Sweaty armpits....
There's been a whole lot of talk lately about the end of the world. Many prophecies from the Bible are being fulfilled...even as we speak.
I have a fascination with this. It excites me to no end just talking about Jesus coming back to Earth and us getting to witness this! I cannot even imagine! What a sight this will be! I have a couple of friends that I love to talk to about this stuff. We get together and gush about the signs and wonders all over the world and how they are synonymous with scripture.
God is very clear about signs for us to look for prompting His return. However, His timing is different from ours. One day to God is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. [2 Peter 3:8]
So, even as I see things unfolding and God's Word being fulfilled, I must remember that only He knows when His return will be. [Mark 13:32, Matt. 24:36]
One thing I do know for sure though, is that scripture warns us to be prepared.
"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into." Matthew 24:42-43
"Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come." Mark 13:33
"But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36
We must know what we believe and Who we believe in.
If you are not sure, I want to encourage you so strongly today, to come to Christ. He tells us that we are all sinners and we all fall short of His glory. [Romans 3:23]
Jesus also tells us that we must believe in Him and believe that He is the Son of God.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Maybe you are reading this and thinking, "umm, yeah. I got this. I am saved. I know Jesus and I love Him."
Then that is AWESOME!
Now, I want us to think of someone around us that doesn't know Jesus. Those around us that are not prepared.
Take a minute.
Picture their face.
Now, think of someone else that doesn't know Jesus in your close circle.
Picture their face.
Now, think about your family. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Sisters, Brothers, Cousins, Grandparents, Parents...
Are there any among them that do not believe?
If you are not sure, then they are probably not believers.
Pause and picture their faces. All of them.
Now, think about that Glorious day when Jesus returns.
Now picture their faces again.
Will they miss out on eternity?
What will you say to them on that day if you have the chance?
My eyes are flooding with tears.
Do we love our family members [even distant ones] enough to share Christ with them?
Will it be uncomfortable? Probably.
My armpits are already sweating just thinking about it.
But, what if they push me away?
But, what if they yell at me?
But, what if they ask me questions I don't have the answer to?
But....
What if they come to Christ.
What if they are able to join you in Eternity on the Wonderful Day when Jesus returns.
What if God pats you on the back and says, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Because of your faith and obedience, this person will be written in the Lambs Book of Life."
Isn't a few minutes of being uncomfortable worth the possibility of being able to see this precious person in Heaven with you?
There is a famous quote by the magician Penn Jillette, from the duo Penn and Teller. Penn is an atheist, but listen to what he says here...
“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me along and keep your religion to yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?
“I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”
**If you are like me, you had to look up the word "proselytize". It means, "to convert, or attempt to convert someone from one religion or belief to another". You're welcome. ;)
Read this part of that quote again and ponder it....How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?
Whew. When I read this for the first time, it knocked me over.
Picture your friends and family members that are unsaved again.
How much do you love them?
Enough to share the greatest news in all the world with them?
Why would we keep this news under wraps??
Are you challenged to do this thing? To share the good news of Christ?
Here's how we begin...
I have a fascination with this. It excites me to no end just talking about Jesus coming back to Earth and us getting to witness this! I cannot even imagine! What a sight this will be! I have a couple of friends that I love to talk to about this stuff. We get together and gush about the signs and wonders all over the world and how they are synonymous with scripture.
God is very clear about signs for us to look for prompting His return. However, His timing is different from ours. One day to God is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. [2 Peter 3:8]
So, even as I see things unfolding and God's Word being fulfilled, I must remember that only He knows when His return will be. [Mark 13:32, Matt. 24:36]
One thing I do know for sure though, is that scripture warns us to be prepared.
"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into." Matthew 24:42-43
"Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come." Mark 13:33
"But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:36
We must know what we believe and Who we believe in.
If you are not sure, I want to encourage you so strongly today, to come to Christ. He tells us that we are all sinners and we all fall short of His glory. [Romans 3:23]
Jesus also tells us that we must believe in Him and believe that He is the Son of God.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Maybe you are reading this and thinking, "umm, yeah. I got this. I am saved. I know Jesus and I love Him."
Then that is AWESOME!
Now, I want us to think of someone around us that doesn't know Jesus. Those around us that are not prepared.
Take a minute.
Picture their face.
Now, think of someone else that doesn't know Jesus in your close circle.
Picture their face.
Now, think about your family. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Sisters, Brothers, Cousins, Grandparents, Parents...
Are there any among them that do not believe?
If you are not sure, then they are probably not believers.
Pause and picture their faces. All of them.
Now, think about that Glorious day when Jesus returns.
Now picture their faces again.
Will they miss out on eternity?
What will you say to them on that day if you have the chance?
My eyes are flooding with tears.
Do we love our family members [even distant ones] enough to share Christ with them?
Will it be uncomfortable? Probably.
My armpits are already sweating just thinking about it.
But, what if they push me away?
But, what if they yell at me?
But, what if they ask me questions I don't have the answer to?
But....
What if they come to Christ.
What if they are able to join you in Eternity on the Wonderful Day when Jesus returns.
What if God pats you on the back and says, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Because of your faith and obedience, this person will be written in the Lambs Book of Life."
Isn't a few minutes of being uncomfortable worth the possibility of being able to see this precious person in Heaven with you?
There is a famous quote by the magician Penn Jillette, from the duo Penn and Teller. Penn is an atheist, but listen to what he says here...
“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me along and keep your religion to yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?
“I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”
**If you are like me, you had to look up the word "proselytize". It means, "to convert, or attempt to convert someone from one religion or belief to another". You're welcome. ;)
Read this part of that quote again and ponder it....How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?
Whew. When I read this for the first time, it knocked me over.
Picture your friends and family members that are unsaved again.
How much do you love them?
Enough to share the greatest news in all the world with them?
Why would we keep this news under wraps??
Are you challenged to do this thing? To share the good news of Christ?
Here's how we begin...
- Write their names down on a sheet of paper.
- Pray for those people in your mind.
- Look at those names every single day.
- Pray over them every single day.
- After doing this for 7 days, ask God to give you an opportunity to share the good news with them.
- Then, share the good news.
- Don't worry about the outcome.
- Obedience is planting the seed and letting God water it.
- Keep praying for them.
Are you sweating yet?
That's okay, I have a really good deodorant I can lend you. ;)
We must tell the good news. We must.
If not us, then who?
putting on an extra layer of deodorant,
jill
