Black holes. In space, they are incredibly dense objects, which suck in everything around them, even light. They are the ultimate, infinitely dark void.

In a sense, most people carry around a type of black hole on the inside of them. These black holes are nagging, unanswered questions and the empty, haunting sense that life has no meaning. Why is there so much suffering in the world?

What is the secret of the miracle of life? What lies beyond the veil of death? Is there a God? A devil? A literal heaven and hell?

These are issues that defy the grasp of the human intellect. No matter how much education a person has, no matter how many great philosophers one reads, meaningful answers to these questions will always elude those not in the family of God. They remain black holes.

We are living in a world full of people with these black holes. Rampant drug abuse, the high suicide rate, the popularity of strange religions and the pursuit of riches all testify of man's futile quest to fill these holes apart from God. It simply can't be done. I know. I've tried, as did many of you.

King David knew a little bit about black holes. Many of his psalms express his search for answers and his occasional sense of emptiness; "The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow" (Ps. 116:3 NIV).

But unlike unbelievers today, David knew how to get his black holes filled; "Then I called on the name of the Lord: 'O Lord, save me!'" (verse 4).

There is only one source of light and life for mankind's black holes. A heartfelt cry to God of "HELP!" The inevitable result of such a cry is peace and rest; "Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling," (verses 7-8).

I know firsthand what it feels like to look inside and see nothing but a big gaping hole. Following two tours of duty as a pilot in Southeast Asia, I started an air freight business that rapidly grew and prospered.

My wife and I had much the world says a person should ever need or want to achieve happiness. Yet, I grew more empty and miserable with each passing month.

Finally, I came to the realization that the only thing that was going to fill that black hole was Jesus. As I totally committed my life to Christ, I found the fulfillment, peace, and wholeness I had been missing for so long.

Jesus, and only Jesus, can fill your black holes. That is the simple, but profound message we must carry to those around us who are lost. It is only in entering a right relationship with Jesus that our questions get answered, life takes on meaning and the emptiness inside gets filled.

To share this good news with someone else involves leading them to a realization of a few simple truths. Here are the steps to entering a right relationship with Jesus Christ. They're the very steps you took if you know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Acknowledging Sin and Separation
Every person born into this earth enters it separated from God and spiritually dead. Why? Because our forefather, Adam, rebelled against God and we are all descended from Him.

That may be hard to comprehend on an intellectual level, but most lost people, deep down inside, are well aware of a sense of separation from God.

Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." And Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

How does a person get from a state of spiritual death to a state of spiritual life and restoration? Jesus said, "You must be born again." That's a phrase that's been used and abused quite frequently.

Some people equate being "born again" with something extreme or fanatical, but all it refers to is the wondrous newness of life you experience when the Spirit of God makes you spiritually alive.

The first step in this process is acknowledging your sin and recognizing a need to be restored to relationship to God.

Confession
The next step on the road to restoration involves confession. Specifically confessing with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord (boss, master, king). Romans 10:9-10 makes this very clear:

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

You can't keep a real, life-changing commitment to Jesus Christ a secret. You can't say, "I'm going to make Jesus Lord of my life, but I'm not going to tell anyone about it."

Jesus said if we are ashamed to confess Him before men, He can't confess us before the Father (Matt. 10:32-33).

Furthermore, the Bible tells us faith without corresponding action is dead (James 2:17). True faith in Jesus Christ will be accomplished by the action of confessing Him publicly as Lord and Savior.

These two steps, 1) acknowledgment of and repentance from sin, and 2) public confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are the two primary acts of obedience that allow the Holy Spirit to initiate the miracle of regeneration called the new birth.

A prayer that you could lead a person in who desired to make this type of commitment might go something like this:

"God in Heaven, I come to You in the name of Jesus. I am sorry that I tried to fill my life with everything but You. I've been looking in the wrong places for answers the world can't give. But I'm glad to know I can change that. I have decided to believe that Jesus is Your Son. And that He died for me and rose again that I might have eternal life. I believe the black holes in my life are being filled. Jesus, come into my heart. Be my Savior. Be my Lord. To the best of my ability, I will live for You all of my life. This I pray in Jesus' name, amen."

Once a person makes this commitment, it is important that they grow in knowledge and relationship with God by spending time in His Word and in prayer.

Share the Good News
That, in a nutshell is the message of the Gospel. It tells a hurting world, "You can get your black holes filled." It's as simple as that.

In another sense, the message of evangelism is a message of reconciliation. Lifestyle evangelism is simply being available to tell the people who cross your path they can be reconciled to a God who loves them.

One of the best ways to share this message is through what we call "testimony." In fact, your personal testimony is the most powerful vehicle you have for communicating Jesus to other people.

In the book of Acts, Paul gives his personal testimony on three separate occasions. Each time he was witnessing to a king or governor in an attempt to persuade them to follow Christ.

"But, Pastor Mac, I don't have a very exciting testimony." I've heard many people say that. In fact, I used to say the very same thing. I'd listen to other people give glorious testimonies about being delivered from heroin addiction or prison.

Others would testify of being near the brink of death with terminal cancer when Jesus appeared to them, healed them, and they gave their life to Him.

I'd think, "Man, compared to them my testimony is pretty boring." Then the Lord dealt with me and said, "Your testimony is just as powerful as any other when you tell from your heart what I have done for you."

No matter who you are, if Jesus lives in your heart, you have a good testimony. All you have to do is let the Spirit of God bring it to life as you obey His prompting to share it.

It's an inescapable fact. People have black holes and you have the answer. Now get ready to discover the style of sharing that answer that's best for you.

Copyright © Mac Hammond Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.