Close to the Kingdom

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Monday, September 28, 2009

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. - Galatians 6:9

Does it ever seem to you as though God could not save certain people- people you know, but can't imagine their being a follower of Jesus? Here is what we need to remember: No one is beyond the reach of God. Sometimes the people we think are far away from God are closer than we realize.

There might be someone you talk with about your faith who is very pleasant and even nods as you speak. But then he or she says, "Well, I can see that your faith has made you a much happier person. You seem to be full of joy, and I am glad that you have found Jesus."

So you say, "Well, thank you so much. Hey, would you like to come with me to church next Sunday?"

"Uh, no." It was said nicely, but the answer was clearly no.

Then there is that coworker who is always hassling you. It seems as though every Monday, this person has come up with 10 new questions to fire at you and even gets a little angry about it. Or maybe it is your neighbor, your husband or wife, your mother or father, or your son or daughter who is hostile toward your faith. You think, That person is so far from the kingdom of God. Yet the very opposite may be true. The person who is giving you the hardest time might be very close to coming to Christ.

As an old proverb says, "If you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that barks the loudest is the one that got hit." And sometimes the one who protests the most, the one who argues the most with you about your faith is the one who actually is closest to the kingdom of God.