Fight for what matters

One day I was having coffee with two great friends. It was the end of term and we were about to go home each to our countries. One of them said something like: “Ana, I’m not talking to you over holidays. I need a break from you.” I just shrugged and said: “ok, that’s fine”.

Later on, I said something silly to my other friend (I can’t remember what it was) and she flicked my shoulder: “hey! This is for what you said. And this” she said while giving me a painful dead arm “is for not fighting for my friendship and quitting on me so easily”. I laughed. I knew she was joking in the first place because I know her and that’s the kind of relationship we have. If I thought that could be true, I wouldn’t just say: “that’s fine”. I would react, ask why, ask what I had done, if it was really necessary, etc. And I would pray lots and lots that she would change her mind. Why? Because her friendship mattered.

I remembered this situation the other day and asked myself: “What matters to me?” Friends matter, family matters, church/CU matters, my degree matters. How much more should the Gospel matter?

I find myself quitting on my non-Christian friends too easily when it comes to sharing the gospel. If they don’t embrace it or look interested the first few times I speak to them about Christ, I tend not to talk about it anymore. I don’t think this is the right attitude. If there something that makes me tremble is to think that on my way to heaven I’ll see one of my friends going on the opposite direction and asking “Why didn’t you fight for me? Why did you quit so easily?”
You may be thinking: “yeah, but sometimes constantly talking and “preaching” at your friends doesn’t work. It just gets annoying and will build up even more barriers than the ones that already exist”. Ok, I agree with you to some extent.

However, as Christians we have the most amazing tool/weapon in these cases. We can pray. You are saying: “yeah, right...that’s such a cheesy Christian thing to say”. But think about it in this way: when praying, you are basically asking the God that can do everything and anything. This God created the Universe, all the nature that you see around you and YOURSELF (and believe me: as I study more about the human body, sometimes I wish God didn’t show off this much when creating man. It’s so unbelievably and amazingly complex! And hard to revise…). And the best of all: He promises that He will hear what you have to ask and say. Also, He cannot lie.

I’m extremely good at remembering things that matter to me. I can recall conversations and situations, from more than 10 years ago, vividly (including people’s expressions and what they were wearing sometimes). I once memorized all my family members’ phone numbers including my 2 uncles and aunt, grandparents and also my best friend’s. It mattered because I was taught that it was important in case something happened. I know most of my friends and family birthdays without needing a diary. When I was in high-school, I could recall my entire exam and deadlines calendar and I can do that still but to a shorter extent.

If I remember all these things, why do I so often forget to pray for my friends and family that are not saved? Does it matter as much as it should to me? I have to face the reality...sometimes it doesn’t. It should, but it doesn’t.

And now that we are celebrating Easter, I look at the cross and see a Saviour humble enough to come from His throne in Heaven and die on a cross for His worst enemy, as we heard yesterday at the service. But he was also victorious over death and conquered it on the third day. WOW!
He didn’t die only for me, although He would have done exactly the same if there was only one person that He wanted to save. He wants others to share of the amazing life He can give. And if He wants it, I want it.

So, fight for what matters to Christ. Your friend’s life matters, if you are a Christian. If you are not – know that your life matters for Christ and that He loves you immensely to the point of coming to die for you. However, because He never sinned, He rose again and is alive today so that you can speak to Him and ask Him to forgive you for what you’ve done wrong and be your Saviour.

Happy Easter.
ASG