We were having a braai (barbeque) at a family members home in September. My nephew, a young man in his early 40s, was facing the challenge that his bakkie (1ton truck) had a blown engine, he had no job, his girlfriend was not sure what his intentions were and his future was fairly bleak.
Callie went off to go and feed a mongoose in a friends house with his girl friend and so I was alone with the young man. While we were around the braai, warthogs were drinking at a pool he had made outside his boundary fence.
We chatted generally about life. He had a hard attitude toward church and the gospel generally. His filter or perspective was gossip from burnt and unsaved Christians. His reference was inaccurate. I began telling him about some of our trips around the world, why we went, what God did and some of the adventures. It changed the atmosphere.
He started to ask questions which thankfully I could answer accurately. Then it was my turn to ask him some questions, like: are you intending to marry this girl? What is your 5yr goal in life? Have thought of life beyond the Tomb.
This brought about more questions. By this time Callie had come back and we were amazingly on the same wavelength as Callie had zeroed in on his girlfriend too.
Long story short, they were saved that night and I baptized the young man in his swimming pool. We were planning to stay one night but ended up staying two.
Covid was not invited; it gate-crashed our world and turned 2020 into a historic year to be recorded in history forever.
The gospel message is more relevant than ever. As I write, three members of a family died within three days of each other, this week. I wonder whether the news of each other dying caused the next to give up in sorrow or was it covid?
The suddenly, the uninvited, the challenges of life are different and can be final.
Thankfully our casual family visit resulted in lives eternally changing.
We are given many gifts and the Great Commission is not confined to a specific setting – a platform, a crusade, conferences or even Sundays. It is in the everyday opportunities and moments that revival will take root.
Seize your moment and save lives for eternity.