Even when you don’t see the results of your witness right away, God has promised that His Word will not return unto Him void; it will accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 55:11). You may not see the results of your witness in this life because you don’t always know if, how, or when the seeds of truth you plant in someone’s heart will take root. Perhaps the person you witnessed to will eventually find the Lord due in part to something that you said, or your witness will have worked in their heart to cause them to be more receptive when another Christian witnesses to them or they read or hear about the gospel.
We can’t always expect to be the sowers and the reapers, because the Lord said that some sow and some water, but it is God who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6–7). Sometimes we enter into other people’s labors to share the good news and sometimes others enter into ours. Sometimes we lead people to the Lord who have been a long time in preparation before reaching the point where they would yield their lives to Him. We come along at just that strategic moment when they are ready to receive Jesus, and we’re able to reap due to all that has been sown and watered by others.
We may come on the scene in someone’s life at the beginning stage as the sowers, where we plant the initial seed of the gospel. Or we may water the seed that was already planted in their heart by someone else. We may be answering more of their questions and sharing Jesus’ love with them, and the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their heart through the witness they received. We may never see them again, but the Lord uses His Word and the love we shared with them as one more step in bringing that person to Him. Their eventual salvation will be a result in part of our faithfulness to share His love and message with them.