I am reminded of a story of a young man who had been raised as an atheist (against GOD) who was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend's sermons, but he heard them often. One night the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by. The young man climbed up to the highest diving board and as he turned his back to the pool on the edge of the board and extended his arms out, he saw his shadow on the wall. The shadow of his body was in the shape of a cross. Instead of diving into the pool, he knelt down and finally asked God to come into his life. That night, as the young man stood, with tears in his eyes and readies to complete his diving from the highest diving board, a maintenance man walked in and turned the lights on. As the boy looked down, to his amazement, the pool had been drained for repairs. AMAZING FAITH-JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.

This amazing story helps us to understand that Jesus not only affects one’s private life, but one’s public life as well. Sometimes it is AMAZING FAITH-JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME. Christ’s followers can recover that dimension of the gospel today. We can discover how to live out our faith in visible, public ways, as the "people of God" (1 Pet. 2:9–10), in order to powerfully impact others, and ourselves through culture, and daily living. But in doing so we need to consider and ask the question: How does faith impact the world and hopefully JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME?

It helps to understand how our world operates. We can start by identifying three components of the "global village" in which we live and work:

The world of (1) work and employment can be divided into three general sectors, as shown by the three towers in the accompanying diagram: business, government, and service. Each sector contains thousands of specific occupations, and there is much overlap. Gatekeepers, power brokers, and other leaders exist for each sector.

The more general, and in many ways less formal, sectors of (2) community and family are represented by the larger horizontal disc that supports the workplace.

The undergirdings of society, (3) systems, are not as easily observed. They exist conceptually in our minds and hearts, quietly supporting and influencing the institutions, systems, and peoples of the world. Policies, traditions, values, laws, beliefs—like pilings sunk deep into the ground under tall buildings—are powerful supports that provide a foundation for society.

Some parts of the foundation are permanent in their value. But sometimes, as illustrated by the decaying columns, the nature of the foundation changes as unreliable support’s crumble and the stronger foundations are relied upon even more and fortified if possible.

Behind it all is the sovereign God who sustains creation. Faith in Him enables truly meaningful social progress, as believers move back and forth between gathering for worship and scattering for engagement with the world.

Three ways that Christ’s message impacts our world are:

(1) Through followers of Christ. These are individuals with an active faith who live out the gospel and proclaim it to the world through:

• sharing Christ by word and deed in their relationships and lifestyles;

• the proper handling of responsibilities and resources in their personal possession;

• informal networks of friendships, care groups, and guilds;

• active participation in the structures of society;

• recognized leaders who influence others in the society.

(2) Through Christian institutions and structures. In many cultures, believers have the privilege of owning or controlling organizations that present the gospel and its implications to the society. Some of these include:

• local churches, whose members and attenders can influence the larger community;

• service organizations that render human aid such as medical care, education, and help to the poor;

• media outlets, such as magazines, radio and television stations, and publishing houses.

(3) Through lobbying and advocacy. Here Christians attempt to influence the values of society and the people and institutions that determine them. This can mean either affirming support for beliefs with which Christians agree or restraining and resisting influences that seem opposed to Scripture. Christian advocacy might include:

• voting;

• running for office or supporting candidates and legislation;

• lobbying leaders and institutions to affect policies, procedures, and activities;

• pressing for business and community development that benefits people and their surroundings;

• demonstrating publicly for or against various activities;

• taking legal action.

We see that faith impacts more than just individuals. Jesus used images such as salt, light, leaven, and seeds to describe His kingdom’s effect on the world. His gospel not only transforms persons but also institutions and the value structures that strengthen society. Sometimes the effects of GOD through Jesus Christ happen JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.

Evil and sin certainly pervade the world. Examples exist in the world issues we face today. In response, Jesus has sent us into the world to have influence for His sake (Mark 16:15). Through our work, our families, our prayers for the world and its leaders, our activity as good citizens, and our involvement in the structures of society, we can present Christ’s message and have impact on a world that needs Him now more than ever (Romans 9:5). Yours role is very important. You or your community could represent the maintenance man that may walk into someone’s life that may create an AMAZING FAITH STORYà JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME