Vol. 5, No. 26 Dec. 3, 2006

A missed opportunity

Written By Christopher Mentzer

“No.” ~Amy Carter, (President Jimmy Carter's daughter) when asked by a reporter if she had any message for the children of America.

On my personalized Google webpage, I have a section for daily quotes. One day I saw the one word quote, “No” and that it was spoken by Amy Carter as listed above. Because it was just one word, and spoken by a president’s daughter, I had to find out what it was about. It really surprised me when I found out the answer.

I understand if she’s not a speech giver or very outgoing in public. I also understand if her father, The President, told her not to answer questions. But here was an opportunity for her to speak her mind to the youth of this country; to share her wisdom as a child in the White House and she turned down the chance. I wouldn’t expect her to launch into some discussion but a simple, “Stay in School” or “Don’t Do Drugs” could have had a lasting effect on our youth at the time. The “DARE” program wasn’t even introduced until 1983 and yet here was a missed opportunity to speak to the children of America.

Christians, both young and old, have opportunities every single day, to share the gospel with people they come in contact with. In school, at work, at a restaurant, or a store, opportunities are always there and we need to search for them. There are times you might overhear a couple classmates discuss the birth of Jesus around December. Would you take the opportunity to encourage the discussion and then lean towards the crucifixion? Or maybe a young couple is torn over the subject of pre-martial sex. Would you take the opportunity to share what the bible says about sex outside of marriage?

The apostle Paul writes, “We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech `you' on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5: 20) As ambassadors, it is our duty to share the gospel with others. Whether writing articles, preaching sermons, or handing out tracts, we need to be active in the Kingdom.

The apostle James writes, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. 23. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: 24. for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25. But he that looketh into the perfect law, the `law' of liberty, and `so' continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.” (Jas. 1: 22-25)

It’s simply not enough to discuss the scriptures with fellow Christians in the church building or at home. We need to take the message to those who are lost so that they might have an opportunity to become Christians as well. As Jesus said in Matt. 5: 14-16, “14.Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15. Neither do `men' light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. 16. Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Don’t miss the opportunity when it presents itself.