Monday, July 28, 2014

Pastor's Pondering, July 28, 2014

Did You Finish Your Task?

During one day in March, I heard from a close relative that her son's health had deteriorated to the point that there were no other
treatments available and supportive care was the only option. That day he had been placed in hospice care. Although doctors only gave him days to live, my wife and I decided to pray for his health and share the Good News of salvation. To our joy and our relative’s joy, he confessed that Jesus was his Lord and expressed that he believed Christ died for his sins and was raised from the dead (Romans 10:9). That afternoon he smiled a smile that I had not seen in a very long time.  Despite hearing last week that he had quietly passed into eternity, I do believe that he is rejoicing now with our Savior.

How many opportunities have we missed to share the Good News with our friends, family, and neighbors?  Are we too concerned about stepping on toes and being overbearing about our faith? Do we fail to share our story because people are too busy, indifferent, or hostile to hear about God? We have a responsibility to tell all in whom we may come into contact about the Good News.  Our failure to share this truth means that we have not completed the task that God has given to us to go tell everybody about salvation (Mark 16:15, 16).

The bible talks about two gentlemen; one who accepted salvation and one who did not.  While the one ended up in eternal bliss, the other ended up in eternal torment (Luke 16:22-24). The man in torment wanted desperately to have someone return to earth to warn his relatives, but was told that would not work. He was assured that there were people alive on earth who could share the Good News with them (Luke 16:27-31).

May we all remember that we are living on an assignment to reach the lost at any cost.  Let's not waste opportunities to share the promise of eternal life with Christ with our friends, family and others that we meet along life's journey!
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Please comment below and tell about when you shared the Good News. You can encourage others to do the same.

Mark 16:15-16
New International Version (NIV)
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Luke 16:22-24
New International Version (NIV)
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 
23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

Luke 16:27-31
New International Version (NIV)
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,
28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”




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