Reflections of a Believer
I sat on my couch tonight and cried.
I cried for those I loved and lost without the reassurance they would meet me in heaven. I cried for all the years I spent running from God to appease my own flesh. I cried because I wondered how my life influenced those who have gone before me.
I wonder how many people could I have influenced for Jesus in college, in high school, or when I was young?
How many people?
Now, I am not saying the burden of one’s salvation lays solely on my shoulders or yours, for that matter. The truth is the Bible tells us in Colossians 1:23 NIV that the gospel “has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven”; therefore, each person has the opportunity to accept Jesus for themselves. But…
Oh, that word.
But, how did I influence them?
That burden can weigh on you if you allow it to. In fact, like tonight, it can bring you to tears if you focus on the past. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about your past except make amends with it according to the Holy Spirit’s leading. You cannot change what has been done, the opportunities you lost, or the conversations you never had. You can only move forward and learn.
See, once you know the realization that there is a literal Heaven and a literal Hell, your actions become so much more important to you. How you interact with others becomes not just a catalyst for your reputation but also a catalyst for the kingdom of God. And like any catalyst, your actions can have negative or positive effects.
The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
I thank God I am covered in the Blood for the Bible says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1 NIV
Even though there is no condemnation for me, my heart aches for those who will be condemned. Therefore, I find it more important than ever to use the pain I felt tonight to ensure I am doing His Will as seen in Psalms 96:3 NIV, “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”
As I write, I know I cannot be the only person to be grieved by the thought of the unknown. The thought that I could have done more to show someone the love of Christ.
So I challenge you today to not leave things unsaid. Tell people about this amazing Father we have. Tell them about the grace you have in Him. But don’t just tell them, show them. I challenge you to be Christlike, leaving hypocrisy behind and leading by His example.
Father,
We come to you and ask for your forgiveness of our sins. We pray for those we did not tell about you. We pray You bring laborers in their path. We ask You to create in us Your heart. The heart that grieves for the lost. The heart that overflows with joy when we tell others about you. Father, help us to be the people you have called us to be. Amen.
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