the basic message # E76
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Ever hear the song, “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth”? Know what I want for Christmas? The same thing the Lord wants- “everyone to come to repentance”. Does that mean I expect people to immediately cease any activity that isn’t of God? I’m a practical man, and I know the odds of that happening are slim. What I’m really talking about is for two things to happen. First, for the people who are already believers, I pray for them to grow in holiness. What do I mean by that? I think that no matter where we are in our Christian walk, we can, and should be on a continuous mission to clean up our lives. If you get falling-down-drunk 5 nights every week, try to cut back to 4 nights. If you’re embezzling a million dollars a year, try to cut back to nine hundred thousand. I’m being a bit facetious here, but I am very serious in my belief that we can all gradually, purposely clean up our lives. Secondly, for those who aren’t believers, I agonize over your condition. The legendary Charles Spurgeon had much to say about this subject, including this one: “I would willingly lay down my very life if I could bring all in this tabernacle to the Lord Jesus Christ.” That, my friends, is laying it on the line. How many of our pastors today would volunteer to give their life in exchange for everyone in their congregation becoming saved? Another Spurgeon quote has my full attention: “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.” HEL-LO! I’ve assumed I was a Christian since I was a kid, but only in recent years have I felt the burden that others be saved. Does that mean I wasn’t a Christian all those years? A heavy thought indeed.
1 Corinthians 2:9
However, as it written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”
Pastor Spurgeon would probably want us to promote this passage to unbelievers to enlighten them about what Heaven will be like. If you’re a Christian, you’ll want even your worst enemy to enjoy the paradise described here. Is there anyone in your life that you wouldn’t want to go to Heaven? If so, then I must assume you want them to go to Hell. Forget about what Spurgeon and I think, and hit the book:
1 John 4:20
If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, who he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
And so, my friends, I call on you to be partners with me in leading our brothers and sisters to Christ. It is important to realize that before we can lead others to Christ, we must know the path. Let’s agree to work together in 2001 to find “the lost”. I really don’t like the label, “the lost”, since the connotation suggests a permanent condition. I’ve been lost on the road thousands of times, but all it took to get to my destination was someone giving me good directions. Let us become a people wanting to give others good directions to Heaven.