To be born is to unwillingly receive life. To die is to unwillingly cease to live. To commit suicide is to reject both life and the life Giver. To breathe is to testify that the cardiovascular system, designed by the All Wise Creator, is in perfect sync with the lungs. To think is to recognize the freedom of choice. To act is to validate that freedom of choice.

In between the time span of life and death, every human goes through a distinct history. No one’s story is ever duplicated by another individual. Each one’s story is as unique as his or her finger prints. Every person has a unique experience. Some are searching for wealth. Others are searching for fame. Many are searching for power. Some others are walking the trail of misery. A good portion has been trapped within the poor and needy society. Many others are born as captives to their physical deformities and abnormalities.

Is any one’s journey hidden from the omnipresent God? Has God refrained Himself from the seeking the lost? Has He abandoned the creatures whom He created? When the Divine power clashes with the human mind, the resulting reaction does not go unnoticed. The individual is overcome by the tremendous impact impressed upon him (her) by the salvific work of the Holy Spirit.

This redemptive power was well demonstrated by the forerunners of the Good News—The Apostles of Jesus Christ. It took a peculiar encounter by each member of God’s chosen ones—the disciples— to facilitate God’s encounter with the believers of the first century. In other words, God has always co-worked with the proclaimers of the Gospel (Noah, Moses, Jonah, Hosea, Amos, Ezekiel, John the Baptist, Jeremiah etc.) Jesus Himself co-worked with His Father. "Jesus answered, 'It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work' (John 9:3-4). "Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work' " (John 4:34).

As we penetrate the walls of the book of Acts, we stumble upon the very first and most mysterious encounter that hundreds of non-believers couldn’t prevent themselves from facing: “ And they were amazed and marveled, saying, ‘Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?’ ¹² And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’” (Acts 2:7, 12).

Whether the hearing ears accept or reject the Giver of life, God always makes sure that all ears, as He promises, will hear about Jesus, the One before whom all knees shall bow and every tongue shall give praise (Romans 14:11). When we hop over to the third chapter of Acts, we realize that God had to allow this particular beggar seeking his daily bread to be born paralyzed and most assuredly rejected by society—like many others in times past and currently—in order for him to encounter His Creator by the willingness and selflessness of Peter and John: “Peter said, ‘I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- walk!’ ⁷ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. ⁸ And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God” (Acts 3:6-8).

The next chapter describes how the Lord used the imprisonment of Peter and John as another tool for conversion of many lost souls: "And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them, ² being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them, and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand" (Acts 4:1-4).

From generation to generation, all men had their personal opportunity to accept or reject their Maker. Without their permission, God stepped into their personal lives and commanded them to become proclaimers of the Good News as well: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Has God commanded you to do so as well?

As we become more eager to see friends and family on the path of salvation, we need to realize that their encounters with the Eternal God will also happen in His time and not ours. Let us continue to diligently intercede on their behalf for the remission of their sin, and their need to react positively to the moving of the Holy Spirit. Continue to make yourself available to co-work with the Lord for the liberation of souls drunken by the wine of Babylon (Revelation 14: 8).

Whether you are eating, drinking, singing, preaching, whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God. Live today as if it was the last day you will live for and in Christ.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY AND FOLLOW CHRIST!