Powerpoint Pictures: Light Switch; Email; McDonalds Logo; Hot Tap

We live in an instant world.  Some examples: Press light switch – light goes on.  Press send email – email is received.  Order at McDonalds – get a tray of food.  Turn on the hot tap – out comes hot water.

The big danger is thinking that this is what will happen when we tell people about Jesus; thinking that as we tell people about Jesus they will instantly repent and trust Him and become Christians.

Incredibly and in God’s amazing grace that is what sometimes happens.  But I’m sure most of us find that this isn’t the case.  We tell them about how amazing Jesus’ death for our sins is and they don’t think it’s that amazing.

There are two wrong reactions:  It’s my fault, I must have done something wrong and it doesn’t work.

In 1 Corinthians 3:6 Paul writes: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” and this is demonstrated in the story of Luke Short.

Luke Short was born in Dartmouth and spent his childhood there.  At the age of about 15 he attended a service at the church where the great Puritan preacher John Flavel was minister.  Flavel’s text for the day was 1 Corinthians 16:22 (“If anyone does not love the Lord – a curse be on him”) and he warned his hearers about the seriousness of not coming to love the Saviour.

Shortly after this, Luke Short went to sea, and sailed to America, settling there for the rest of his life.  As a farmer in New England, he was still fit enough to work on his farm at the age of 100 and his mind was alert and active.  But up until this point he had lived his life in carelessness and sin.

As he sat in the field thinking of his past life, he suddenly remembered the sermon Flavel had preached 85 years earlier.  He realised that He had not loved Jesus, he feared God’s judgment, and was deeply convicted of his sin.

Luke Short was converted on the spot and lived the remaining 16 years of his life serving his Lord and Saviour.

Flavel planted the seed.  But God gave the growth 85 years after it was planted.

The challenge for us is to share the gospel, the good news about Jesus, praying for the person to accept it.  Our responsibility to be faithful at doing that.  Let’s be seed planters and let God do the growing in His own good time.