Spread the Word Before It Is Too Late
ICS Daily Devotions
Luke 16: 27-31 (NKJV)“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent. But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”
Based on the Bible, the average life span of man is around 70-80 years old (Psalms 90:10), and the Old Testament tells us how it had been decreasing ever since sin entered the world after the Fall. Every person will die, but although we won’t be able to decide when we will die physically, we can certainly choose our destination after death—to be in heaven or to be in hell, and whether we will be with Christ or without Him!
Hebrews 10:27 (NKJV) but a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
The Bible also tells us that we only live once and thereafter, judgement. We need to remember that God is holy and just, which is why He must judge the sin of the individual and the world. When people end up in hell or in the lake of fire, it is due to their rejection of the Gospel. They did not think that they needed Jesus to be their Lord and Saviour. Sadly, no ritual or prayer by anyone can change the destination of the departed spirit. They have wasted the one and only chance presented to them. Once the spirit departs, it is over! The rich man in the opening passage did not complain or question why he was in the place of torment; he was more concerned about his relatives who were still alive but rejected the Word of God.
On the other hand, God is gracious, loving, merciful, and righteous. Heaven should be our and our loved ones’ destination and goal. It is in heaven where there will always be worship, joy, peace, and no more sorrow, pain, sickness, suffering or tears.
Our loved ones may have never known and truly understood the plan of God for salvation through the work of the Messiah, but through us, they have the chance to know and be saved. When they are saved, they can stand on the promise that the moment they have taken their last breath, angels will carry and escort them immediately into the presence of God.
People will be lost in eternity forever if our loved ones, colleagues, and friends do not get the chance to hear and respond to the Gospel now. Therefore, let us take every opportunity to share the Gospel with them before it is too late.
Sermon Series: The Make-up of Man
