Good News For Youth (GNFY) published under the oversight of the Alkire Rd Church of Christ elders and posted by permission of the editor.
I know of times in the past that I have seen folks sit from service to service and never respond to an invitation. Some of these folks were more faithful in their attendance than those who were of the body of Christ. There is one man in particular who comes to my mind. I do not know what took this man the years that it did to respond to the Gospel, but it did occur. It was in no doubt his faithful wife who brought him to that point. Yet, this man sat and pondered. I do not remember clearly all of the lessons he had sat through, but I do know that they were most times powerful. We never know when one will be persuaded, but the Gospel is the only thing that can persuade one to come to Christ.
There is an example that would top the list in the book of Acts of one almost persuaded. Acts 26:27-29: "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds."
Prior to this, in the early parts of this chapter, Paul told them of his conversion. He told them of how Christ came to him, and the steps that occurred after that. Paul preached Christ to those present. He then simply asked him to be saved. Agrippa's response was the response that many give to the Lord each time the invitation is given and they do not respond. He was not persuaded to become a Christian.
Some might think that by saying "no" that they are not turning Christ down. The Bible teaches contrary to that thought. Matthew 10:32-33: "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven; But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Christ tells us that if we do not confess him, we deny him and he will deny us.
This may seem superficial to some as they feel that the day of the Lord is afar off. Yet we fail to remember that no man knows that day when the Lord will come. Matthew 24:36: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Another fact is that we do not know when our lives might end. Hebrews 9:27: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
The fact that death is unknown to us and can be a surprise is taught in a parable of Jesus. This parable is the parable of the "Rich Fool" (Luke 12:16-21). There is also a story of this sort for us in the story of "Lazarus and the Rich Man". This story is found for us also in the book of Luke in chapter 16 and verses 19-31. In this story, two men die; one is in paradise and the other torment. Hear the words of the man in torment, as he wants others not to come to this place. Luke 16:24-29: "And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame; But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them."
If, like King Agrippa, nothing has ever persuaded you to come to Christ, or if you're a Christian, to remain faithful, let the words of the man in torment persuade you. Whether it is the coming of Christ, or death that brings you to your destiny, for your sake, prepare for that day!
-– Brian Yeager, February 2002 –-
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