In 1980 Fred, a salesman I know, walked into another store in his target area.
He was the picture of confidence, and had the well kept look of success about
him. He was there as a representative of his company, to display the fine
qualities of chemicals he carried in a case, and show their service worth to the
owner.
Hoping for a sale, and the start of a business relationship. During Fred's
presentation he noticed a funny looking fish on the owners office wall. It was
the fish many Christians display on there cars bumper, with the centre hollow,
just the outline of the fish. This was the first time he had ever seen a
Christian witness symbol.
Fred's boss was a crude man. The chemical business was a tough sell, but he had
learned the most productive way to catch the prospects attention, proved by his
own success. He passed this wisdom to his sales people. One of the main things
Fred's boss focused on was humour. So he gave each of his sales people photo
copies of jokes to present, to sort of break the ice, during a cold sales call.
Fred kept talking with the store owner, who was a Christian. At certain points
in the talk Fred would inject a cartoon in front of the prospects eyes. He would
pause a moment, and let the picture with caption sink in. (Highlighting the
point he was driving at.) Then he would judge the prospects face and laughter.
This would give him some measure, a gauge of how well the presentation was
going, and how far his foot was in the door, so to speak.
The first two cartoons he injected during the presentation got no response at
all. Nothing! Not a measurable look, or sound. The cartoons were sexual in
format, but not explicit. Meant to relate everyday life with sexual overtones,
you know, like TV.
All the people Fred had ever showed these jokes, loved the humour. Men that is,
Fred never tried the humour on women. Had this guy already seen these jokes?
Even Fred had to laugh, though he had seen these sales aids many times. Was this
guy gay?
Fred tried again. He would show the trump joke he only shows at the end of his
presentation, that should reach the prospect. He could wing it from then on.
Upon seeing the trump joke, the store owner stood up, and burst into a hymn,
loudly singing as he walked into the main store area, leaving Fred alone, mouth
gaping open, and in shock.
Fred heard a song of the love of God, and the blessing He pours out on those He
loves. Fred's heart was pounding, to beat the band. He was in total shock. He
had never seen such a display before, openly singing, well, and about God? What
did this mean? Had he drove this man insane? Or was he insane before he came
into the store?
There were people in the store. Fred left in disbelief, and at a loss for words.
Later that day Fred met with his sales manager over lunch, and related the
story. When the manager heard about the fish on the wall he gave some advice.
"That fish means the person is a Christian. It's a religious thing. You got to
be careful what you say, don't show the jokes. They don't like them."
Several months after this incident Fred became a Christian. After a few years he
heard the Lord call him to the ministry.
Many since have come to, and been comforted by Christ, through Fred's changed
life. "The incident of this man singing, in public, about God, would not leave
me be, till I faced the conviction in my heart", Fred witnessed.
A seed was planted deeply. That a man would stand up and sing in public, "I have
a God and He loves me, and to Him I give all my heart..." There were other seeds
that were in Fred's heart concerning God's love for him also. Planted along the
way by people, and prayer, Fred did not even notice at the time. Fred commented
that that one incident in the store seemed to sprout a garden of growth in him.
The owner of the store, who sang a hymn so boldly that day, had bought into the
concept of ownership, and power.
He owned the kingdom within. He paid a price of gratitude everyday, in the life
he walked with the Master, his life on display before the world like a light on
top of a hill. That life was a life of power, tempered by humility. Power, the
stuff of the kingdom. Power to influence. Eternal power, with eternal
consequences. Power that touched off the spark of fire in Fred, that later lead
to his coming to Christ.
Was the owner looking to evangelize Fred? No, not as we normally picture
evangelism. The store owner was just being himself. Openly in love with God.
Turning away from things he knew did not please Christ Jesus. Rejecting the ways
of the world. Choosing, like Moses to suffer for a time, rather than partake of
this worlds pleasure's, and ways. Putting away childish things, and keeping from
things that had the appearance of evil. In his song to God he was doing as
scripture said, and exposing, not partaking of evil.
"You mean these cartoons were evil Pastor?" Yes, our bodies are not for sale.
The are the temple of God.
You see the world is counting on this: if you see it, you will buy it. This
successful formula has kept multitudes of Christians in debt, and unable to
sponsor the work of God, or there children's future, in many cases, to the tune
of billions of dollars a year.
The Christian store owner had his heart in the right place. His heart was on the
right treasure. That kind of eternal treasure, reaping souls, could really add
up to quite a nice nest egg in the rewards, Jesus will give out, to the saints,
in the kingdom. The believer working the kingdom dream of Christ, to bring in
the harvest. Doing it not on the merit of his own talent, but because of who he
has become because of the work, and suffering of Jesus in his own life.
Jesus the Eagle, who carries his children on his back, to protect them, teaching
them on wings up high. Fred has commented that when he gets to heaven, he will
take any earned crowns he's given, and toss them at the feet of Jesus. Who bears
the wounds of love in His hands, and feet.
Fred owns the kingdom dream, Fred is running in the race for a crown. But he
already bears a title. The same title as the store owner, and those who planted,
and watered over the years without credit, or notice.
* Beloved Servant*
Pastor Tim Berry cwem@myworldmail.com
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