A Message for Anyone and Everyone
Posted 02-28-2011 at 09:07 PM by mams1559
I've just realized it's been over 1 year since I've posted an entry to my blog. How time flies. So what message shall I convey to the masses?
How about the same message I've tried to present here previously ... God loves you and wants you to know Him and wants you to be with Him for all eternity. That's the best, most loving message I can think of at this time, or any time really. I can only pray it doesn't fall on deaf ears.
It is true that 1) God does exist; 2) God loves you; 3) Jesus died for you 4) Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you'll spend eternity with Him and 5) Live a life that would be pleasing and glorifying to God. That's all there is. That is the good news, the gospel in a nutshell.
Normally, I'm not this direct or this bold. I'm usually more reserved when broaching this topic. I've come to realize I cannot be shy about it any longer. Why should I worry about offending anyone with this message? Why should I worry about what others will think of me? That's not what is important. What is important is making sure the message is heard. I'm newly emboldened to share the good news and I'll tell you why.
First, back in 1998, when my dad lay in a hospital bed, paralized and on a ventilator, I hesitated sharing this with him. I balked at asking him point blank "Are you saved, have you accepted Christ?" I sheepishly told him "you know what you have to do". He died a few days later. I had to turn that burden over to God because it was gnawing at me whether Dad would be in heaven or not.
Next, I tried to reach out to my non-believing family, cousins, uncles, in-laws, who don't have Jesus as their savior. I basically am cut out of their lives now. I'm lambasted any time I try to talk with them, even when it's not related to religion. That hurts and serves to keep me shy and quiet about it. I reason, if this is how family reacts, how are others going to respond?
However, last summer my one uncle was diagnosed with cancer. A very painful, terminal, incurrable cancer. This man was not the most pleasant to be around and as far as I knew, he was not saved. His dear wife, who is a believer, worked on him and worked on him... to no apparent avail. Finally, God puts it on me to talk to him. God reminds me of the opportunity I wasted with my dad (his brother) and how bad I felt afterward. God pressed upon me the need to speak to my uncle. So I did.
Last week, I went to him with my pastor. And I finally laid it on the line... This is the gospel, this is what God asks of us, what is your relationship with God? I never did get a straight answer. We prayed for him. We prayed with. It was all up to my uncle now. He can't say he didn't know. He knew what he had to do. I left, weeping. Yesterday my uncle died. Am I certain about his salvation? No, I'm not certain. Only God knows for certain. However, I have a peace ... the peace only God can provide ... about this situation. The reason I have this peace is because I listened to God and I spoke up and made myself heard and shared the gospel. I have this peace from God because I didn't let it go unsaid, like I did with my Dad.
And you know what else? The world didn't end. My world didn't come to a crashing halt. I am still here. So now I understand regardless of whatever non-believers say about me or to me... that doesn't matter. It's not about me. It's not for me to worry about how the world will treat me. It's not about me... it's about them. It's about God. It's about eternity and where people are going to spend it. With God's help I can make the choices clear. God can use me in a way I didn't think I could be used. That is an awesome realization and a blessing.
So, dear reader, here's another message for you: Confess with your mouth and believe with your heart that Jesus is Lord, was born of a virgin, was crucified, died, was buried but arose on the third day to conquer sin and death and give us eternal life and you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39) and you will live a life worthy of His sacrafice for you.
Are you ready to take that step?
How about the same message I've tried to present here previously ... God loves you and wants you to know Him and wants you to be with Him for all eternity. That's the best, most loving message I can think of at this time, or any time really. I can only pray it doesn't fall on deaf ears.
It is true that 1) God does exist; 2) God loves you; 3) Jesus died for you 4) Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you'll spend eternity with Him and 5) Live a life that would be pleasing and glorifying to God. That's all there is. That is the good news, the gospel in a nutshell.
Normally, I'm not this direct or this bold. I'm usually more reserved when broaching this topic. I've come to realize I cannot be shy about it any longer. Why should I worry about offending anyone with this message? Why should I worry about what others will think of me? That's not what is important. What is important is making sure the message is heard. I'm newly emboldened to share the good news and I'll tell you why.
First, back in 1998, when my dad lay in a hospital bed, paralized and on a ventilator, I hesitated sharing this with him. I balked at asking him point blank "Are you saved, have you accepted Christ?" I sheepishly told him "you know what you have to do". He died a few days later. I had to turn that burden over to God because it was gnawing at me whether Dad would be in heaven or not.
Next, I tried to reach out to my non-believing family, cousins, uncles, in-laws, who don't have Jesus as their savior. I basically am cut out of their lives now. I'm lambasted any time I try to talk with them, even when it's not related to religion. That hurts and serves to keep me shy and quiet about it. I reason, if this is how family reacts, how are others going to respond?
However, last summer my one uncle was diagnosed with cancer. A very painful, terminal, incurrable cancer. This man was not the most pleasant to be around and as far as I knew, he was not saved. His dear wife, who is a believer, worked on him and worked on him... to no apparent avail. Finally, God puts it on me to talk to him. God reminds me of the opportunity I wasted with my dad (his brother) and how bad I felt afterward. God pressed upon me the need to speak to my uncle. So I did.
Last week, I went to him with my pastor. And I finally laid it on the line... This is the gospel, this is what God asks of us, what is your relationship with God? I never did get a straight answer. We prayed for him. We prayed with. It was all up to my uncle now. He can't say he didn't know. He knew what he had to do. I left, weeping. Yesterday my uncle died. Am I certain about his salvation? No, I'm not certain. Only God knows for certain. However, I have a peace ... the peace only God can provide ... about this situation. The reason I have this peace is because I listened to God and I spoke up and made myself heard and shared the gospel. I have this peace from God because I didn't let it go unsaid, like I did with my Dad.
And you know what else? The world didn't end. My world didn't come to a crashing halt. I am still here. So now I understand regardless of whatever non-believers say about me or to me... that doesn't matter. It's not about me. It's not for me to worry about how the world will treat me. It's not about me... it's about them. It's about God. It's about eternity and where people are going to spend it. With God's help I can make the choices clear. God can use me in a way I didn't think I could be used. That is an awesome realization and a blessing.
So, dear reader, here's another message for you: Confess with your mouth and believe with your heart that Jesus is Lord, was born of a virgin, was crucified, died, was buried but arose on the third day to conquer sin and death and give us eternal life and you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39) and you will live a life worthy of His sacrafice for you.
Are you ready to take that step?
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Comments
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A buddy of mine died of cancer... He didnt believe in GOD or JESUS or any 'mumbo jumbo' as he called it, and I always wanted to ask him, now that he was close, if he still held on that there was no GOD?
I never got the chance, or, actually, for better words, I didnt 'take or make' the chance. Since I have a heart condition myself, I was feeling bad when his Wife called and asked me to come and see Don, but, I wasnt feeling well, and told her I would try to make it out the next day if I could. We got the call at 1am, that he had passed, and I never got the chance to ask him if he would accept JESUS as his Saviour, in his very last hours...It bugged me.
So, when my other buddy was dying, I made it a point to ask, and he said he had, and it made me feel Great!! Especially when I had asked the Pastor of the Church he went to, to pray for them. His Wife told me that Matt told her, that he had made an 'agreement' with GOD LOL... His Wife said that only GOD will make the agreement, and that he would follow it, but, no, he was steadfast in saying that he had made it and that GOD was sticking by it... What that was, we both dont know, but, I tell ya, Matt was the Greatest Guy that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and GOD has gotten back a treasure...
I wish you well...
JessePosted 03-01-2011 at 08:33 AM by woodworkingmenace
