Lately, I'm sobered by what I read in the news and by what I see happening in the world each day. Are we close to the end of the age? Prophesies are coming true and things seem to be lining up in that direction. Yet as we approach this cataclysmic end, what is our obligation as the children of God?
I came across this verse the other day and it really struck me.
When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 3:18-19
Do you know people who are lost? Neighbors, friends, co-workers, family members? Maybe you've invited them to church, maybe you've tried to be a good example in front of them, maybe you've given glory to God for the good things in your life, but have you really explained to them what Jesus did on the cross and warned them of the wrath to come?
It's not a very popular theology in churches these days. In fact, I've never heard a sermon on Hell and I've never heard a sermon based on this verse above. Have we missed the mark? Have we somehow become complacent about Jesus's last command to spread the gospel throughout the world?
What keeps us from telling people the hard truth? For me it's...
Fear of rejection
Fear of confrontation
Both self-centered reasons revolving around ME and what people think of me. But do you know what really frightens me? Standing before the throne of God and having my neighbor or my friend or God forbid, my sister, trembling beside me because they are about to be tossed into Hell for all eternity. And they turn to me and say "Why didn't you tell me?"
What keeps you from sharing the Gospel with others?
Time is short.
Great post, MaryLu. Being from the Bible belt south, I've heard plenty of sermons on hell and that verse as been taught in the pulpits I've listened to, though I admit it's been a long time. I do believe we are much closer to the end than some of us think we are.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a pre-teen a friend of my mother's, who had lived with us when we were very young, and moved away came back to town for a visit and told my mom all about meeting Jesus and wanted my mom to know Him. When my mother told her friend that she has known Jesus since she was a teenager the friend asked her, "why did you not tell me?". There was much more to the conversation as my mother did try to tell her, but she did not hear through her drug/alcohol addicted state. But her words have stuck with me, I never want a friend/family members of mine to say those words to me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Ladies! (Marylu, wishing she lived in the Bible belt!)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post, MaryLu. What a reminder of what God requires of us as Christians.
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