“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, ‘In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
2Corinthians 6:1-2
2Corinthians 6:1-2
Those of us who write on this blog consider ourselves to be united in the most worthy of causes. We are “fellow workers” who diligently strive to bring Christ’s message to our readers (2Tim 2:14-15). We toil here, on Facebook, in our communities and within our families in hopes that those who have yet to receive Christ will one day do so - preferably sooner than later. We have been commissioned by the “Lord of the harvest” (Luke 10:1-2) to help Him gather the fruit of His vine into the safety of His storehouses. Although our points of interest may be different, our message is the same: salvation is yours for the taking if you would only have it.
As the Apostle Paul did, we “urge” those who stubbornly refuse to receive Jesus. We are able to relate to you because we once were where you currently find yourselves. At a point in our lives a “fellow worker” approached us with the same message and we brushed it off for various reasons. We wanted to linger a while longer in the world. We doubted all or a portion of Christ’s atoning work. Or perhaps we had been deceived into believing a false and perverted gospel, one that preached lies rather than the Truth (Gal 1:6-8; 2Peter 2:1-3; 1 Tim 1:3-4; 2 Tim 3:6).
On your behalf, we are ever before God’s throne. We intercede with fervent and sincere prayers that you will not "receive God's grace in vain". We beseech Him, often with great tears of sorrow, to call you out of the world and into the safety of His arms. And we do so because we understand the consequences of the alternative. Men without Christ are at enmity with God. They are separated from Him by a vast sea of sin, and because of their sin, God is unapproachable. His face must be hidden from unsaved sinners lest His righteousness consume them (Exodus 3:5-6; 33:21-23).
Every day is the “time of (God’s) favor”. While there is still time to do so, if you cry out to Him He will hear you. I am here as a “fellow worker” of God to tell you that as long as you have breath to breathe, it is never too late to ask Him to save you. But so many of the unsaved are unwilling to do so “now”. Because God created you and established the timing of your birth, He also has ordained a day for you to physically die. However, it is the condition of your spirit that is most critical. God looks upon the unsaved sinner as dead to Him and already lost. Your life in this present world is fragile. Regardless of your age, your clock is winding down to the moment when you will have to face Him, either exposed and naked, or covered with His Son’s righteous blood. The outcome of your eternal fate solely depends upon that one critical thing. There are no second chances, pleading or debate at that juncture. His perfect justice demands it.
Therefore, we “urge” you to “contend for the faith that was once for ALL entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). We pray you will examine your present sinful state and consider your eternal destination. Please don’t look vainly upon and reject the wonderful gift you are being offered. Our God is patient, but only to a point. For those who have not yet made a choice, we fervently pray you will realize “NOW is the time of God’s favor, NOW is the day of salvation” and run with joy into Jesus outstretched arms - today.
As the Apostle Paul did, we “urge” those who stubbornly refuse to receive Jesus. We are able to relate to you because we once were where you currently find yourselves. At a point in our lives a “fellow worker” approached us with the same message and we brushed it off for various reasons. We wanted to linger a while longer in the world. We doubted all or a portion of Christ’s atoning work. Or perhaps we had been deceived into believing a false and perverted gospel, one that preached lies rather than the Truth (Gal 1:6-8; 2Peter 2:1-3; 1 Tim 1:3-4; 2 Tim 3:6).
On your behalf, we are ever before God’s throne. We intercede with fervent and sincere prayers that you will not "receive God's grace in vain". We beseech Him, often with great tears of sorrow, to call you out of the world and into the safety of His arms. And we do so because we understand the consequences of the alternative. Men without Christ are at enmity with God. They are separated from Him by a vast sea of sin, and because of their sin, God is unapproachable. His face must be hidden from unsaved sinners lest His righteousness consume them (Exodus 3:5-6; 33:21-23).
Every day is the “time of (God’s) favor”. While there is still time to do so, if you cry out to Him He will hear you. I am here as a “fellow worker” of God to tell you that as long as you have breath to breathe, it is never too late to ask Him to save you. But so many of the unsaved are unwilling to do so “now”. Because God created you and established the timing of your birth, He also has ordained a day for you to physically die. However, it is the condition of your spirit that is most critical. God looks upon the unsaved sinner as dead to Him and already lost. Your life in this present world is fragile. Regardless of your age, your clock is winding down to the moment when you will have to face Him, either exposed and naked, or covered with His Son’s righteous blood. The outcome of your eternal fate solely depends upon that one critical thing. There are no second chances, pleading or debate at that juncture. His perfect justice demands it.
Therefore, we “urge” you to “contend for the faith that was once for ALL entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). We pray you will examine your present sinful state and consider your eternal destination. Please don’t look vainly upon and reject the wonderful gift you are being offered. Our God is patient, but only to a point. For those who have not yet made a choice, we fervently pray you will realize “NOW is the time of God’s favor, NOW is the day of salvation” and run with joy into Jesus outstretched arms - today.
2 comments:
Very well said Karen. Sometimes Ijust let the Holy Spirit do the praying. I am so often at a loss for words on behalf of the people I love and even those that I don't know. My tears for many of them could fill a river but I would drown in it before I would stop praying. The Lord says that He will answer the righteous man's prayer. I have been made righteous by His blood so my prayers will be answered. Those who I pray for will hear the call. I'm sure of that.
How I wish I had your way with words.
Post a Comment