by David Brenneman
Definition of a Fan: a person who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular person or thing.
Several years ago there was a book published called "Not a Fan" by Kyle Idleman. This would be a good follow-up to this post.
The worst thing to ever hear for any human being isn't related to the possible disappointments, hurts, or possible atrocities in this life.
The worst possible comes from the mouth of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, when He pronounces a judgment. "Depart from Me, for I never knew you."
There are so-called churches everywhere all over this world.
There are non-church going people all over this world by the billions.
These people are merely fans of the Living God rather than those living a life in Christ Jesus. They aren't saved. They indeed are those whom Jesus wrote of who are honoring Him with their lips but their hearts are far from Him.
One second. You can measure that yourself. Recite out loud "One one thousand" without rushing saying that will give you an idea of how long a time that is. Some also go by "one Mississippi" to get one second.
One second interestingly enough is longer than one heartbeat. One heartbeat after your time on Earth is done you will either find yourself in the wonderful awesome fantastic presence of Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior or you find yourself in the darkest most horrific pain as yet unimagined in the place Jesus said is filled with people weeping and gnashing their teeth.
You have a few, possibly dozens, possibly even more that you encounter everywhere who are among those who are no more than fans of Christians. Are fans of Jesus Christ. Oh they love being around Believers. They love the music in various churches or concerts given by Christian artists, but they aren't fully devoted followers of Christ Jesus.
Those who honor God with their lips but their hearts are far from Him are by definition: fans.
They can be all pumped up and excited, dressed up for the event, and go away from it totally unchanged.
Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
A life in Christ Jesus is not one that merely is warmed by being near a Christ-follower only to go away afterwards to do your own thing.
Jesus says that MANY will say that Him on that day that they said and did things in His Name...and He will say to depart from Me for I never knew you.
We who are in Christ testify of what Jesus has done for us and in us. We tell of the wonders of what a life in Christ can be.
We cannot and do not save anyone.
The job of the Spirit of God is to convict hearts, to draw people to Jesus.
If you haven't come to Christ on your own, and have not received His free gift of salvation, haven't repented for your own sins...question where you stand! Now, while you still have that heartbeat. Millions of people are born this very hour. Millions more thought they had one more day. They died in various places and ways all over the world. Some in accidents, some while walking or running. Some died in wars, some died in just turning over in bed.
Not one single person knew with 100% certainty that they were going to breathe their last...why? Because the Bible says clearly that life and death are in the hands of God in Christ Jesus.
Are you struggling with this life you have? Have you really been just a fan of Jesus or of God and haven't really been saved? Are you letting fears of what might happen to your little kingdom that you are calling your world keep you from the Kingdom of God? Are you merely a fan of Jesus Christ and aren't one of His?
The Bible says “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the human heart, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.
The only people in the presence of Jesus Christ in this very moment are only those who were fully devoted followers of Christ Jesus at some point in this world.
My Dear Reader there are billions and billions and billions of people in Hell and many billions more will join them before history ends.
Jesus said the road is narrow that leads to life and there are few who find it. The way is wide that leads to destruction.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.
We lie to ourselves and others when we believe that everyone rests in peace at their death when they aren't saved. Only those who have passed from death to life in Christ are in peace. All the rest are weeping or gnashing their teeth in painful torment.
“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed from the scraps which fell from the rich man’s table; not only that, the dogs also were coming and licking his sores. Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he raised his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his arms. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor will any people cross over from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I request of you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as well.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31. Jesus Himself said these words to all who were there and for all who have lived to this day.
My Dear Reader...stop being a fan of Jesus Christ if indeed that's where you find yourself. Come to Jesus Christ for a living hope for a better life now and the one to come.
Jesus said that He's at the door and is knocking, it's on you to open it and let Him in.
Time is really running out.
Jesus also said there is a day, fixed by His Father by His own authority, that Jesus will return. All fans of Jesus Christ will stay behind. Horrors as yet unimagined await those still here to encounter the wrath of God in a 7 year period will happen soon after Jesus comes to take His Church home to be with Him.
Don't be among those who honor God with their lips and their hearts are far from Him. It's time to enter the arms of Jesus now for forgiveness of sin and healing for your soul.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
No comments:
Post a Comment