Ricochet Evangelism….

Can you imagine God telling you to go and tell someone something (speak truth), and then tell you that the person you’re going to tell won’t listen? It reminds me of a story that Lee Strobel tells in his speaking engagements. He says that God put an atheist friend of his on his heart. So he goes to him at work (after hours) and witnesses to him. He and this atheist friend are the only ones there. He gets this from his friend, “you’re wasting your time with me, Strobel, I’ll never believe in your Jesus”. Strobel leaves there frustrated and confused. He thinks, “Why would God tell me to go and share the gospel with a hard-hearted man”? To this day, this atheist friend is still anti-God. He thought he had wasted his time, only to find out a few years later that while he was sharing the truth of the Gospel with this atheist, unbeknownst to him, there was a desperate man on the floor (out of site) installing new floor tiles. He had heard every word Strobel enthusiastically expressed to this atheist friend. This tile-installer guy was so convicted that he went home and told his wife that they were going to church on Easter Sunday. He later became a believer, and eventually found Strobel and told him about what had happened. This “ricochet evangelism” may have frustrated Strobel, but he was reminded that God’s word never returns void; it’s never wasted. It always accomplishes what it’s supposed to, even if we don’t see it or understand the situation. Here in Ezekiel, God appoints Ezekiel to be His prophet for the exiled Jewish nation. But God tells Ezekiel to speak truth, even though they’re not going to listen. God tells Ezekiel that even though they won’t listen, they will know they had a prophet among them. The next time you are obedient to God’s call to witness to someone, speaking truth into their life, remember this passage, and the Strobel story. God’s word is never wasted, it accomplishes exactly what it’s supposed to. Your obedience to proclaiming God’s word is more important than the unknown purpose you’re still trying to figure out. It glorifies God, every time it comes out of your mouth, setting into motion it’s mysterious path, and accomplishing exactly what it’s supposed to, even if you never know the reason “why”.

5 And whether they listen or refuse to listen–for remember, they are rebels–at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.6 “Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. 7 You must give them My messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! 8 Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.” Ezekiel 2:5-8

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.11 It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:10-11