Jude 1: 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
One of the weaknesses of each of us is that we get so caught up in living with the things that command our time and resources. We take for granted the lost in our family and communities. We put it on the backburner and get used to it. Days and months slip by without our talking to them about coming to the Lord. Opportunities get lost as time gets shorter and shorter.
Jude issues an alarming reminder to us. It’s more than a nudge. We forget the dangers that our friends, family and neighbors are in who don’t know the Lord. The world is geared to distract us. Those in my family who were saved before me sowed the seed to me. I can see frustrations we caused on others before we were saved. The motivation to be saved came through others wanting to help me get to the Lord. I had classmates and friends die. I was lost and that bothered me. The devil would smooth it over. I’m thankful for the ones who kept talking to me about the Lord.
The people put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing what Stephen said in the early church days. Be thankful for the voice of God and don’t take the lost for granted. God pulled me out of the fire with the help of the hands of others. When they stoned Stephen for telling them the truth he forgave them. The men stoning him laid their garments at the feet of Saul. He began persecuting Christians thinking he was doing the right thing but God met him on the Damascus Road and asked why he was persecuting him.
God wants to use us like a trained person on a rescue squad. The physical danger of people should concern us but the danger of the soul is greater. The great commission tells us to go into the whole world and preach the gospel. We freeze as if we don’t know what to do. A trained person knows exactly what to do. We have people who need to be pulled from the fire. If we come upon a car on fire we’ll try to get the victims out by whatever means we can. I can’t give you exact details on what to say to someone but God will show you how. He’ll guide you to sow the seed. No one is forced to accept Jesus. I was nudged and prodded by people and pricked by the Lord through the Holy Spirit. If we can’t get people to the church we have to get the gospel to them.
When people face problems it gives us good opportunity to witness but people with seemingly nothing wrong in their life are in danger of the fire. How can they hear without a preacher? Are we going to ordain everyone? No. We’re all told to witness. If Jesus is in your heart you have something to say. If we don’t reach them who will? We’re not saved to be bystanders.
We don’t have to put stick-on signs on our car to advertise we are Christians or that we’re going to church. We come here to get equipped to be a witness. The light of Jesus is stronger than the darkness of Satan. The light doesn’t come out our eyes like x-ray vision. You open your mouth and tell others what Jesus has done. Jesus healed people and told them not to tell anyone but they couldn’t keep it quiet. They couldn’t help but tell it. Is it time for a recharge?
People may be days or moments from hell. What will burn in their minds if they die? Will they say “I saw XX just yesterday and he or she didn’t say anything to me about the Lord?” Lost people get closer to hell every day. Have compassion. Make a difference. Pull them out of the fire. Souls are precious.
Can anyone be saved? Of course. My sins were forgiven. Paul said in Corinthians know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Then notice what he told them. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Someone was willing to stand for Jesus and share the gospel with me. It pulled me out of the fire. Don’t write anyone off.
Equipment in an emergency room, a doctor’s office or rescue squad does no good if there is no one to operate it. We have the goods. God’s rescue squad is in top condition. He wants to rescue the perishing. Jesus gave his life to rescue us. What’s the hold up? It is you and me. Do we need a refresher? Ask God to help you be a rescuer.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 