One evening a few years ago, I had a youth who came to my house, broke down and cried. He asked me: “Why are you so different from everyone I’ve met? I want what you have. Tell me how I can do it.”

I met him while he was under juvenile court, and we journeyed together for about 4-5 years. It was tough to “share” the gospel due to sensitivities of him being under probation so we never talked about it. Instead, we would share our stories of struggle and strife with one another.

Initially, he would try to prove himself to me, only to realise I never needed any proof to love and support him. He would then argue that because I was privileged and educated, had a stable marriage, family and even a meaningful career… that I could never understand the suffering he went through.

I listened patiently, sharing moments of my journey only when he was ready to listen.

Why are you so different from everyone I’ve met? I want what you have.

After a while, he saw that I was an equally broken person: The first-born son of a divorced mum, I struggled with many of the issues associated with fatherlessness. I was terrible at my studies and had to work various jobs since I was 17 to alleviate the financial burdens in my family.

Since then I was faced with many crises, from financial problems to sicknesses. Even with these “tragedies”, I’d often share with him that there’s a future I always hope towards, which gave me enough strength and determination to press on.

He was always confused. How can anyone find hope in suffering?

With every difficulty, we always offered each other the grace to grief and the hope of joy. Through our conversations, he would walk away a little more hopeful, only to be battered by his failures and struggles.

That night when he came over was a particularly trying one. He was kicked out of his house and had no one else to turn to.

When he came into my house, I felt it was time. So I replied: “If you want what I have, you have to know who I know.” That night, we talked about Jesus. And he prayed to give his life to our Saviour.

He lived with us for a while and sought reconciliation with his family after. Today, he reads the Bible out of curiosity and connects with a church community on his own.

He has found no reason to be angry anymore and is discovering who Jesus is. He continues to wrestle with his failures and struggles, but this time, with a new revelation of hope.

Sharing the gospel does not happen in a moment.

When we make every effort to understand the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice and the promise of His return, we find the gumption to carry the gospel of hope wherever we go.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SHARED THE GOSPEL?

In a national survey of Singaporean Christians in the marketplace commissioned by LoveSingapore, the results showed that only a third of Christian adults in Singapore aged 21 and above are intentional about being a witness at work and making their faith known (35.2%). The remaining are passive (51.2%) or unwilling (13.7%).

I used to think it was super awkward to share the gospel. Even if I was being equipped with materials like the four spiritual laws to make gospel sharing easy, I would feel like there’s no natural way to talk about Jesus to the unbeliever.

Why on earth should we be sharing the gospel when it seems so difficult?

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:3-6 NLT)

Paul was sitting in prison at the time of this letter written to the Philippians. It was offensive, and almost illegal to share about Jesus to the Roman communities as they were predominantly nationalists.

As a result of their faith, the Christian community at that time was persecuted. Despite this, the Philippians had an urgency in their faith to share the good news about Christ.

Why do people need the good news?

I love Isaiah’s exclamation when he saw the messenger in Isaiah 52.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” (Isaiah 52:7).

At that time, Israel was in a mess. They had turned away from God, which led to their city and temple being destroyed. People were in despair and they needed something to hope in.

The gospel has always been the only response to bring hope to a broken world.

Then came the messenger with a message for Israel – despite Jerusalem’s state of destruction now, the God of the Israel still reigns as King. And one day He will return to this city, take up His throne and bring peace. The gospel is the promise of the future.

The world we live in today is in turmoil. But the gospel has always been the only response to bring hope to a broken world.

There is no shortcut to sharing the gospel. As His disciples, we need to live like Jesus and walk like Jesus, so that we can talk about Jesus and His imminent return. Amid destruction and despair, we have a hope and a direction as we prepare for His return.

Find the revelation of the gospel today and become imitators of Christ.