Proof We Don’t Quit
Was Noah a successful preacher?
According to 2 Peter 2:5, Noah was a preacher of righteousness. God, in His mercy and perfect judgment, saved only eight people from the cataclysm of the flood.
If we measure success by how many were saved from the judgment of the flood, we might say Noah was a failure. But if we measure success by God’s standard – faithfulness – then Noah was a successful preacher.
Of course, we want God to bless our witness in terms of lives changed, wicked bills defeated, and good bills passed and signed into law. However, we must consider that more and more, the days in which we live resemble the times of Noah. In the face of discouragement in terms of so few listening or caring, we must not back down. We must continue to be a faithful witness.
Consider the last legislative session. Several very wicked bills were passed, and yet, praise the Lord, a few have been held up, at least to this point. We should be thankful that parental notification for abortion has not been overturned. We can also give thanks that the bill granting even more power to bureaucrats over schools did not pass and we are grateful that 16,818 witness slips against this bill were filed. However, both bills could come up again during the fall veto session.
Despite the discouragements, this is no time to cease praying and attempting to bring a faithful witness.
Let me suggest several things that will encourage you to be a more vigilant citizen in our corrupt state.
First, consider registering an account with the Illinois General Assembly website so you can more easily fill out witness slips and track all the witness slips you have filed.
Related to this, I have found the LegiScan website to be useful for tracking legislation.
Consider setting up an account and learning how to use this helpful tool.
Second, put the contact information for your elected officials in your cell phone. This will facilitate reaching out to them by email or phone.
Third, print out a listing of your officials to remind and encourage you to be in prayer for them.
Fourth, consider sending your elected officials a handwritten card or maybe even an evangelistic book or copy of the Bible.
Fifth, if God directs you to stay in Illinois, you must embrace a missionary attitude. This should be the case wherever we live, but it is especially true for life in Illinois.
God has called you to faithfulness! Continue to be a faithful witness of God’s Law and His Gospel.