You may have read about a friend named Denny Empie who started giving away sodas from behind a table at public events. Participants simply had to fill out a multiple-choice survey entitled, “What do You Think Is Required to Get to Heaven?
It’s actually a trick question because the survey offers no right answers except the square that says, “None of The Above.” Over 90% of those surveyed got it wrong.
The beauty of this ministry was that those who were handing out the surveys and sodas would have a hard time thinking, “Isn’t this a wonderful thing I’m doing for God?” The reason: That was one of the wrong answers!
Anyone serving God can fall into the trap of forgetting that the grace and mercy of God is free - just like Denny’s soda. Kingdom workers can start thinking that it was their words or their efforts that led to someone’s conversion or toward a great victory for God.
It just so happened that Jesus’ very own disciples checked off that square a couple of times.
So anyone volunteering at the soda survey need only have a firm grip on that questionnaire just like Denny had a firm grip on the scriptures that wouldn’t let him forget that salvation only comes through Christ.
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: What starts out in the spirit can easily drift into ego-centric ministry…all in the name of “Jesus,” of course. That’s a tough portal-closing lesson for even the most mature of believers. Take it from the disciples.
Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?…But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.”…Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. Galatians 3:3 NIV, Judges 8:23,24,27 NIV