Back in the day when hitchhikers still wandered the land, our church was using the James Kennedy Evangelism Explosion program for following up with people who visited the church on Sunday mornings.  This method has the well-known pair of questions for assessing one’s relationship to the Lord: “If you were to die today, do you know you will go to heaven?” and “If God asks you why he should let you into heaven, what would you say?”

The correct answer to the second question goes something like “Dear Father, I believe in your dear Son Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.  You promised that anyone who does so would be welcomed into Heaven and live forever.  And you keep your promises.”  I know in my head that is the right answer, but I suspect after reading about the encounters  Isaiah and Moses had with God  (Isaiah 6.1-6 and Exodus 3.1-6) that if He asked me such a question, I would be unable to speak or move and probably just fall right down on the ground.  The common bad answer to the question?  “I have been good, even very good.”

The Kennedy program provided a presentation and outline along with the questions.  We had to practice.  My best practice times were to a “captive audience.”  I would pick up hitchhikers on the highway.  My part of the conversation would go something like, “what’s your  name?  Where you headed?  We are doing a new program at church. Can I practice with you?”  I would launch the presentation, ask the two questions, and see where the conversation went.   

I don’t recall any of those hitchhikers turning their life over to Jesus on the spot.  But as far as I can tell, my responsibility is to say what I know about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit takes care of changing attitudes, convicting of sin and righteousness, granting salvation and all the other heavy stuff.  I just wish there were more hitchhikers around.