Roadmap to God

Sunday was a day of worship and rest when I was growing up. My family faithfully went to church every Sunday morning and evening for worship. I didn't appreciate it at the time, but I was receiving life's greatest gift.

My parents, pastors, Sunday school teachers, Christian high school teachers, and others spent time giving me a roadmap to God. I'm still following that same roadmap they laid out for me when I was a boy. My faith remains fully integrated in my business and family and personal life. My faith is my foundation.

Not everyone is fortunate to receive this roadmap from an early age. That puts the responsibility on believers to show others the way. Some believers find it uncomfortable. But I've found a way to make sharing my faith simple. All I do is show people I'm interested in them.

I ask them what church they attend and what they believe in. We talk about what they believe and what I believe. I don't have to push my faith on them. They usually ask, and I tell them.

Many years ago, an old friend from high school whom I'd not seen in years told me God had used me to bring him back to Christ. He saw me on a religious TV show and prayed for the first time in years.

Many years ago I opened a speech by sharing with the audience that I was a sinner saved by grace. I received a note from an audience member who said my admission hit him like a lightening bolt because he knew he also was a sinner who had to change his life. That encouraged me to continue acknowledging my faith by introducing myself as a sinner saved by grace.

It's said you can count the seeds in one apple but not all the apples that one day will be harvested from the trees that grow from the seeds in that one apple. I'll never know how many people will accept Christ and tell others because they saw me on television, read one of my books, heard one of my speeches, or had a casual conversation in which I ask them about their faith. But we can keep planting seeds in faith that God will make them grow.

As children, many of us received the gift of a roadmap to God. Now, in gratitude, we can tell others about the free gift of salvation and help give them the best roadmap they'll ever follow.

If you're interested, there is more information about:
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Rich DeVos is vice-chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.