One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven
by : Mark Cahill
"I don't have to go to Zimbabwe, I can just go to Subway!" Mark Cahill spoke concerning an evangelism opportunity in the parking lot of a popular dining spot. While reading Mark's book and listening to his powerful messages, a new perspective towards witnessing has emerged within my spirit. I sometimes forget that witnessing is not a presentation, but it is a conversation. So often I find I am too busy for the Lord's agenda. A comment Mark made reminded me to see the momentous signifigance in engaging in conversation with the Lord throughout the day, making sure you're never too rushed to speak at a Christian conference if God wants you to talk to your waitress at breakfast.
Mark Cahill, a fulltime evangelist from the southern states, does not sugar coat his desire to touch the lost. He imitates the nature of our Christ, so I confidently speak, aware of his humility, that Mark Cahill is annointed by our Awesome God to awaken the people of the United States of America. He graduated from Auburn University with a business degree and an honorable mention as an Academic All-American basketball player. Mark later committed his heart to Jesus Christ and asked God to put him in a place where he could touch as many lives as possible. Within the year, he became a teacher at a Christian high school. Content, Mark believed he was to be a teacher for the rest of his life. He continued to trust his Father and soon stepped into his true calling: to be a skilled witness for the Lord and lead others to the same destiny. Whether at music, art, or gay pride festivals; at restaurants, beaches, malls, or bar sections of towns, Mr. Cahill does not accept the lifestyles of modern day Christianity; and calls forth other believers to live as if they truly believe in whose name they profess. A previous student said of Mark, "he's still teaching, just in a much bigger classroom." Now, as one of the Nation's most diligent public speakers, he speaks to thousands of people each year at churches, retreats, conferences, camps, etc., equipping and challenging Christians to get out and reach the lost.
We talk about the things we love. Whether it be our family, our sports team, college, favorite musicians, or food, we have no problem encouraging others to go after the things that possess our hearts. In reference to evangelism, what is Mark's advice when it comes to becoming a better witnesser? Fall more in love with Jesus. What is the 'One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven'? Share your faith with a lost soul. Once we come to our eternal rest, we will never again have the opportunity to share the gospel with someone unaware of the love of the Heavenly Father. Mark stresses that you cannot find Christians in the Bible who were not sharing their faith, and that we have made witnessing an optional part of our faith.
Ray Comfort, another well-known evangelist, said of Mark Cahill, "He's the only man on earth who makes me feel lukewarm." To this statement, Mark has humbly replied numerous times, "Thou shalt not lie," and goes on to commend and bless Mr. Comfort's ministries. The passion and enthusiasm with which Mark shares his love for the Lord is contagious. This book was given to me by my high school principle, four years after I had graduated. Mr. Cahill had spoken to the school since my attending and my principle told me that the entire town saw transformation. The teenage students began to share their faith with taxi drivers, waitresses, they were even asked to leave gas stations and grocery stores for slipping tracts into beer cases and boldly speaking their testimonies in Christ Jesus. Both Mark and Ray are annointed in their ability to disciple and draw others to missions.
In reference to the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, Mark humors his audience, "I was really stuck as I read; nowhere did I see the gift of 'Bible reading'. Does the Bible tell you to read the Bible? Does it? 'I have hidden your word in my [heart] that I may not [sin] against you.' [Psalm 119:11, Deuteronomy 11:18] Reading your Bible is not a spiritual gift, it is an issue of obedience or [disobedience]. Make sure you know this book better than you know any text book you ever read, better than any newspaper or tv show for the rest of your entire life." Mark continued with this entertaining lesson of the 'spiritual gifts' to pray, to tithe, and to share your faith. [Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2] He quoted more scripture and stressed that all these points are issues of obedience of disobedience. When it came to the topic of tithing, Mark made mention of the American issue of welfare and government dependancy. Tithing, or lack thereof, holds the church back; if churches invested in community families, Christ could minister to them. Instead, the average tithe is listed at one to two percent, the broken families go to the government and the government can't give them Jesus Christ.
We live in an age where people want just enough Jesus to get them into Heaven, and nothing more. We have hardened our hearts and in turn are being sculpted by society. Mark shared a revelation he had concerning Lot from the book of Genesis. When Abram and Lot went up from Egypt and made the decision to separate, Genesis 13 says Lot chose for himself. The revelation was focused much around the selfishness in Lot's 'choosing for himself'. As time passed by, Abraham spent much time interceding for the city of Sodom as Lot simply sat at the gates. The Lord saw how great the sin had become in Sodom and Gomorrah and eventually spared Lot and his family amid the city's very destruction. As they left, Lot's wife turned back and became a pillar of salt; and when Lot lived in a cave with his daughters, they got him drunk and laid with their father. Mr. Cahill shed light on the surroundings in which Lot had raised his family; Lot sat at the gates of the city and was molded to the sin around him, to the point where his daughters found no shame in sleeping with their father. Mr. Cahill listed realities that one day could occur if believers today continue to 'sit at the gates'; imagine churches with padlocked doors, legal pedophilia, or how it soon could be a hate crime to say that somebody's going to die and go to hell if they don't know Jesus Christ. "The angels came to Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot was sitting at the gates. We are sitting- just sitting in our classrooms, just sitting at our coffee shops, just sitting at our malls. If you will not engage the culture, the culture will engage you. Satan says, 'thank you' and moves in for the kill."
I'm sick of sitting, being sculpted by society, and really appreciate the insight I have gained from Mark Cahill's messages. Whether it be YouTube videos of "survey" witnessing, his documented messages, or this phenomenal book, One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven, I expect God to speak EVERY TIME I open my Bible. An athlete by nature, Mark compared the joy of sharing the gospel to playing a team sport. A 50% effort? Coach would bench an athlete within minutes! It's time for this spirit to awaken and arise. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
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