What Does It Take?
What does it take for a person to come to know the Jesus as his or her Lord and Savior? This is a very important question, because, as believers, we are to be making disciples of Jesus. Therefore, we need a clear picture of what it takes, so we will do the right things. We have a very good insight into this question from Jesus' story of the rich man and Lazarus.(Luke 16:31)
We live in a day of sensationalism. This is even true in Christian circles. People are drawn to read the latest book, hear the media star who comes to Christ, or experience some new and glorious way of presenting the gospel. It is almost like we feel we must outdo each other. It seems to say that more people will trust Christ if they hear about Him in a sensational or dramatic way. The Bible says just the opposite. If a person will not hear what the Bible says and take God at His Word, he would not believe, if someone came back from the dead to tell him about the reality of hell.
The reason for this is simple. We can't be scared or wowed into giving ourselves fully to Jesus as Lord of our lives. Yes, we might not want to go to hell, or we might want to be a part of a church that has something new and fantastic each week, but that is not the same as surrendering to Christ in repentance and faith. God is always drawing everyone to Jesus. The Bible is clear on that. If people do not listen to the drawing of the Spirit of the Lord and respond when we share the truth with them, they will not respond sincerely to the sensational either.
Please, don't wait for someone to come back from hell or heaven and shake you up enough to change your heart. You are the only one who can give yourself fully to the Lord. You know it is the right thing to do, even if you have been suppressing it for years. God has revealed Himself to you clearly. Turn to Jesus, once and for all. It will be the best decision you will ever make.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 17-19.
We live in a day of sensationalism. This is even true in Christian circles. People are drawn to read the latest book, hear the media star who comes to Christ, or experience some new and glorious way of presenting the gospel. It is almost like we feel we must outdo each other. It seems to say that more people will trust Christ if they hear about Him in a sensational or dramatic way. The Bible says just the opposite. If a person will not hear what the Bible says and take God at His Word, he would not believe, if someone came back from the dead to tell him about the reality of hell.
The reason for this is simple. We can't be scared or wowed into giving ourselves fully to Jesus as Lord of our lives. Yes, we might not want to go to hell, or we might want to be a part of a church that has something new and fantastic each week, but that is not the same as surrendering to Christ in repentance and faith. God is always drawing everyone to Jesus. The Bible is clear on that. If people do not listen to the drawing of the Spirit of the Lord and respond when we share the truth with them, they will not respond sincerely to the sensational either.
Please, don't wait for someone to come back from hell or heaven and shake you up enough to change your heart. You are the only one who can give yourself fully to the Lord. You know it is the right thing to do, even if you have been suppressing it for years. God has revealed Himself to you clearly. Turn to Jesus, once and for all. It will be the best decision you will ever make.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 17-19.