Whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.  – 1 John 5:12

A: “So do you have faith in God, or anything like that?”

B: “No.  I used to.  I was saved, but I found myself quickly getting drunk again, being angry, and still using words I know I shouldn’t use.  The religious people around me told me that if I had really gotten saved, I wouldn’t be doing that kind of stuff.  So now I pretty much believe that it doesn’t matter what a person believes.  All religions pretty much lead to the same place if they lead anywhere at all.”

A: “Since that happened to you, since you were saved, would you say that there is anything different about your life?”

B: “I feel like my attitude immediately got better.  I just had a better outlook on things and stuff doesn’t bother me nearly as much.”

A: “What if God is like a person who really loves to take His time fixing really nice classic cars?  The only problem is that they don’t run and pretty much everything on them needs to be fixed.  Could you imagine how awesome it would be if all you saw one day was a car that hasn’t run in forever, but the guy working on it went out there and fired it up?”

B: “That would be pretty awesome.” 

A: “There is all kinds of stuff that needs to be fixed, but it runs now.  The restorer of the car is in no hurry to fix it all up.  He just does a little at a time.  He takes his time and purchases each part to replace as he goes along.  He doesn’t mind taking years.  I’m telling you this because your attitude change was God getting the car running.  Just because there are a ton of other parts that need to be replaced doesn’t mean He isn’t working in your life.  You are certainly free to believe what you want, but I’m just saying that I wouldn’t let go of my faith because there are a bunch of parts that need fixing.  Be excited that God has gotten you up and running.  He will do the rest in His time.  Before you die, He will have completed His masterpiece in you.”

B: “I guess I never thought of it like that.”

A: “I didn’t either for quite a long time.  I was always defeated and beat down as well because I would do stupid things.  The devil as well as many religious people would always point out what needed to be fixed and never could just say that they saw a difference in me, and I was headed in the right direction.  I just want you to know, I believe you are headed in the right direction.  Don’t let go of Jesus . . . at least not for the reasons you gave me.  He is working in Your life.  If you have Him, you have everything.”

B: “I really appreciate you talking to me like this.”

Lord, let person B feel Your presence today.  Let me feel Your presence today.  To really know that You are in our lives and working on us, knowing that there is so much to be fixed . . . thank You!  There is and never will be another like You.  You are the restorer of all restorers.  Help us to live for You!  Help us to lay our lives down for You!  Help every person that reads this to think about the conversations that they have with people about You.  Do we encourage them to move forward?  Or do we beat them down and make them think they must go backwards to fix a bunch of things?  We know which one comes from You, and which one comes from the evil one.  Lead us, guide us, protect us, and give us exactly what we need to move forward today, Lord.  I love You!  Thank You so much for loving me.  Amen!