A man was standing outside in his yard one night struggling to breathe. He was having a severe asthma attack but had dropped his inhaler in the grass and couldn’t find it in the dark.
People walking by could see that he was in trouble. Many walked on by. They didn't want to get involved. They would rather mind their own business and besides saying that the man was truly in trouble would be judgmental. Others just shook their heads wandering how the man got himself into such a mess. He shouldn’t have been out in the yard at night in the first place, they thought.
One boy noticed the man frantically searching for something. He quickly ran over to assist him. The boy pulled out his flashlight but he could not get it to work. He tapped on it. He shook it. Finally in frustration he admitted, “Look, I have no idea how to use this flashlight but I do have some money if that would help you”
Gasping for air the man replied, “That… is kind of you… but money… will not help me. If I don’t… find that inhaler… I will die”
A second boy came over to help. After searching for a while and finding nothing the man, still struggling to breathe, said, “Why don’t you use… the flashlight in your hand? Do you not know… how to use it?”
“Oh yes”, said the boy, “I have been thoroughly trained on the use of this flashlight.”
Does it… not work?”
“It probably works great!” answered the boy, “The batteries are fully charged and it has a brand new bulb but I am afraid if I turn it on it may get in your eyes and offend you. If we could develop a friendship I think you would be more comfortable with me shining a light around your yard. Plus what if someone came by and saw me crawling around shining a flashlight? People might think I am weird or something.”
A third boy runs up to help. Shoving the other boys aside, he says, “Don’t worry mister. I have a flashlight and I know how to use it. He pulls out an old flashlight and flips on the switch… but nothing. He flips the switch off and back on several times but nothing happens. “I don’t understand says the boy. This worked fine last year.” He unscrews the end of the flashlight and two old corroded batteries fall out. He looks inside the flashlight and it is completely eaten up with corrosion. Embarrassed the boy quickly shoves the batteries back in, screws the cap back on and steps to the side.
By this time the man is down on his hands and knees trying hard to breathe. As he almost blacks out a fourth boy runs up. He quickly turns on his well maintained fully charged flashlight, scans the yard in a serpentine pattern, and pulls the inhaler from the grass below. He places the inhaler in the man’s hand not a minute to soon.
After a few minutes the man was able to breathe once again and gratefully gave the boy a hug. He smiled and said, “Thank you! You saved my life. How were you able to help me when no one else could?”
The fourth boy gently and humbly replied, “My father sent me to help you and people like you. He gave me this light along with directions on how to use it. So I keep it clean and the batteries charged. I studied and learned how to use the light and practice with it often. Now I look for people like you because I know that I have the light that can save their life. I feel a sense of urgency and responsibility. It is my father that gave me the light and helps me use it so he deserves all the credit. It is him you should thank.
From then on the man went around praising the boy’s father and telling everyone about the light that saved his life.
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The Lesson Learned
Some people in this story thought they were too busy to help and some had the “Who am I to judge?” attitude. Others were critical of the man without reaching out and actually helping. Then there are the four types of people that do want to help. All of them are concerned about a dying man but only one was able to truly help.
The first had no training and was unprepared. No matter how bad he wanted to help or how sincere he was his efforts were futile. He also lost focus of the man’s deepest need offering him money when it was the light that he needed.
The second was trained and equipped however he was not willing to apply what he had learned. In fact he lacked the sense of urgency thinking that building a relationship would be necessary first. His pride also got in the way and he worried about what others would think even at the cost of the man’s very life.
The third man had once been trained and equipped but he did not continue to apply what he learned. He did not keep his flashlight clean or his batteries charged. He had not put into practice what he had learned in so long that he was practically useless to the dying man.
Thankfully the man was snatched from the edge of death and given a second chance in life because not only was the fourth boy trained and equipped but he cared enough to practice and apply what he learned. He appreciated his father’s gift and understood the command given to him to reach out to those dying around him. He respected his father and wanted him to get all the credit for the life that was saved.
Christian, you have been given a command.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
-Mark 16:15
Are you willing?
Are you prepared, trained, and equipped?
Are you reaching out to those that are dying around you?