It’s not about the light bulb!

 

How life’s interruptions are hidden opportunities to further the gospel.

Pastor Dave,* in his closing remarks on Sunday, quoted 2 Corinthians 5:20: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” He challenged the congregation to believe the Lord for “divine appointments” in the coming week. He explained that if we were ready and willing, God would give us opportunities to have spiritual conversations with people. “Some may already be believers and God can use you to encourage them. While others don’t yet know Christ… you may be the one to share the gospel with them–perhaps for the first time.” I’m sure each one in the congregation, like me, filed out the door with visions of “divine appointments” dancing in our heads.

How did it go? Well, to give you an idea, here’s a snapshot of a typical week for me:

Overnight the temperature dropped to well below freezing and our furnace quit working. The kids were late for school––again. On the drive to work, I was heckled by a disturbing noise coming from what sounded like the transmission. A project at work had a looming deadline, so I ate a sandwich alone at my desk instead of going to lunch with my colleagues. After work, I hurried home in time to be there for the furnace repairman. I then stopped to make an appointment at the auto repair shop for next week. After supper, evening was spent helping our three children with homework and getting them off to bed. Tuesday was just as busy, with numerous unforeseen interruptions. Then came Wednesday, Thursday, Friday… Before I knew it, the week had flown by without so much as a single “divine appointment.” The thing is, admittedly, it was a fairly normal week not only for me, but for many of the Christians I’ve talked with.

I think we’re all familiar with the Scripture passages about our mandate: to be ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20); we’re to wisely make the best use of our time with unbelievers (Col. 4:5, Eph. 5:16); and always be ready to give an answer for our hope in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15). Most believers I’ve talked with truly desire to be effective in these things, but the challenge is how to do so in the midst of life’s daily interruptions.

I shared these difficulties the other day with my friend and colleague, Tom. After quietly listening, he said something quite profound that has completely changed my perspective.

He said,

It’s not about the light bulb.”

“Huh?” I blurted, convinced at first that my grinning friend was just trying to change the subject.

Like most pithy proverbs, though, it only makes sense with the backstory, which Tom was kind enough to share:

He told how a few years ago, he and some of our colleagues were working together to redecorate the office. One of the finishing touches was to illuminate a piece of artwork with a light fixture. But, frustratingly, the special bulb was burned out. So Tom headed out the door to the lighting store just up the street.

After quite some time he finally returned, new light bulb in hand. Someone asked, “What took so long?”

Tom explained that when the store clerk first approached him, the man’s long hair and surly appearance gave him pause. But in the course of their conversation, Tom discovered that Chris* was a solid believer in Jesus Christ and they actually had much in common, including a deep burden to share their faith in terms people could understand. That conversation, which started because of a simple light bulb, became the beginning of an ongoing friendship––one where Chris was introduced to GoodSeed resources that clearly explain the Bible’s message in an objective, non-arm-twisting manner. In the years since, Chris has gone on to share those resources with his own friends and family who need Jesus.

So, “It’s not about the light bulb!” means that life’s annoying interruptions can often be hidden opportunities to further the gospel. Sometimes it’s with believers who can be encouraged and spurred on in their walk with God, while other times we have opportunities to build relationship bridges with those who aren’t yet believers. How we respond to them in the midst of our difficult circumstance can make or break how receptive they may be towards hearing our message.

In other words, when the furnace goes on the fritz, I can say, “Ah, I’ll get to meet a furnace repairman… I might be able to give him a book that explains the gospel clearly.” Or the next time my son is late for school and I have to write a note to his teacher, I can be sure to thank her for all her hard work in educating my son. That way, the next time I see her there will be good will between us! Or the sound of transmission trouble may be telling me it’s time to connect again with Mike, my mechanic. Or why don’t I go to lunch with my colleagues more often? Or as a dad, could it be that most of the “divine appointments” God has for me are with my own children, teaching them to walk with God and share Him with others?

How about you? When unforeseen interruptions crop up, how do you respond? What opportunities do you have to further the gospel in the midst of interruptions in your life?

“It’s not about the ___________.” How would you fill in the blank? Do share in your comments below.

 

(*Names changed as per GoodSeed policy.)