1) Do you believe in heaven, hell and a coming Judgment Day?
2) If you answered “no,” then might I suggest reading the Gospels. Jesus seemed to talk a lot about such things.
3) If you answered “yes,” then (here’s a tough, in your face question) how much do you have to HATE someone to NOT TELL them about the either/or eternal accommodations for everyone who has ever lived?
The Bible is clear on the cost of our salvation. Peter put it this way: For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. (1 Peter 1:18-19. NLT).
“Jesus paid it all,” we sing. What about us? What is our investment in others? In assessing our efforts to see people come to Christ, are we going “all out”? Do we give a maximum effort to see that the people we love have a relationship with Jesus too? If not, why not? If we believe people will face judgment and then spend eternity without Christ, shouldn’t we walk over broken glass if needed to see these folks spend eternity with Jesus?
I’m not suggesting that we bully, guilt, scare, annoy or manipulate people to make a decision for Christ. No knocking people on the head with our big King James Bibles. I am suggesting that we take our call to make disciples much more serious than it seems that we do. Have you prayed for people who don’t know Jesus today? Have you fasted on their behalf? Have you thought through conversations you might have with them concerning their eternal accommodations? Have you asked the Lord to give you wisdom, the right words and to open the doors when the time is absolutely right? Are you prepared to walk through those open doors?
If one believes in a real heaven, a real hell and a coming Judgment Day in which all will stand before a holy God, then giving maximum evangelistic effort seems like the only appropriate response.
What could possibly be more important?