Many years ago, at a leadership camp in Lagos, Nigeria, I met Endurance Igbinosun, who exemplified Christianity for me. He was, in my opinion, effortlessly flawless in exuding grace and goodness.
A natural leader who sang often, “If Your presence doesn’t go with us, we don’t want to leave this place”. I remember thinking, this is who I should be. I have been living a lie, trying to fit in, trying to be popular, trying to be a ‘Gee’. I had heard so many sermons in times past, and walked up to the altar on numerous occasions to give my life to Christ but this right here was the real deal. Endurance didn’t spend time preaching the word to me, he simply showed the way through his example, he simply implied, Come and See.
In John 1, Jesus had just been vindicated as the messiah, he had been baptized by John and the Spirit of God, like a dove, descended on him and remained. Philip believed him to be the messiah and went to call Nathaniel to come join this new “Holy Spirit Movement”. Nathaniel expressed doubt saying “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? …” – John 1:46. Philip did not argue with him nor did he try to get religious on him. He simply said “Come and See”.
That is the best message you can ever give to anyone. Come and see. Don’t just sit there and criticize, Come and see. Don’t just insinuate, assume, or disclaim someone you have not yet experienced. Come and See. Come and See what the Lord has done. Come and see that the Lord is good. He is too big to be tested, but deserves to be trusted. Yet, if testing is what it will take, then He gladly invites you saying:
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. – Psalm 34:8
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Come and see. Taste, Test, Prove; heck, even feel his nail pierced hands. Come and see. C’mon