taking advantage of opportunities

recently i had an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone whom God has placed in my path.

actually it's one of my customers. i started a graphic design and print business with my brother Mark called Earle Graphics 2 months ago, and it has been going well. this business has increased the opportunities for my brother Mark and i to witness and share the Gospel with those we work with.

i thought i'd post my conversation with one of my customers who i'll name "Tim". Tim is a very nice guy, a good guy who definitely thinks he's somewhat spiritual and has thoughts about God and who God is.

however, even though he thinks of himself as somewhat spiritual, he has no answers.

in my last face to face meeting with him over a business matter, the issue of God came up, and in a light and quick fashion, i was able to share the Gospel with him.

below is my correspondence with Tim over email yesterday and today.


Tim's email to me:
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"Paul....Nice design. Sort of like having the subliminal eye of God overseeing the success of a vehicle to help man kind in the name of good. One family at a time. When I eventually get there, do you think it'll position me to a higher level of heaven for my deeds?

Tim"
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my reply to Tim's email
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"hi Tim,

im glad you like the design. I will make the changes you've asked for and then submit it to you again so you can see the final version.

as far as your question is concerned, I don’t think any of us will go to a higher level of heaven according to our deeds. this is somewhat of a common thought, so I don’t blame you for thinking it, because this is how the world works to a degree; do good, get rewarded - do bad, get condemned.

I would like to refer you however to a Scripture in the Bible, to tell you what It says about this issue.

in Romans chapter 3 and verse 23, the Apostle Paul states, "for we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

basically Tim, this means that there is a "good" according to human standards, that we can achieve that will bring us some reward in this life. However, there is also a "good" according to God's standards that no human, past or present has ever grasped; that is except for Jesus Christ, God's Son.

this is why the Scriptures also tell us to believe and trust not in our own goodness, but in God's goodness in order to be rewarded not only in this life, but eternally as well in the life to come.

how do you access God's goodness? through faith in what Christ did on the Cross, where He paid the penalty for your and my sin.

Scripture states in John 3:16 "for God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, would not perish but have everlasting life".

simply stated, we achieve God's standard of goodness and receive all the rewards associated with that goodness (in this life and the one to come) by placing our faith and trust in Jesus, the Son of God.

if you'd like to, you too can place your faith in Christ and be assured of eternal life. just pray "Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I ask Him to come into my life and save me. I want you to become the leader of my life. I thank you for your unconditional love. In Jesus Name, Amen."

I prayed a prayer similar to this in 1994, and my life was never the same. my life became everything I dreamed it could be and more because of God's goodness and not my own.

if you do pray this prayer, let me or another Christian know. Jesus said it's important to do this because true faith is followed by action.

I believe God has awesome plans in your future Tim with Christ in your life.

God bless,

Paul Earle
Earle Graphics
quick • clean • affordable"
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my encouragement is that no matter what you do for a job, know that you are a full time minister as a follower of Christ, and that you can make an eternal difference in the lives of those around you daily.

always remember, you have the Truth and the Power of God in you.

God is good,

Paul