“They will suggest that your repentance isn’t genuine, especially the first time you stumble. And you will stumble.”
TEXT:
Chapter 16, Page 159 –
Do you know who these people are to whom he has to witness? Of course, you do! They are the same people that you have been assigned to witness to. Some people will love this wild man now saved – just like some people will love you and will hear your testimony gladly. And how will they treat him? Actually, how will they treat you? They will take you in and love you and feed you and hear you tell your story over and over again.
Some people will hate this man – just like some people will hate you for the pain you have put them through. These people are not so anxious to forgive and are not so anxious to hear of the wild man’s healing – or of your healing. They are not so anxious to hear you tell that your pain has been cured, when theirs has not. How will they treat him – or you? You know, don’t you? Because you have already experienced their hot, angry words and their rejection. You’ve had the door slammed in your face by these people.
Some people will be jealous of this man’s experience – just as some will be jealous of your experience. They will not be hot in their rejection for it’s not fueled by pain. No, jealousy is much more subtle, much more insidious. It simmers; it doesn’t boil. They will nibble away at your reputation. They will suggest that your healing isn’t complete; your repentance isn’t genuine, especially the first time you stumble. And you will stumble.
And there are those people who will ignore him – and will ignore you and your witness. They just don’t care. These folks are sometimes harder to deal with emotionally than those who are angry. People who are angry at you at least recognize your existence. They relate to you and later may even turn to love you. But those who don’t care, don’t even know you exist, they dismiss your witness as silly, irrelevant, nonsensical, or irrational.
