Building Your Kingdom There
“You may be the only light of Jesus that some people will ever see.” Have you ever heard that before? You may be the only letter from Jesus that some people will ever read. Like it or not Christians, we are the representatives, good and bad, of the bible, Jesus and the Christian faith. Is your Christian walk an example of better living or an amplifier of sin? Are you reflecting the light of Jesus or casting a dark shadow on the path?
As a Christian, what kind of light do you produce? Gentle candlelight, slightly discernible, yet easily overlooked? Perhaps a high-powered floodlight illuminating humanities indiscretions? Ultimately, we need to be a lighthouse. Firmly planted on the shore, casting light on to dark waters, guiding lost travelers home.
I used to work with this amazingly cool guy at Shamu Stadium. He was one of the top killer whale trainers in America, TKWTIA for short. Super athletic. Hosted poker parties, which I was never invited to, but I digress. Great, seemingly waterproof hair. I was so intimidated by him. During shows he would dive into water like superman, one hand extended forward, effortlessly soaring. No matter how cool I thought he was and how not cool I felt, intimidation was not going to win. “You may be the only light of Jesus that he ever sees” haunted me. Taunted me even. In order to get to know him, fear and awkwardness had to go.
In the beginning, I knew three things about him: his wife, his dog and a former job experience. I built a kingdom there. I would rehearse conversations. Plan interactions. I wanted to get to know him. Even when he yelled at me, for good and sometimes not good reasons, I kept building. On the day I was attempting to dive 36 feet to the bottom of Shamu’s pool, this guy gathered colleagues and tourists alike to witness my triumph or tragedy. Fear. Intimidation. You name it, I was feeling it. The idea of him watching made me want to succeed. When I touched the bottom, my heart exploded with joy, triumph and celebration. With each of our interactions, our relationship grew; much like the grinch's heart. By the end of my time at Shamu Stadium, intimidation had been replaced with healthy respect.
God had big plans.
One day God told me to share Jesus with this guy. Fear moved into intimidation's old house. I set up a meeting. He canceled the first one. I didn’t relent. I had left work one day. I was at the post office. The Spirit of God strongly urged me to head back to Sea World. God said that I would find him in the top of Shamu Stadium. When I called the stadium, I was told that he was watching a show. When I arrived, he was exactly where the Lord had said. Our conversation began simply in the earthly conversational kingdom I had built between us. It gradually transcended into a heavenly minded kingdom God was building.
In that conversation, I put some thoughts, rumors and rumblings to rest. We talked openly for the first time about everything. I had not been invited to the poker parties, because I was a Christian. I probably wouldn’t have liked “that sort of thing”. I learned that the respect I had for him was mutual. The most important part of the conversation was sharing Jesus with him. When the conversation headed down the Jesus road, he said, he knew that was what I wanted to talk about. That was evidence that God had been speaking to my friend, because I had never discussed my faith before. I discovered that I was not the first person that had shared Jesus with him. I was one of many that God had asked share the gospel with him. The conversation was clunky at times, fluid at others, but he was cordial and listened. We didn’t agree on all things. I left knowing that I was obedient to the call of God.
A few months later, my friend would find himself entangled in some drama. He would end up leaving Sea World. Long before my friend’s story took a hard turn, God was already writing another story for him. The same story He writes for all of us. One of grace, mercy and hope in a world short on all of that. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the light. No man comes to the Father God except by Me.” The bible says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for our sins.
God’s word says, that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, apart from him we can do nothing. Apart from the life-giving grace of Jesus, we will die in our sin, disconnected forever from a Father who loves us very much.
Selling my possessions and going on the road was really the simplest part of God’s plan for me. While still in the throes of “What about me?”, God was already asking, “What about them?” The people who don’t know Jesus. The depressed, lonely, angry and broken. What about those that knew Me, but left me?
God changed my image of my whale trainer friend, replacing his intimidating persona with the picture of a lost soul in need of a savior. I am so glad that I didn't let fear cheat us out of this opportunity. Satan tried intimidation to keep us apart, trying to convince me that I was less than and worthless. God often uses the simple things to confound the wise.
Ultimately, if I believe that Jesus is who He says He is. That heaven is a real place and God’s word is true. If I am convicted that God is as great as I believe. Why wouldn’t I spend every waking moment pointing people to Him?
