A couple of weeks ago, I preached a message entitled, “Working On The Chain Gang”. (I would make this available to any of my readers who e-mails a request.) One of the things I stressed was that people often put off or avoid sharing their faith because they’re afraid of rejection, mistreatment, or abuse of some kind. I stated that in all the years I’ve witnessed to folks, I’ve never been mistreated for sharing my testimony.

Let me explain. A couple of nights ago, I experienced true rejection, mistreatment, and a whole lot of verbal abuse. A couple of years ago, I shared a story about a ticket I earned by making an illegal turn. I saw the forbidding sign, but went for it anyway. That little lesson cost me $89.

Here’s the latest twist on that story. I was driving south on #41 near the Burger King where I’d tested the sharp eye and arm of the law. It was about 9:00 p.m. I saw a man ahead of me make the same illegal turn I’d made. I went down to the next block where a U-turn was legal, came back north a block and followed him into the Sound Advice parking lot. My whole intention was to share what I’d done, what it cost me, and the fact that our fine and upstanding deputy sheriffs love to sit in the shadows and enrich the county coffers! (g)

As the man got out of his car, I barely started to request a moment of his time. He immediately, before he heard any of my story, began turning the air blue with profanity. He asked if I had a badge. He said that if I didn’t, I had no right to tell him anything. I couldn’t possibly give you a verbatim transcript here of all the things he said. Without anyone tattling on me, my Mom would show up ten minutes from now (clear from Iowa) and wash my mouth and computer keyboard out with soap! (g)

The more I thought about this situation,; the more I thought of my ultra pure motives, the more I steamed inside. After all, I was only trying to share my experience in order to keep him from ending up with his arms and legs in the stocks!

Here’s what I’d like to hear from you: What would you have done in a similar situation? Was I wrong to “butt in” even though my motivation was pure? Should I have stayed completely out of his “business”? I’m not looking for sympathy, but honest guidance from you, my readers.

This principle carries over into many areas of our lives. I understand that we have an obligation to share Jesus with people who are lost. If we don’t warn them of the “wrath to come”, then their blood may be on our shoulders. However, this wasn’t an act of witnessing. Is there a crossover principle here? Please let me hear from you. I’ll share the best responses in a future Response section.

– Boy!! Isn’t that a human tendency…to “cover up”? I know I don’t like to see my own character flaws and sinfulness. God wants to pull us toward holiness. If we want that we have to be able to go to Him about these things and not only ask for forgiveness, but also take that one step further and WALK AWAY from the sin. WOW!!! Praise God that you obey Him in your writing and for how He works on others (like me) to do the right things in His sight.

– Good insight on the “covered” parts. Those cracks and small flaws that develop in life are often overlooked until we can’t even see what the Truth is on the matter. I see materialism as one of these areas of “rot” in the lives of so many who have lost their “first love.” They can’t even see it! Thanks for the good word!

– My thoughts on covering up things is that we all have done things and had thoughts of which we are ashamed. Everyone makes mistakes. That is why most things get covered up. All we can do is try hard to be the best we can be with the tools God gives us.

– The undercover stuff is different. I ran into one of those cracks that had widened irreparably just in the last couple of days. I’m hoping to be able to splint our ladder, but my daughter-in-law and I are not likely to have a healthy relationship any time soon. There had been paint patching up spots that should have been talked about. I had no clue. So, your devotional is timely again!

     If you want to respond to this week’s piece or to the responses of others to “Undercover”, hit my name in the lower right hand corner of the page. I’ll get back to you.

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