When tragedies like the Boston Marathon Bombing, and the West, Texas Plant Explosion hit so close to home we are forced to face reality. Our world is a mess. It has been since the fall of man in The Garden of Eden, yet we are still surprised. We shake our head at people in disbelief and dismay. We pray and cry for the families of the wounded and dead. We mourn the lives that are lost, but do we consider their souls?
As Christians, we do not have to fear death. Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” In other words, I believe that alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m His just reward. This life versus even more life eternal — I can’t lose! So, truly, we live.
It breaks my heart, thinking about the unsaved, eternally separated from God. Forever in darkness and anguish. Only God knows the heart of man, and where on the other side the souls of the dead reside. Do their spirits now dance with Him in glory, or not?
I scold myself, thinking, if it genuinely breaks my heart why do I sit and do nothing? Every day I should be telling someone about the gospel of Jesus Christ! It could be their last day. I don’t have to be in church to teach it, nor do I have to be on a mission trip to share it. I just have to be walking-it-out, living it day-to-day, keeping it on my lips. The free gift of eternal life, that Jesus gave me, should always be on my mind; and the good news of it should be the first thing that I want to tell people.
The truth is, I could die to protect any stranger on the street. I know where my eternity is, but I would want to make sure they had another chance to hear about God’s love for them. Willing to die, but not willing to approach them and speak? In a room, I don’t think I’d be the first to talk to them. “Why?” I ask myself. Am I that shy? Am I afraid of what someone will think of me? Again, “why?”
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” [2 Timothy 1:7] I am praying for boldness in Christ Jesus, with every expectation that God will give it to me because He wants me to have it. In the mean time, I consciously make myself move, in spite of my timidity. I think it is a heartless and selfish thing to not share the hope of salvation with others. That’s not who I want to be. I want to be like fresh water for the thirsty, not the stagnant water no one can drink.
If I were told that, for one day only , the gas station on the corner is selling gas for one cent per gallon, I would be spreading the information like crazy. I would not hesitate to tell everyone, and they would tell everyone! We would post it on facebook. We would tweet about it. We might even stand on the corner and shout about it. Friends, neighbors, and strangers. We would be advising people to stock up, and not miss the opportunity. A penny a gallon! Wow. Yet, salvation is free to each of us. Jesus already paid the price. Why aren’t we telling everyone to stock up on everlasting life?
Granted, we are not responsible for the choices others make, but we are responsible for what we choose — whether or not we tell them about our faith and God’s gift of grace. Salvation is the greatest deal on earth! Yet, many still don’t know about it. We couldn’t force anyone to pump gas for a penny, and we can’t force them to believe on The Lord, Jesus Christ, but we should at least tell them of His loving offer.
The world may continue to fall apart before our eyes. May every heartache it throws our way be kindling to a fire inside us, that ignites a burning desire to further the Kingdom of God and see souls saved. We must speak.
Warmly,
Sarah E.
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Shiloh says
So good. And so true. I can’t wait for your next post!