"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
Romans 1:16
Have you ever been convicted to share the gospel with someone God placed in your life but did not do it because you were afraid? Or maybe you had no idea how to start and thought you had better leave it to the pastors and evangelists.
While oftentimes we feel inadequate, afraid or maybe even inconvenienced to share the gospel, we are all called to be witnesses and ambassadors for Christ.
While Corrie Ten Boom hid Jews in her home during World War II, she was active in the Dutch underground and led a group of young men and women. One of their operations was to rescue children from a Jewish orphanage and hide them in safe houses.
After the operation, one of the young men named Piet Hartog, told Corrie, "I believe that we are involved in the most important work there is, saving lives from morning to evening. I don’t want to go back to college. This is really essential work. It is wonderful."
Corrie answered, "I am so happy when I think of those babies; but, Piet, do you know that there’s even more important work, not only savings lives but souls—showing people the way to Jesus."
Piet pondered for a moment before responding, "I am a Christian boy; yes, I’m a Christian. I read my Bible, I pray. I go to church. But telling other people about the Lord Jesus, that’s the pastor’s job."
Laying a gentle hand on Piet’s shoulder and looking earnestly into the young man’s face, she replied, "Piet, every child of God is called to present the Gospel, and in your life a time will come when you will see that’s the most important job for you!"(Ten Boom, 23-25)
As the months passed, the underground work continued. Then one chilly December day in 1944, Piet was caught and arrested by the Gestapo. During the final days of his life, Corrie received a letter from Piet which spoke of the work the Lord was doing in his heart in the darkest of places.
"All the boys and men in my dormitory are condemned to death just like me. I am so happy that I was able to tell them that if they accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior, He will make them children of God; that a child of God may trust that, if he believes in the Lord Jesus, in the house of the Lord with its many mansions there is one for him. I think it’s so wonderful that I could tell them that they only need to tell the Lord of their sins and they will receive forgiveness. The blood of Jesus will cleanse them of their sins. Now I know that presenting the Gospel is the most important thing for every child of God." (Ten Boom, 23-25)
On January 30, 1945, just a few months before the Netherland’s liberation, Piet was executed by firing squad at the age of twenty-four. While his life ended short because of his work saving lives, he ended his life doing the most important work; pointing souls to the true Savior.
May we also grab hold of the truth that Piet realized at the end of his life; that presenting the gospel is the most important thing for any child of God. As we see from Piet's example, God will provide the opportunities. We just need to be willing and obedient to be used by Him.
Piet experienced joy when saving physical lives, but he is experiencing joy for eternity worshipping with those who were eternally saved because he shared Jesus with them.
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
2 Corinthians 5:20
Piet Hartog
Learn more about Corrie Ten Boom’s story and the Dutch Underground:
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
© 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
All rights reserved.
Ten Boom, Corrie. Messages of God's Abundance. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002, p. 23-25.
Ten Boom, Corrie. Piet Hartog, 2002, www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon7/piet_hartog.htm.
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