Take Someone with You to Heaven

By Carol Middlekauff–

The Great Commission

Jesus said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Matthew 28:18–19 (NKJV) (Emphasis mine)

Millions of Christians believe in the realities of heaven and hell. They believe they are sinners. They believe Christ died to pay the death penalty for their sins, and rose again. Most of these Christians (including you?) discovered new life in Jesus through one-on-one encounters—living rooms, airplanes, gas stations, and front porches—personal evangelism.

Here’s the thing. Besides your own salvation experience, has anyone—outside church and not counting cussing—ever mentioned Jesus to you? Surveys show that only maybe five out of a hundred Christians have ever told even one other person what Jesus has done for them.

The other ninety-five Christians are missing the joy of being there when someone receives God’s gift of forgiveness (faith alone in Christ alone) or when a prodigal person restores a broken relationship with Him. But you can have that joy.

I’m the most ordinary person you can imagine: five feet tall, chin-length gray hair with bangs, and glasses. What is extraordinary is that, when I show up, prayed up and ready to obey the Holy Spirit’s lead, I have the thrill of watching God work—in me and through me. If you’re willing, you can have that thrill, too.

I’ve told hundreds of people about Jesus, and I’ve passed out thousands of gospel tracts. Until I arrive in heaven, I won’t know how many lives God changed after someone spent time with me on a front porch or running trail in Austin, on a New York City street, or in a jail, wanting to hear more about Jesus. And I won’t know how many lives God will touch through those who took a tract. But please understand this: God does all the work. I can’t brag about it. And you can’t be afraid of it.

Maybe only one in hundreds didn’t want to talk about God at all. Those rare conversations usually ended abruptly. One man even shouted at me. But I know they weren’t rejecting me. They were rejecting Jesus. I figure He’s working on them, or He wouldn’t have sent me. And I’ve lost count of how many actually prayed with me to dedicate or rededicate their lives to Jesus. I’ve found that God’s divine appointments are nothing less than astonishing.

You’ve probably discovered that life gives you things you have to do, things you want to do, and things you get to do. Sharing the hope of a Father in heaven who loves us and the promise of forgiveness in Jesus is one of those things you get to do. You just have to start. You’ll find out for yourself how much joy it brings. If you’re like me, you will wonder why you didn’t become a serious soldier in God’s army when you were younger.

We’re all commissioned to be soldiers, but no matter how many soldiers are on the battlefield, they will not win the battle unless someone marches forward when the commanding officer shouts “CHARGE!” Have you heard God’s order to charge—the Great Commission—but you are still just standing there? If you’re ready to march, you’ll find that it’s easy to tell people about Jesus. It’s easy because the Holy Spirit does all the work. I hope you are getting excited about seeing the extraordinary things that will happen when you do.

Carol Middlekauff of Austin, Texas is the author of “Take Someone with You to Heaven.” She and her husband tell people about Jesus as they go along through life, and they take His love and Good News into prisons and jails across the country with the Bill Glass Behind the Walls ministry.