I am entirely too passive.
And this fact might actually hinder our work here.
It might stem from my generally mellow, phlegmatic personality, or perhaps my tendency toward conflict avoidance, but whenever people make excuses not to meet, or say they don’t have time on a particular day, I am not very pushy. I don’t press the issue. I prefer a passive approach.
And because of this, I think we often miss out on opportunities. And we don’t advance as quickly as we might otherwise.
And here’s the thing: being pushy would not necessarily be the correct approach, but it would be a more accurate way to express the URGENCY of the situation.
If I really believe in a literal hell, and I truly believe there is only one way to avoid it, my life should look a bit different.
Look at the life of the apostle Paul. He was always telling anyone and everyone about Jesus, leading them to the foot of the cross, leading them off the wide path to hell.
And in light of eternity, in light of what the Bible says about hell, Paul’s life makes sense.
I get that I am a missionary. Every day my task is to make disciples. It’s what I do. But I don’t share the gospel every single chance I get, on buses, at lunch, in plazas, in the street.
Think about it. People would think I were strange if I turned into one of those street preaches, standing on a box in the middle of the plaza, sharing the gospel, or on a bus, just talking about Jesus with the people around me. That seems strange to us.
But should it?
When we read the actual words of the Bible, “weeping and gnashing of teeth,” “darkness,” “eternal,” “fire,” shouldn’t we want to steer people away from this?
And more than anything, shouldn’t we want to bring them to our Savior?
Seriously, we’ve got the best gift in the world to share. We could do the absolute most compassionate thing in the world, and lead people to the foot of the cross. We have the secret to rich and abundant life. Why wouldn’t we want to share it?
I’ve been thinking about a funny question:
Do I anguish enough?
Have you ever asked yourself that question? In Romans 9:2-3 Paul says, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race.”
Wow.
Do I feel literal anguish for the lost, for the people separated from God?
The fact of the matter is, I barely anguish at all, but I should.
God’s heart is broken for the people not living in right relationship with him, and mine should be too.
And that should cause something in my life. I should give me urgency to share his love all the time, everywhere.
And I fall so short.
Lord, help me to anguish. Break my heart for what breaks yours. Help me to feel what you feel, and to love like you love. And fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may share your gospel boldly.
