"LET ME INTRODUCE YOU..."
With so many people in this world, and with so many people traveling to so many different places, introductions have become very important. Most of the time people introduce themselves to others. But on occasion, there is one person who knows two different people that are meeting for the very first time. And it’s usually assumed that this mutual acquaintance of both people will introduce one person to the other. Introductions are given among your friends, among your distant relatives, among co-workers, among visitors here at church. Introductions happen all the time. It’s the socially acceptable thing to do. It’s the polite thing to do.
Of course, if someone forgets to introduce a person to another, that is considered a little impolite. And I have done that with my wife on more than one occasion. Many times when we run into someone that I know but she does not, I usually forget to introduce her and she ends up having to introduce herself. It’s impolite for me to forget. It’s insensitive. Because an introduction is an important thing. It breaks the ice. It gives two people that have never met before an opportunity to begin a conversation. Even though an introduction doesn’t take long and it’s something very simple to do, it is a crucial first step in opening the lines of communication.
Philip and Andrew had the opportunity to do just that. They were in a situation in which they had a chance to introduce some people to Jesus, and they jumped at that chance! The story is recorded for us in John 12: “20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.” This brief incident happened in Jerusalem right before the Feast of the Passover. Philip was there in the city, of course, but he was apparently not around Jesus at the time. And so when these Greeks asked Philip if they could see Jesus, Philip must have certainly said yes and most likely promised them that he would tell Jesus about their request the next time he saw him. Soon after that, Philip ran into Andrew and told him. And then they both went to tell Jesus. It is never said in Scripture if these travelers from Greece ever got the chance to see Jesus face to face or not. But it is clear from these verses that both Philip and Andrew understood the importance of the opportunity in front of them and they genuinely wanted to introduce this group of sinners to their Savior.
Philip and Andrew are wonderful examples of what normal every-day Christians can do. Because this is not a story about the apostle Paul traveling to foreign lands and boldly going where no Christian has gone before. This is not a story about Simon Peter facing imprisonment and threats to his life if he preached the Word. This is not a story about Stephen the martyr who was stoned to death for confessing his faith and refusing to back down. This is just a story about two Christians with the chance to introduce someone to their Savior. And this was not the first time they did it! Three years before, Andrew had introduced his brother Peter to Jesus and Philip and introduced his friend Nathanael to the Lord. This was something they naturally did because of their faith in Christ. They automatically introduced their family and friends and even total strangers to Jesus because that was the way in which they could serve their Lord. It wasn’t anything outwardly spectacular, was it? It wasn’t something accompanied by signs and wonders and miracles. But it was a wonderful way to contribute to the work of God’s kingdom.
We can contribute in the exact same way. We don’t have to travel overseas or face imprisonment or put our lives on the line in order to serve our God. We can do what Philip and Andrew did: introduce others to Christ. Show sinners their Savior. Point people to the cross. It sounds so easy! And, in fact, it is easy! And so why do we find it so hard to do? Why is it so difficult for us to introduce people to our Savior at times? Why does this simple introduction to the Lord cause us so much stress and worry? Evaluating the way I’ve gone about my own life, I would say it is personally hard for me to do this because of two main things: embarrassment and laziness.
I am actually a little embarrassed to introduce people to my Savior at times. I don’t want to be seen as a religious zealot. I don’t want to be thought of as pushy. And as a pastor I don’t want it to seem that I’m just doing my job, as if I’m only doing some face to face advertising for my congregation and that’s all I care about. And because of that mindset there were times when I didn’t introduce someone to the Savior when I probably should have. There were opportunities I missed and openings that I let close. Don’t you think Jesus was a little offended when that happened? He was standing right there by my side waiting to be introduced! But instead of introducing him I ignored that he was even there. He is the Way and the Truth and the Life! And there was a person standing there in front of me who didn’t know the Way and was confused about the Truth and was completely oblivious to the Life. And I didn’t introduce that person to Christ? I had the chance and I blew it! Because I was too embarrassed? Because I was afraid about what that person might have thought about me? How pathetic. How pathetic that I would care more about my own ego than about the eternal welfare of a lost soul.
Of course, laziness prevents me from introducing people to Christ just as much as embarrassment does. “I’m not going to call that person up to invite him to church, I’ll just do that when I see him again,” I tell myself. But when I do see him again then I can always give the excuse, “Well, it wasn’t really the right time. The conversation didn’t lead in that direction. I’ll make sure to mention it next time.” But the next time goes by without a word of introduction. And then the next. And then the next. And finally I say to myself, “If he brings it up then I’ll say something. Otherwise I’ll assume he just isn’t interested. He knows where I stand by now anyway.” Laziness. Laziness and embarrassment. Two roadblocks, not legitimate excuses, but two sinful obstacles that personally prevent me from introducing others to Jesus.
What are yours? What things prevent you from this all-important introduction? It may be laziness or embarrassment. Or maybe it’s fear. Maybe it’s a little bit of selfishness. Maybe it’s a skewed set of priorities if you don’t think this is really all that important for you to do. Maybe it’s even a lack of love. Whatever it may be, I don’t think anyone in this room would claim to have never had a problem introducing anyone and everyone to their Savior at every opportunity. We have all offended the Lord in this aspect of our lives. We have all ignored what we should have been doing on occasion and have even tried to pretend that Jesus wasn’t right their by our sides the entire time! That is being more than impolite to the Lord. That is being rude and offensive and very disrespectful to the Savior who has done so much for us.
Whenever you find that you have missed the opportunity to introduce someone to your Savior again, or if you are still bothered by some of the opportunities you’ve missed in the past, turn around and look at the Savior who is standing by your side. And notice that he’s still standing there. He hasn’t left. Even though you have ignored him and have refused to tell someone who he is and where to find him, he’s still standing there. He did not get mad and walk away. He did not get so frustrated that he threw his hands in the air and gave up on you. No, he’s still standing there. By your side. With his hand on your shoulder. Because he’s your Savior. He’s your Forgiver. And he promises that no matter how many times you let him down he will never let you down.
That means even though we are too lazy to bother with the Lord sometimes, he is never too lazy to care for you, of course. Not only is he constantly on watch to make sure your every need is taken care of, he took on a human life and gave up that life on this earth to make sure you were saved. And he certainly didn’t lack love. Everything he did was for you. Everything that he does is for you. And everything that he will do in the future will be for your good. There is never a moment he is not thinking about you. There is never a moment he doesn’t forgive you. There is never a moment he is not planning for you. And he is never embarrassed of you either. He proudly presents you holy and blameless before his Father in heaven because of what he has done for you. He calls you his own brother and sister. He makes you part of his own body. He shares with you every good thing and promises to let you partake in his glory of heaven because he is proud to call you one of his own. He is actually proud to be related to you! He is proud to be around you! He is proud to be known through you! What an honor! What an honor that the Creator of the universe would be pleased to be associated with people like us. And, of course, that is not because we are such good people, but because we are the children he has adopted us to be.
Turn around and look at the Savior by your side every once in a while. This is the Savior who not only died for you, but died for that person who is standing right in front of you - the person that doesn’t yet know what Jesus has done for them. This is the Savior who not only brought you into his family, but wants to bring your family members into his family. This is the Savior who not only calls you his friend, but desires to call your friends his friend. This is the Savior who not only works faith in your heart, but wants to work faith in those who work with you. This is the Savior who not only wants to be close to you, but wants to be close to those with whom you are close. This is the Savior who has a passion for sinners. He has a deep desire to search out and care for the lost. He loves those around you that do not yet love him. He wants them to be forgiven. He wants them to be saved. But sadly, most of these people do not know who this Savior is because they have never been introduced to him before.
You are the link. You are the link between your Savior and your friend or your co-worker or your family member or your neighbor. Introduce them to Christ. Give them a chance to start a conversation with their Lord. Open the door of communication so that God can speak to their hearts through his Word. And that’s the best thing about an introduction! You bring two people together and your job is done! You present someone with the Savior and you let the Savior do all the talking! Evangelism doesn’t have to mean that you confess everything you believe to every person every time. Evangelism can be as simple as an encouragement, an invitation, an introduction. The Lord can speak for himself - in a worship service, in a printed sermon, in a book, in a meditations publication, in a Forward in Christ magazine, in a conversation with a pastor or another Christian. The Lord is able to tell those people that you know what they are to believe. But that person will never hear Christ speak for himself if that person is never introduced to their Savior for the first time. Someone has to initiate that introduction. Someone has to be the go-between. And you may be the only link to the Lord that they will ever have.
I am speaking urgently because it’s an urgent matter. Not for our congregation, but for the kingdom. There’s very little time left. And with every day that passes, there are fewer and fewer opportunities still remaining. Follow the example of Philip and Andrew: do not hesitate. Do not put it off until tomorrow. Do not give yourself an excuse today. Introduce someone to their Savior. Give them a chance to touch the blood running down the cross. Give them the opportunity to see the folded linens in the empty tomb. And the Lord will take the conversation from there. He is a captivating speaker, after all. He knows how to command attention. He knows how to move the hardest of hearts. And he wants to. Now if he could only be introduced to some of the people you know…
Amen.
“May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” - 2 Thess. 1:12
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