The next time you declare the Gospel, make sure you demonstrate it too! Often a simple act of kindness opens the hearts of others to the love of Christ.
I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a story you won’t forget.
Doug Nichols of Operation Mobilization has this story to tell. It’s a story about, yeah, declaring the Gospel, but more importantly, demonstrating the Gospel. It seems he was serving with OM in India back in 1967. During that time, he had to spend several months in a tuberculosis sanitarium. While there, Doug tried to give Gospel tracts to the patients and the doctors, but no one would take them. People were not very happy with him. This was India and Hindus did not take a liking to Christians. Doug was, for the most part, completely shunned while he was in that sanitorium. And he became greatly discouraged – discouraged with being sick and frustrated that no one responded to his attempts to talk about Christ.
Well one night, about two in the morning, when he was awake coughing, he noticed one older patient across the aisle trying to get out of bed. The old man sat up on the edge of his bed and tried to stand but, because of his weakness, he fell back into bed crying and exhausted. The next morning Doug realized that what the man was trying to do was try to get up and go to the bathroom. But because of his sickness and weakness, all this old man could do was lie back and then soil his own bed. The stench in the ward was awful and many of the other patients yelled insults at this poor, helpless soul. One or two of the nurses even got angry and slapped him. Terribly embarrassed, he just curled up in a ball and wept.
The next night, again at around two in the morning, Doug woke up coughing. And, like the night before, he noticed the old man across the aisle sit up again to try to make his way to the washroom. But one more time, he fell back in bed, weak and exhausted. Although Doug was sick himself and so very tired, he got out of bed and went over to this sick and withered individual. As Doug reached down and touched his shoulder, the man's eyes opened with a fearful questioning look. But Doug smiled, put one arm under this man’s neck and the other arm under his legs, and then he picked him up.
Now, you’ve got to understand that this was no easy effort. Doug was weak from his tuberculosis, but he was certainly stronger than this old man. And Doug carried him down the hall to the washroom, which really was just a smelly, filthy small room with a hole in the floor. The missionary stood behind and held the man under his arms so he could take care of himself. After he finished, Doug picked him up and carried him back to his bed. The old man smiled his thanks. And it was amazing what happened the next morning. One of the other patients woke Doug up with a steaming cup of Indian tea, making motions with his hands that he wanted a Gospel tract. Other patients began to approach, motioned that they also wanted one of the booklets Doug had failed in distributing just days earlier. Even nurses and doctors asked for a Gospel tract. Over the next days, several indicated that they wanted to put their faith in Jesus Christ.
What did it take to reach these people? Sure, declaring the Gospel, yes, of course, but more so, it took demonstrating the Gospel. Actually, Doug the missionary embodied the Gospel. How? Well, by taking an old man to the bathroom, and anyone could have done that. Yep, often it is a simple act of kindness that opens the hearts of others to the love of Christ. That’s something to remember the next time you declare the Gospel: make sure you demonstrate it. God bless you today, and thanks for listening.
© Joni and Friends