Inconvenient
For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” – Matthew 18:11-14 NKJV.
I read an amazing story this morning that happened in Bridgeport, Connecticut; a bride who had just left her wedding reception spotted thick smoke coming from a house. Georgette Fogary Clemons yelled at her friend Hanifah Bost, “Stop the car, stop the car.” Even though Georgette was still wearing her wedding dress, she got out of the car and ran through the thick smoke into the house. She could see that someone was in the house, and when they failed to come out after she shouted at them, she went in after them. Hanifah ran after her and said later, “I don’t know what she was thinking, she had just gotten married.” Because of Georgette’s heroics the family was able to escape the inferno that soon erupted and everyone is okay. But Georgette did not stop there, she ran next door to warn the neighbors too. After it was all over Georgette said, “My shoes got messed up, but what are you going to do? At least the people are OK.”
(There is a photo of Georgette posted at ConnPost dot com along with a story. At least one TV station has a video about this and there are a huge number of other media that are reporting, and blogs that have been written, also telling about this incredible story.)
It was terribly inconvenient for Georgette to disrupt her plans and become a heroine saving the lives of those in the burning house. Georgette had plans, but those plans were changed when she saw the danger that an unknown family was in. She rushed in risking her own life to save the lives of people that she had never met. She could have lost her life, she did have her wedding day schedule changed, and it is likely that the course of her own life has been changed because of her heroic actions too.
It is usually inconvenient, and even sometimes dangerous to share the gospel with the lost. There are times when we can make plans and approach our friends and relatives at a time that is comfortable for us and for them. However, that rarely happens, and we have to take advantage of opportunities that are presented, or make opportunities to present the gospel. Sometimes it is awkward, and sometimes it is terribly inconvenient; but the Spirit within us, compels us to say the words that will bring eternal life.
Often the opportunities to reach the lost will be thrust upon us unexpectedly just as Georgette unexpectedly found herself trying to save a family from the fire. I pray that we will have the courage to take advantage of those opportunities. Jesus came “to save that which was lost.” If we are His children surely we will try to do the same, even if we have to leave the comforts of our usual life to do it.
(To leave the ninety-nine and seek the one that is lost will often be inconvenient.)