Last week in What should I tell you before we say goodbye? I spoke about not having time or opportunity to say the things we should say to people. Sometimes it’s our inclination that is the problem. We don’t want to risk saying things that might damage the relationship. We don’t want to upset the person. They may have already told us that they don’t want anything to do with us, so why would we risk approaching them only to have them bite our heads off again? Perhaps we think we should say nothing, just to “keep the peace”. But, life is short…
Life is short
We don’t always get to say what we should say. Life is short. It’s no use talking to a coffin. After the funeral, what sort of peace will you have, knowing that there are things unsaid, that still sit heavy on your heart? How are you going to feel, knowing that you didn’t get to say that you loved them, that you forgave them, and that you want them to forgive you? Amidst all the grief, do you have hope that you will see them again in heaven?
Everyone makes their own choices
I can’t force anyone to believe anything. At least here in our democratic society, we are all free to make our own choices and decisions. So why would I bother putting my own reputation on the line to tell you something you don’t want to believe? You already think I’m weird/wrong/old-fashioned/out-of-date/uneducated…So, why not just let you go on believing whatever you like?
For those of us who call ourselves Christian, it’s not a matter of just letting you on your merry way. We believe it’s a matter of life and death that you know about Jesus. We are willing to stick our necks out to share the good news with you. You may not want to hear it. You may not believe it. You may reject us for telling you. It’s not our job to convert you. That’s the job of the Holy Spirit. But it IS our job to share the gospel with you:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
I can worry about that later
As I’ve said, life is short. We may not want to admit it, and we may just want to fight it, but death IS coming. We might say that we’ll have plenty of time to think about eternity later on. ‘Where am I going?’ is one of the Big Questions of life. It’s one that everyone needs to think about. Although there may be lots of different answers to that Big Question, only one of them is right, and no one is coming back to tell you the truth about heaven and hell.
Back from the dead
Actually, one person did come back. He had a LOT to say about all the Big Questions. Jesus said that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life in heaven. Those who believe that Jesus paid the price for their sin, don’t have to go to hell. Jesus already paid the price. Jesus was separated from God so that we don’t have to be.
As a Christian, I really want to share this good news with you. Jesus died for you! Jesus paid in full. You don’t have to pay for your sins. Because of Jesus, heaven is free for you! If I don’t say anything about Jesus, I’m saying that you can go to hell. Literally.
30 seconds to live
The late Charlie Kirk was killed by a gunshot wound. Charlie was only 31 years old. His life was short. Charlie wasn’t afraid of speaking out about Jesus. He seemed to want to engage with people who didn’t believe, not because he wanted to argue and belittle them, but because he wanted them to be in heaven too. Sometime before he died, Charlie was asked what he would say to someone who was dying of a gunshot wound and only had 30 seconds to live. This is his response:
“In 30 seconds you’re about to meet eternal judgement. And there’s only one way that you can get bailed out of that. It’s not all the good things you did or your moral scorecard. It’s whether or not you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
And that’s the only thing that’s going to matter. And so, you’ve got 10 seconds left. You’re dying from a gunshot wound.
And you ask a question, Who is Jesus Christ? And the answer to that singular question, Who is Jesus Christ? is the most important question for everyone in the audience. Not how much money you have, not how much good stuff you do.
Who is Jesus Christ? You might say, ‘Oh, Jesus was, you know, a teller of good tales’, or ‘Jesus was a good person’, or ‘Jesus was a historical figure.’
None of that’s going to cut it. It’s whether or not you repent and you ask Christ to come in as your Lord and Saviour. That’s the only thing that will save you from eternal damnation.”
You can see the question and Charlie’s answer here:
Charlie Kirk asked what he would say to someone who had 30 seconds to live
Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for paying the ultimate price for my sin. Thank you that because of your sacrifice, I can live forever in heaven with you. Help me to share the good news of heaven with everyone. Forgive me when I am ashamed of you. Strengthen my faith and help me to trust and believe in you always. Amen.