified, and not sure how to respond, you ask, “What is it? What’s the great news?” She approaches you slowly, places her hands on your hands, and says with whispered tones, “I have found the cure for you.” Now you don’t want to be rude; you actually like the fact that she’s so happy. However, one question is pounding around throughout your head that you can’t seem to make go away: “Cure for what?!!!?”
Christians in their zeal to “proclaim the good news of salvation” are often times like this Doctor. They tell people of how they can “be saved.” “Jesus loves you,” or “Jesus saves” may be phrases that are thrown around by excited Christians. Unfortunately, as true as these statements are, without sharing what Jesus saves us from, what He cures us of, these words may just mystify the average person. Like the patient in the Doctors office, the person is right to ask, “Saved from what?” In order for a cure to be seen as good news we need a diagnosis, as hard as it may be to hear.
The Bible’s diagnosis: “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23). Sin is any imperfection; any disobedience to God’s holy law (Matt. 5:48). The consequences are dire: “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23). What is death? Eternal torment in hell (Matt. 18:8). Since all have sinned, all people (including you) need a Savior, someone with the Cure. Now read these next words carefully: Jesus saves.
So you’re sitting in the Doctor’s office and the Doctor says, “You have cancer. It’s spreading all over your body and literally you would have a few days to live.” You feel like you’ve just been hit in the stomach, and your face has turned ghostly white. But then the Doctor smiles, places his hand on your shoulder and says, “Fortunately, for you I have good news…”
1 comment:
Great analogy. I will be using this in the evangelism class. I knew you would have something for me. ;)
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