Only Two Reasons the World is Lost

Christians sometimes have great difficulty in understanding those individuals who have not surrendered their lives to the Lord. We so easily forget that there was that period in our lives when we ignored the Lord. Yet when we became Christians we were so thrilled with the treasures we had found we could not understand the indifference of others. How many times have you heard Christians say, “Well, why won’t they just obey the gospel?”

The problem is not new. In Romans chapter ten Paul described the process of salvation. It begins with a preacher being sent and is followed by preaching, hearing, believing, calling on the Lord and salvation. This is precisely what had happened in the lives of those early Christians and it is precisely what happened when we became Christians. We are so perplexed as to why others we know will not follow Him. The answer may be found in two verses found in this chapter. We likely know verse seventeen which affirms, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” It is the next verse that we may have overlooked.

Those early Christians looked at the lost world and responded like many of us do today. “Have they not heard?” The discovery of truth meant so much to them, and means so much to us, that the response is to conclude that the primary reason the whole world is not converted is simply because the just have not heard the gospel. In one statement Paul showed the fallacy of this kind of reasoning which assumes the lost simply have not heard. “Yes, indeed.” They had heard! He then added, “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” Later he wrote the Colossian letter and showed that every creature under heaven had heard (Col. 1:23).

There are only two possible reasons why the whole world has not obeyed the Lord. Either they have not heard, or they have heard but will not submit to Jesus. The implication of this in our lives is so sobering! We may be almost powerless in changing rebellious hearts, for that decision is theirs. What we do control is whether they have the chance to hear the gospel. As you think about this listen to God.

“When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand” (Ezekiel 3:18).

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Have They Not Heard?

Those early Christians sometimes struggled in trying to understand why anyone would hear the gospel and not obey it. Perhaps Paul says it best when he expressed their frustrations with the question, “Have they not heard?” Truth and righteousness meant so much to them and to us that the first response to the world’s disobedience is to think the only reason they have not obeyed is that they have not heard.

Now before we become too judgmental in looking at the world, perhaps we should take a look at ourselves. There are many Christians who are like the lost world—they have heard, but they have chosen to ignore what the Lord says. Consider the following examples of areas where Christians ignore Him.

Have they not heard what the Lord says about worshiping him regularly? I find it so remarkable and perplexing that there are Christians who think worship of God is optional. How is it that some can be so sporadic in their attendance at worship? I’m talking about those who every month miss worship. Have they not heard the Lord’s promise to be present every week and partake the Lord’s supper (Matt. 26:28)? Surely anyone would want to sit with Jesus at His table. Can you imagine the honor each of the apostles had to be at the last supper in the upper room? Can you imagine any of then choosing to be absent?

Have they not heard that Jesus is in our midst and sings praises with us as we sing (Heb. 2:12)? Just imagine what it would be like to have the Lord sitting beside you and singing, There is a God; He is alive. Do those who are not here regularly know these matters? Can you think of any reasonable  explanation for such behavior? Have they not heard?

Have they not heard what the Lord says about modest dress? I am so perplexed about how Bible teaching about our dress is ignored by Christians. Have they not heard that Jesus discusses the way we should dress? Are they not aware that provocative dress that is too short or too low or too tight produces lust? Are they not aware that the word “lasciviousness” (the word is defined as “a means to entice the lust of the flesh”) is listed as a work of the flesh and God simply says, “They who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom” (Gal. 5). Why do these words have almost no impact?

Have they not heard these things? Why have they not obeyed? Think soberly about it. Why, oh why?

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Spiritual Mimes and Mimics

Do you have a childhood memory of someone trying to annoy you by being a copycat of whatever actions you were doing? Some of those “friends” who did that were not that skilled, but others seemed to have real talent in duplicating your actions. Obviously, none of them reached the level of Marcel Marceau, the famous French mime, who died about two years ago.

You might find it interesting to know that the words mime and mimic have a Biblical basis. These English words are a transliteration of the Greek word mimentes. When Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ,” (1 Cor. 11:1) he used this word.

Paul wanted all men to be mimics of Christ. Though his background was Jewish, he spent his life among Gentile churches and repeatedly urged them to duplicate, to mimic, in their lives what other Christians had in their lives. It made no difference what their religious background was. It made no difference what their cultural background was. There was one standard and all men were to mimic it. Those Gentile Christians could look at their Jewish brethren to see what their spiritual lives entailed.   Notice his words to the church at Corinth. “Therefore I urge you, imitate me” (1 Cor. 4:16). It was not that Paul was the absolute standard, for he added an additional phrase when he gave these instructions the second time, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). However, do not overlook the point that there was not one lifestyle for a Jewish Christian and another for a Gentile.

He used this Greek word repeatedly when he wrote to the church in Thessalonica. “You became followers of us and of the Lord . . . For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus . . . You yourselves know how you ought to follow us” (1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14; 2 Thess. 3:7).

The lesson is so obvious as you read the New Testament. There was not one gospel for the Jews and another for the Gentiles. Now, make the application. If ethic and cultural differences could not alter the lives God had for His people, how can time difference allow for any differences?

One final thought. A mimic may simply duplicate the outward actions of another, but those who mimic Christ and other Christians start on the inside and work out!

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When God Says, “Here I Am”

Ask many students of the Bible about that person who said, “Here am I…,” and they will immediately respond that these words were spoken by Isaiah when God asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us” (Is. 6:8)? A similar phrase, “Here I am,” is also found in Isaiah, but very few have noticed it.

In the closing chapters of his book, Isaiah described the coming of the Messianic kingdom. He described the rebellious Jewish nation and how He had reached out to them “all day long,” but they refused to respond and continued to “. . . walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts” (Is. 65:2). He also described the time when the Gentiles would turn to Him. “I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me” (Is. 65:1).

The words that follow  are so remarkable. Jehovah said, “Here I am, here I am.” He wanted to be found; He loved for the lost to find Him, and the picture is one of God in the presence of those who were not even looking for Him. He beseeches them by saying again and again, “Here I am!” God wants to be noticed. This is His nature. Can you hear the longing of the Lord in His word?

Think about His nature. He longs to have fellowship with us! He longs to live near to us! He longs to be part of our lives! Make it personal. He longs to have fellowship with you. He longs to live near you. He longs to be part of your life. Hear His words, “Here I am.”

Look at His response when we come to Him. “He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer” (Is. 30:19). You just cannot “pester” God seeking Him. He is gracious. He is very gracious. Like Samuel of old who responded to what he imagined was the voice of God by saying, “Here am I, for you called me” (1 Sam. 3:6), God is waiting ready to say to you, “Here I am.” The only reason He has not responded is because we have not called Him.

One other verse in this section shows just how much He longs to become part of your life. “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Is. 65:24). Knowing that we are planning to ask, He answers prayers before they are actually verbalized. He is here, even before we realize it!

So are you looking for God? Are you looking for a closer relationship with Him? He’s ready. Hear Him say, “Here I am!”

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Reasons to Marry a Christian

When it comes to whom you should marry, the Bible is filled with advice. The reason God gave as to why Jews should never allow their children to marry unbelievers was, “They will turn your sons away from following me” (Deut. 7:4). He did not say perhaps it might happen, but it will happen. I marvel that Christian young people (and their parents) think they know more about this than God!

Paul limited the possibility of any potential mate he might wed by saying she had to be a sister in Christ. He also said this was the practice of other apostles (1 Cor. 9:5). He also restricted widows by saying they could only marry those who were in Christ (1 Cor. 7:39).

Paul does show that marriages between believers and unbelievers are marriages and recognized by God. The prohibition, “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers” (2 Cor. 6:14), literally says, “Stop becoming unequally yoked,” and thus describes the action before the yoke is made. The Bible tells us what to do, and what to do if we ignore the first instruction. (A parallel of this concept is found in 1 Cor. 7:10-11, which forbids a woman leaving her husband, but then tells her what to do if she does leave.)

Common sense shows the folly of marrying someone who is not a Christian. Think about following reasons.

1.  Rearing children. Do you really think that non-Christians share your values regarding profanity, modesty, and materialism? How will their values impact children?

2.  Sundays and Wednesdays. There will be a crisis every week if the Christian faithfully attends church services. Think of the difference when you share worship and the Lord’s Supper with your Christian mate, while your children watch this.

3. Money. Have we never considered the resentment the non-Christian mate will have toward your sacrificial giving, especially when money is short? It is a crisis waiting to happen.

4.  Problem solving and divorce. There is an absolute standard of right and wrong the Christian has about solving problems and the unbeliever does not share this standard (otherwise they would be a Christian). Why would an unbeliever have your view of the sin of divorce?

5.  Moral values. Again the absolute standard that governs family life is had only by Christians. Think!

A closing admonition and word of extreme caution. Why would you seriously date someone you would not marry?

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