There is nothing as great as watching someone light up with the realization that God loves them. Watching them go from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom, and from glory to glory. As you read the book of Acts, you can see that those on fire for God were spreading the gospel, the good news of Jesus, to everyone. This transformation, this new creation is the proof that God is real! Jesus gave the command to go and to keep on going. We are never to stop sharing what God has done!
I knew a Christian man who claimed to be a spirit-filled believer who worked alongside another one of our members who had a heart that was on fire for souls. The man who had a heart for souls would constantly be trying to put himself in a position to share the gospel even on the job. He would eat lunch with others who didn’t believe in Jesus and he would share what God had done. The other man, however, had no interested in socializing with anyone who wasn’t a Christian. That same fire just wasn’t there. That fire should be ablaze on the inside of all of us - a genuine love for the lost - the heart of God!
“It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts Him”
When we come to the realization that people will go to Hell unless we share the truth — it should fuel our fire to get serious about reconciling others to Christ.
J.C. Ryle was quoted on page 219, “Hell, hell fire, the damnation of hell, eternal damnation, the resurrection of the damnation, everlasting fire, the place of torment, destruction, outer darkness, the worm that never dies, the fire that is not quenched, the place of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, everlasting punishment…these are the words which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself employs. Away with the miserable nonsense which people talk in this day who tell us that the ministers of the gospel should never speak of hell.”
Hell is real. Eternity is real. It is horrible to think that someone we know and love may be going to Hell. It is even more horrendous to think of someone who may be in Hell and that we had the chance to tell them about Jesus and we didn’t. Renner says, “If we embrace this truth, it will shake us to the core and embolden us to compassionately share Christ with people — yes, to make the benefits of salvation available to them for this present earthly life, but most importantly, to ensure that they become a part of God’s eternal family.”
“Jesus died for this - so we must live for it!”
It’s time for us to GO and TELL everyone about Jesus. If we really believe in Hell we will do everything in our power to keep others out. If we really believe in the power of God’s saving grace, then we will do everything in our power to share the meaning of the sacrifice that was made. Charles Spurgeon shared, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” (p.227)
We need the FIRE of God to be blazing on the inside of us not just a romantic candlelight. Fuel your fire this week and be prepared to share the life changing news that resides on the inside of you. Even during this time of “social distancing” you may be amazed at the doors the Holy Spirit will open for you to speak truth into someone’s life.