There is a story, attributed to many different writers and story tellers, about a missionary that went to a distant and isolated tribe.
He was allowed to stay, but interaction was limited. Day after day this missionary tried to be helpful, hoping for a moment to speak about Christ, with only a few opportunities arising over the years, and every time he was shut down. The people were just not interested.
After a lifetime with the tribe, the man dies, and the tribe buries him, and life goes on.
Years pass and another missionary arrives on the scene. He is again allowed to stay, and at the first opportunity he shares Christ, at which the tribesman he is speaking to says, yes, he knows this man.
The missionary is quite taken aback and tries to explain that no, in fact, Jesus lived too long ago… The tribesman, however, insist that he knows this Jesus, the man speaks of, and calls over another one of his people.
He explains what the man is saying and this second member of the tribe confirms, yes. They do in fact know this man, and what’s more, he lived in their village for many years.
The missionary is utterly confused, but goes with the people who insist that he follows them as they take him to the grave of the first missionary who passed away years before.
Now, I don’t know much, but I’d like to think that when you can live a life in such a way that people confuse you with Jesus… you might have grasped the gospel.
”…Whatever happens, keep living your lives based on the reality of the gospel of Christ [which reveals Him to others]…”
(Philippians 1:27)
