We Don't Know Her Name, But God Does!

Read: Acts 13:42-52

I remember taking speech in college. Yes, right after Noah and his family members exited the ark. Anyway, I remember the first line of a friend's speech. It was "What did you get?" That was how she began her remarks. Her point was that when talking about a test our emphasis lies squarely on the grade we earned. That's the way things are set up. Results are what matters, and performance in any given area is generally what counts. As is often the case, God has a different point of view. Frequently what he calls success; the world system would view as having little or no value. These thoughts came to me when I heard a true story the other day. A story concerning someone whose music I have heard for many years. I am talking about John Denver. Anyone else remember Annie's Song or Hey it's Good to be Back Home Again?

The man telling the story was Bill Fay. He wrote a book about sharing the Gospel without fear, and John Denver was the featured person in one of his stories. Mr. Fay who used to live a wild life knew John Denver's father, Dutch. In fact, after Fay got saved, he led Dutch to the Lord. He held Dutch's hand when he received Jesus as Lord and Savior. It was then that Dutch asked Bill Fay to promise that he would speak to his son about Jesus.

Something that he said would be a privilege for him to do if God made it possible. Guess what? God made it possible. I'll skip a few of the details, but suffice it to say that Fay and John Denver talked together at the Denver airport for close to two hours. The scriptures were laid out to the singer, and he knew them and understood them. Sadly, he rejected the Lord. He said that back in Sunday school when he was a little boy, a godly teacher had asked him about receiving salvation. It was then that he decided that he would never give his life to Jesus. Mr. Fay wondered why the Lord had given him this opportunity to share Jesus. After all, God knew what the results would be. Here was the scripture that came to his mind: 

2 Corinthians 2:16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

What a picture of the response to words of grace. To John Denver, these life-giving words were not a beautiful fragrance but rather a stench. Please know that I am not saying that Mr. Denver didn't ever give his life to Jesus because that is something that I can't know. I'm merely saying that on that particular day, with full understanding, that he said no. However, there is the other side of the coin to be remembered. Mr. Fay wasn't the only faithful one. Remember that Sunday school teacher? The one who told the child John about Jesus? God heard her words and saw her faithfulness. The world would say that her teaching was in vain, but that isn't God's assessment. She was faithful to share truth, and Jesus said that even a cup of cold water given in His Name will not go unnoticed or unrewarded, Matthew 10:42. Though we don't know her name, God took note of her faithfulness the same way He watched as Bill Fay kept his promise in the Denver airport.

Like the children's Sunday school teacher and Bill Fay, none of us know whether our words, no matter how eloquent or how faltering they might be will be received. Will they be sweet and fragrant like Easter lilies or as unpleasant as old garbage. The beautiful thing is that even sharing them with the possibility that they be received is a reason for rejoicing.

Let's look into Acts 13 to see both of the 2 Corinthians 2:16 reactions. In Acts 13, Saul and Barnabas had been prayed for and set apart by the Holy Spirit. They had gone out to share the Good News of the kingdom. God's forgiveness and His offer of the new covenant. As was their custom, they went first to the synagogue. They spoke to those who were present. Referencing truths from their scriptures. Truths that they could understand. Speaking of their history and using the scriptures to tell about Jesus.

How beautiful it was that many did respond with eagerness to know more about Jesus, and some believed. However, as was often the case when Paul came to town, trouble soon walked right alongside him. Jealousy caused some hard-hearted ones to contradict Paul and revile him. It wasn't due to a lack of understanding Paul's words. They simply rejected what he said. Paul said that they thrust aside God's Word, having judged themselves unworthy of eternal life, Acts 13:46.

What did they do next? They went to the Gentiles who rejoiced at their opportunity to hear the Good News, Acts 13:48. Once again, God's men exuded that sweet fragrance.

When they were once again driven out, Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium. There they were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, Acts 13:52. Whether heard with joy or spurned, when the message of the Bible is shared faithfully, God is honored. We will never be graded according to our performance. Like the man born blind whose story is told in John 9, we each have a message. We too were once blind but now we see. To some that will be sweet and life giving. To others, that news will be unpleasant, but to God it will always be pleasing. No matter how it is received.

May we have the joy of sharing Jesus as the children's Sunday school teacher and Bill Fay did. Proclaiming that He is Risen!