Warn Them!

“I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3

 

I want to take a moment to stress the importance of Biblical Salvation, which all Believers know.  Biblical salvation is repentance and by faith believing into Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  So true Believers, true Christians, those who have repented and believed into Jesus have their names written in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:15).

 

We know that Christ died for all.

 

“For the love of Christ holds us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again.”  1st Corinthians 5:14-15

 

We know that God wishes that none would perish.

 

“The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is longsuffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”  2nd Peter 3:9

 

“Do I delight with pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Jehovah, and not that he should turn back from his ways and live?”  Ezekiel 18:23

 

Consider Christ, He gave His life so that we may have life in Him.

 

“In this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  1st John 4:9-11

 

We are servants of Jesus, as His servants, what are we doing to further spread the Gospel?  What about our loved ones, our friends, our neighbors and our coworkers.  This was addressed last week, about what we as Christians are doing to store up treasures in Heaven (Matt. 6:20), but let’s take some additional time to consider our family and friends.

 

No one knows the day nor the hour that the Lord is going to appear to take those who are His to be with Him.

 

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, but My Father only.”  Matthew 24:36

 

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together at the same time with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”  1st Thessalonians 4:17

 

Yet most Christians would seemingly agree that it appears to be much sooner than later.  Even if it were later, should our attitude change towards His work? 

 

Take a look around at what is going on.  We have the Israeli peace treaty in the forefront of political discussions.  While this certainly has been an issue with many previous administrations, one must consider that things are being done different this time.  Finally Jerusalem has been recognized by the United States as the capital on Israel. 

 

With this bargaining chip off the table, apparently with some sort of yet unknown concession having been made on Israel’s part, a peace deal seems more viable than in times past.  What if the Palestinians started mass terror attacks against Israel?  We have seen before that Israel will respond.  What if Israel does what they are considering and goes after portions of Syria and Iran?  Then again, what if none of these things happen, but peace proceeds.

 

So many so-called evangelical Christians look forward to this sort of advancement.  As has been said before, if they are not Saved and the Rapture happens, there is nothing to look forward to, they will have been Left Behind.  Yet with all of this going on, how much longer do we have?

 

With cryptocurrencies becoming popular, could this not perhaps be a predecessor for a one world currency???  Look at how hard it is to find a Church that preaches biblical Salvation.  To take it one step further, how many that even do so are becoming quickly apostate themselves.  It is apparent that the apostasy is in full bloom, getting worse seemingly by the year.

 

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own lusts, desiring to hear pleasant things, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.”  2nd Timothy 4:3-4

 

Last time we took a look at how Christians ought to be doing the work of the Lord, this time let’s take a more personal look at the Lord’s work in regards to our family.  Truly we can not save people, Jesus Saves them, but we may plant the seed, we may water, ultimately it is in God’s hand.

 

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believe, as the Lord gave to each one?  I planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow.  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who causes growth.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  For no one is able to lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will be revealed; for the Day will declare it, because it will be disclosed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.  If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is consumed, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”  1st Corinthians 3:5-15

 

Men are not guaranteed a breath from the one they are taking now.  So we can not necessarily assume that we can put off doing such things. 

 

“As water evaporates from the sea, and a river wastes away and dries up, so man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, they shall not awake nor be aroused from their sleep.”  Job 14:11-12

 

Yes in times past I have spoken to my family members.  Even though most are not receptive, does that simply mean that if the Lord provides the opportunity to further speak to them, I should automatically write them off? 

 

Do you not know that a loved family member or friend could get in a car accident today?  Imagine the horror to receive a phone call or a text message that someone who you truly care about is now dead or on life support, struggling to stay alive.  Once they are dead or unable to hear you and respond, what can you say?  Should you have not already said such things, should not the heart be content in regards to you knowing that you had warned them diligently? 

 

How much sadder is the death of a loved one when you know they are not Saved?  How much worse is it knowing that they are going to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment and be condemned to the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15). 

 

If you will, imagine for a moment that you would be able to be a spectator of such an event.  Certainly if the person was very bad, one could imagine, as the family of the victims often watch the man on death row being executed.  However, imagine if it were your mother, your brother, your sister, your best friend, your grandpa or grandma or someone else held very dear in your heart. 

 

As you stood there, unable to intercede to God’s just judgment, and you heard the verdict, of which you already knew beforehand, that their name was not written in the Book of Life, would you cry out to the Most High, would you beg for mercy because that soul is one whom you care greatly about?  As they are cast into Hell, would you burst into tears asking them to forgive you for not telling them about Jesus Christ?

 

Would you tell them that you knew you needed to warn them, but you didn’t want them to think less of you?  Would you tell them that if you weren’t so busy you would have had time to make the Bible study with them, that you had thought about doing?  Would you tell them that you loved them, but not enough to forsake your selfish ways and warn them?

 

If you dug a hole in your back yard, to look for buried treasure and you had some nieces and nephews over, would you warn them about the hole as they are running around your yard?  If not, if one fell in the hole and broke their leg, this would be bad, this would be irresponsible, but the leg would heal, the bills would eventually get paid, the child would tarry on.  Not warning those whom you care about, about the truth of the matter regarding life, sin and Salvation, about God’s just judgment, the need for repentance (Acts 17:30-31), the great gift of God (John 3:16), the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died on the Cross for our sins (Rom. 4:25) and rose again from the dead (1 Cor. 15:14) to sit at the right hand of the Almighty (Mark 16:19), of which there is no other name of which to be Saved (Acts 4:12), this is another matter. 

 

For the child with the broken leg, some flowers, a sincere apology and perhaps a gift would suffice.  Though the ill sentiment of the situation may far outlast the consequences of the broken leg, the situation could be tamed down, the relationship could be restored to where it was prior.  With those loved ones who die, without Christ, there is no restoration, there is nothing that can be done.  They are lost, they will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. 

 

Jesus died for our sins, He did not live doing what He pleased, but rather did the will of God the Father (Luke 22:42).  As Christians do we continue doing what we please or do we follow in our Lord and Savior’s example, doing the will of Him who died for us?

 

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but gave Himself over to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.”  1st Peter 2:21-24

 

Rather than this just being something that can be nodded in agreement.  As Believers, if you are not actively telling those whom you love about the Gospel or if you haven’t already, you know what I am saying is true.  You can nod in agreement, but if you don’t actually get out there and warn them, would they nod in agreement as they stand before God Almighty at the Great White Throne Judgment, when it comes to remembrance that you had warned them or if they could, would they cast a look wondering why you didn’t love them enough to tell them, to try and fully explain the Gospel, as they are cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity.

 

My friends, this is serious business, one which requires due diligence on the part of every Believer.  Someone took the time to tell you about the Gospel, someone took the time to tell you about Christ’s love for you.  You must go and do the same.  Do not keep your Salvation a secret, do not prevent the world from knowing that indeed you rest securely in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior.

 

While Christ will wipe away the tears, we have an opportunity right now to not have so many tears when we stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

 

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:4

 

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.  Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; and we are well known to God, and I also hope are well known in your consciences.”  2nd Corinthians 5:10-11

 

Certainly it may very well be that they simply won’t listen, that they don’t want to hear.  Unfortunately these are the truths that we may have to experience, yet remember that we might have planted a seed, we may have watered and the time could come that God will cause it to grow.  We can’t always assume that the worst will happen, but we do know that without their names being written in the Book of Life, through biblical Salvation, there is no hope. 

 

“He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  Revelation 22:20

 

Amen!