Luke the Agnostic (Evangelism Episodes, Part 3)



He was puffing on a cigarette when I passed him that night.  The temperate October weather made time outdoors pleasant, and I was just then praying to have a Gospel conversation with someone at the university campus, where our church holds a Bible study each week.

So I approached him, this medium-built sophomore with sandy blonde hair and an eternal soul that will spend forever somewhere.

"Good evening!" I greeted him, offering him a tract entitled "Do You Know You Have Eternal Life?"

He smiled as we exchanged pleasantries, then studied the pamphlet a moment before saying, "Thanks, but I'm an agnostic.  I only believe in things I can see."

"Oh," I said.  "Can you see the wind?"

Luke shook his head no.

"Do you believe in it?"

He nodded.

"Can you see gravity?"

"No."

"Do you believe in it?"

"Ok, point taken," the young man offered, with a quick smile.

I had found him outside the library, taking a quick break from writing a paper for his Psychology of Crime class.

"Interesting class title," I commented, then wondered aloud, "So, in your opinion, why do you think people commit crimes?  Are they essentially bad?  Good?  What do you think?"

He was convinced crimes resulted from an innate power struggle deep within the heart--a power craving strong enough to motivate people to behave in profoundly evil ways. In general, however, he believed mankind to be basically good.

"Do you know the Bible's perspective?" I asked him.

Although his uncle was an evangelical minister, Luke wasn't sure.

"Well, in the beginning, God created a perfect world with two sinless human beings.  He allowed them to live in a lovely garden, saying they could eat of every tree--except one.  But from that forbidden tree, our first parents partook, disobeying God.  The moment they did, sin entered the human race."

Luke nodded, as if following the story, then politely directed his cigarette smoke a different direction.

"So all of us were born sinners.  The Bible says,'. . . By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.'"

"Yeah, I read from the Bible a few times," Luke said--but I really don't know much of it."

"God's Word also says, 'All have sinned'--so not only did we sin in Adam, but also we sin because we want to.  God says, 'There is none righteous, no not one.'  So, according to God's Word, man isn't basically good.  And because of our sin, we deserve death--eternally."

Luke was following.  He pulled at the cigarette in his mouth, then smashed it into the pavement.

"Talk about crime and the psychology of it.  We sin, because we're sinners.  So, you see, Luke, that's why Jesus had to come to earth.  He was the Perfect God-Man, completely righteous.   Because He was 100% God and 100% Man--albeit sinless--only He could take the punishment for our sins.
"That's what's so amazing about His death on the cross--in that sacrifice, He paid the penalty we deserve!  That's what we talk about at our Bible study--that amazing gift of deliverance from sin--the crime of our lives, if you will.  Every person on the planet needs to humble himself and turn from his sins to believe the Good News of Jesus Christ in order to have eternal life."

Luke was done with his cigarette now.  He wasn't antagonistic.  Just thoughtful.  Luke wanted to know where the Bible study was located, on which days, and where he could get more information.

"Every Tuesday night," I told him, "The address is on the back of the tract."

He looked at it and thanked me for the conversation.  His paper needed to be written, but Luke said he'd like to visit, to find out more.

As I made my way into the University Center, I praised God for the amazing privilege to tell someone of the Good News tonight.

* * * * * * * * *

Nearly every week of the college year, people from our group work on this university campus, distributing Gospel tracts and seeking to see souls reached for Christ.  Weekly, conversations like this occur as group members speak to college students in need of salvation.  

As a result of this ministry, God has allowed thousands of Gospel tracts to be distributed, scores of young people to attend Bible study, and hundreds of individuals in countries across the globe and states across the nation to hear salvation's message.  

How I praise God for His allowing us to speak for Him freely in this nation and on this university campus!  

To God alone be glory!

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