As a young growing Christian, we were encourage to bring our non-believer friends to cellgroup/lifegroup or to church or any other gathering.
I had this high school classmate of mine, we can just call her Rita, who I was not very close to during our days of high school, who came to study in Brisbane. As a passionate and young, naive Christian, I brought her to lifegroup, my shepherd told me to follow-up on her and help her in any way I could.
There was this one incident that broke my spirit, Rita got really attached to me that there was this one afternoon I had to accompany her to get her related student visa done, the whole process started from 9am – 3pm, and we had to walk up and down Adelaide Street to get the government official documents done, in the middle she told me she missed home and regretted not listening to me, that I advised her not to rely on the University to arrange her accommodation, and that they put her in a homestay that is 1 hour 45 minutes away from Brisbane City. I just endured her complains and negative words for the whole day.
Then finally it was time for her to return to her home by train, she pulled me along to the train station, which i had to walk the extra mile of another 15minutes with my soar feet, as she passed the gate, she requested that I go with her all the way to her destinated station 1hour 45minutes!!
Though Matthew 5:41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. did state that to go the extra mile, but I think I have had enough of her clinging to me the whole day! I rejected and say she will be ok, and had her call me when she arrive home safely.
Then in the evening, I had to cook and travel for another 40minute by bus to meet my Christians friends who organised a house-warming party as they just moved into a new place. As I was in the bus, since I was not too sure which station I should drop-off, I asked the bus driver, I think the bus driver was not in a good mood, he angrily replied me with a loud voice: “Be Patient! When we are there I will inform you!!” (2 times)
He was so fierce and loud that the other passenger comforted me that maybe the driver is not in a good mood, it’s not your fault. So I just kept quiet as I felt threatened by this bus driver.
Finally, when the bus driver opened the door of the bus, he let me down the wrong bus station. I had to call my friends as the area was a bit dark and forest like surrounding.
So while waiting for them, I looked up the the bright moon shining through the dark sky.
I started to pour my heart out to God: “Jesus, if this is what it meant to be a Christian, a Christ-follower, maybe I am not the one you can use, I am overwhelm by Rita’s over-relying character, I used up most of my time to help her, but I end up tired, confused by her complaints, then I got scolded by the bus driver and I felt threatened, now, I am late for the house-warming party. I had never felt so helpless and scare in my whole life, I think I just want to be a Lukewarm Christian, I am leaving this pathway of a committed Christ life.”
And I cried.
As I was weeping, my spiritual eyes was open, I saw the moon shined so bright that it seems Jesus was projected out of the light, I saw Jesus holding both my hands and cried with me as well, and He say: “Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me.”
I replied: “But I am not perfect, you can use anyone in the world, but why me? I am a failure.”
The translucent appearance of Jesus was so strong and His presence of Him being there was so real, I did not doubt I am seeing Jesus at that time.
So I replied, “I will see how my life goes, if I can not handle the pressure of being a Christian, I might leave you again.” (This is the young 18 y/o me, talking like a selfish kid).
By this time, both my friends came out to meet me. I quickly wipe my tears, and acted like nothing happened. Since it was dark they did not notice the swelling on both my eyes.
However, when I reached the party, the first person who greeted me, my eyes started to leak tears again. I seriously had no idea why, It scared the guys.
So my group of female friends took me to a room to pray, in my heart I only repented for saying things that hurt the heart and feelings of Jesus.
Even though, some of my friends asked me why I cried, I saw nothing about the experience I had at the bus stop, as I knew it was hard to explain, what was going on.
POINTS TO PONDER:
If Jesus came in translucent image in the 21st century, should the atheist doubt that Jesus did indeed came to earth 2000 years ago, as 100% God and 100% human, as God living with Man and showed us the way to Life and Die for our sins and made a way simpler to follow Him whole-heartedly.
I love what one of the scholars of religion say, there are many teachings of god and the teachings of eternal life by good work from the different religion. But Christianity is the only religion that has their God came in flesh and walk and live on Earth with His people to know the strength of sins and temptations we as human had to lived for thousands of generations. He did not fail, but set an example to live a Godly life among the ungodly.
Tear up the religion veil of the practice of sacrificing animals for their blood to cover our sins, Jesus as perfect lamb of God sacrificed Himself for us on the cross. No more sacrificing of animals, no more long hours of religious preparation required anymore.
Christianity is the only One that save our soul by Grace and Not by Good Work. Repent and Live the New life He had offered, no complication.
