Gathering Rubies

In a recent conversation a friend of mine told me she had been speaking to a friend of hers who is not a Christian. She was gently asking him questions about his views on God, Jesus and the bible. She wants to teach him and encourage him to become a Christian.

 My friend is not pushy, yet the person she was speaking with told her, in a nice way, that he didn’t want to be pushed. As she was sharing that part of the conversation with me I imagined the following scenario taking place….in Hell.

I pictured people in hell asking each other why they were there and many of them answering-“Oh, I’m here because of my Christian friends, they were always trying to teach me about Jesus, it’s their fault I’m here. They knew I didn’t want to hear about it, they kept on and on and I kept resisting; yessiree, they pushed me right into hell.”

I am reminded of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem in Luke 19:41-42 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes.

There won’t be any second chances in hell. If only….

We must love those who are lost, love them enough to keep on “pushing”, planting the seed, praying for them and being an example to them. We must not fear rejection, it isn’t us they are rejecting it is Jesus.

 From my own personal experience I can tell you before I quit resisting, I stone-heartedly sat through some earth shaking sermons. I cleverly avoided those who I knew might try to convert me and the only reason why I did is because I did not want to give up my life of sin, my deeds of darkness. I truly shudder as I look back on those days and realize that this peace and salvation that I now have could have remained hidden from my eyes forever. I could have been “pushed into hell” by my own stubbornness and pride. I thank God over and over for the people who didn’t give up on me or consider me a lost cause. Most definitely I was aggravated with them and wanted them to leave me alone. Thankfully, they loved me too much to do that. Our days are brief, should our final day close and we remain unsaved our condition will be without remedy, without hope.

For those who read this who have not obeyed the gospel of Christ, I pray you will make that choice to do so this very day. I guarantee you can find someone willing to hear you confess that Jesus is Lord and baptize you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Be thrilled and be honored that someone loves you so much they want heaven for you!

For those who have grown weary from trying to teach and encourage those you love and those you want to be with in eternity, I encourage you not to give up. You will never push anyone into hell, but you may take someone to heaven with you.

Acts 2:38-39 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.”