No one is ever too set in their ways to reach out to Jesus. Some people we know or know of seem so far gone, that there is no hope of their ever looking for redemption.
That isn’t true.
God loves each and every single one of us and Jesus laid down his life and took up the sins of every individual. The only sin that is unpardonable, is the sin of failing to give your life to Jesus while you are still living.
There are no do-overs once your life is set for judgement. But while you are still living, you can turn your life around and go from being an enemy of God to being a follower.
You can even become one of the most vocal and influential of Christians because you have a story to tell.
The perfect example of this is Saul of Tarsus. He was the number one enemy of the church. He was responsible for rounding up the newly formed church and handing them over in chains to those who were enemies of Jesus.
He loved what he was doing and did it with enthusiasm.
That is, until he had a face-to-face meeting with the risen Messiah. His life was turned around.
As he grew in his new life as a Christian, there was such a change that he took on a new name. His name was Paul and he became one of the most influential and ardent Christians not only of his time but ever since.
Paul faced horrible persecution and pressure to give up following Jesus but, interestingly enough, Christians grow in faith when they are persecuted.
You can see it today in China, Africa and the Middle East. Where the boot of society has been stomped on the emerging Church, the Christians continue to grow in faith and in numbers.
In my country, there is persecution growing and the faith of Christians is growing right along with it. There is a point in a Christian’s life where they must learn to stand up for God.
Being a closet or quiet Christian is not what God has called us to do. He wants us to spread the gospel of Jesus and his forgiveness and redemption to the dying world.
The dying world is closer than you think. It is right here in your own town. It probably includes your friends and family. It is up to Christians to be the instrument through which God reaches these people.
We were called to this time and to this place to give our testimony about what God has done for us, both as individuals and for the world.
If you don’t speak up now, you may never get another chance. Life is short and the lives of those we love are short. We see in it in the pandemic that is sweeping over the world.
Don’t have regrets because you did not talk to those you care about. Don’t ignore the prompting of God in your life. Now is the time, today is the day and here is the place to make your stand.
Be a modern day Paul and tell others about Jesus before it is too late.
Colossians 1:21-29
And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things, yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His physical body through death, in order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach – [and He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church. In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you] – that is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).
God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory. We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed].
For this I labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me.