AKJVReader
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Undoubtedly one of the saddest words in the English language is the word lost. In the temporal realm we consider it a tragedy for a small child to be lost. Those interested in earthly fortunes have killed themselves when a million dollars has been lost in their business. It deeply grieves many of us when we lose something of sentimental value. But, friend, if these illustrations convey sorrow they cannot compare with the emptiness that shall be ours in Judgment if our soul is forever lost! Our Lord once asked a penetrating question: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26). Yes, to be lost eternally is the most tragic dilemma of all.
Did you know that the majority of men have always been lost? There has never been a time, in God's dealings with His creation, that sin failed to gain the ascendancy. In Noah's day, only eight righteous souls were saved and multitudes perished (I Peter 3:20). In the time of Abraham not even ten righteous ones could be found in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18). During the lifetime of Moses even thousands of the Israelites were destroyed because of sin (I Corinthians 10:8). In the era of Christ the masses rejected Him and helped to crucify the Lord of Hosts! Only a handful of faithful servants followed the Saviour. And today the picture has not changed. Millions are fascinated by "the pleasures of sin" and few truly seek God's kingdom first (Matthew 6:33).
Perhaps many excuses will be used in the Day of Judgment by those who are lost. But there are at least four of those excuses that will not sound at all convincing. If we are lost it will not be because:
A. God's grace proved ineffective:
In Titus 2:11 we learn that "the grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men." The word "grace" refers to the unmerited gift of salvation which God extends to man. Each of us has access to it.
B. Christ failed to die for us:
In Hebrews 2:9 we learn that Jesus tasted “death for every man." Paul informed the in 2 Corinthians 5:4 that "One died for all." He gave himself for our sins and for the iniquity of "the whole world" (I John 2:2).
C. The plan was imperfect:
The word of God is able to save our souls and to give us an eternal inheritance (James 1:21; Acts 20:32). The law of Christ is indeed "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25). If we are lost it will be in spite of a system perfectly adapted to our needs by God.
D. The way was too narrow:
Even though our Lord taught that "narrow is the way that leadeth unto life" (Matthew 7:14). He also tenderly invites all men to come unto Him (Matthew 11:28). In fact, in the last paragraph in the Bible we read, "whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." So, when men are lost in that final judgment scene it will not be due to a way that was too narrow to accommodate all who would surrender to Jesus!
Salvation is such a buoyant word that conveys forgiveness, peace and joy. All right-thinking people should yearn for that relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. No one thinking properly desires to spend an eternity with Satan. But to contemplate living forever with the Redeemer in glory is one of life's happiest moments. A Christian is a three-time winner. He not only lives the best way on earth, but he also misses hell and then goes to heaven.
In view of these truths it is indeed sad to consider the plight of the wicked. Why are so many in a lost condition spiritually? If we can find the reasons for this problem perhaps we can help to bring lost humanity unto salvation. We wish to suggest four reasons that men are unsaved.
Men are lost because:
1. They will not surrender to the Lord:
The way that leads to eternal bliss is narrow and the entrance to it is not easy. Jesus said "strait is the gate." The word strait refers to a difficult passageway in the sea. For a ship to safely pass through the Strait of Gibraltar takes great preparation, determination and skill. And, for a person to properly follow Christ one must be willing to submit his life to the Master. Notice the following passages from the new Testament.
Luke 9:23 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
Luke 14:33 "whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
Luke 9:62 "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Paul, the inspired writer, tells us to present our bodies "a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). The apostle Peter asks a thought-provoking question in I Peter 4:18: "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
It takes steadfast courage and complete commitment to be a Christian. Some people are just not willing to pay the price of giving their lives to Jesus. It is also difficult for many to believe that there are only two ways from which to choose. Thousands would like to think that there is some middle ground between truth and error. In this imaginary way would be placed "the good moral man" who never obeyed Jesus and those who died with noble intentions of someday becoming a Christian. In this category would be placed those who were not vile sinners but just ones who neglected their duty to God. The only thing wrong with such an idea is that it contradicts the plain teachings of the Bible! Our Lord tells us we are either for Him or against Him (Matthew 6:24; 12:30). There is no middle ground. There are only two destinies from which to choose - heaven or hell. If we are not children of God we are servants of the Devil. This decision is a difficult one for many because they do not wish to wholly submit their lives to the Master.
2. False teachers have mislead the people:
Christ Jesus taught that only "the truth shall make you free." He also warned against false prophets who would be as wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). Peter told his brethren that false teachers would, through desire for gain, teach "damnable heresies" (II Peter 2:1-3). John said that "many false prophets are gone out into the world." An evangelist of the Lord, Timothy, was warned that some would hearken to those teachers who would teach what they wanted to hear rather than what the audience needed to hear. It is even so today. But Emerson was correct when he stated: "'Tis man's perdition to be safe when for the Truth he ought to die." False teachers proclaim messages that cannot save a single soul. The meanest man is any town is the one who fails to impart the pure gospel of the Lord. When one omits the truth or fails to rebuke error that one thereby serves the Devil. Solomon was inspired by the Holy Spirit to say: "Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23).
Did you know that the majority of men have always been lost? There has never been a time, in God's dealings with His creation, that sin failed to gain the ascendancy. In Noah's day, only eight righteous souls were saved and multitudes perished (I Peter 3:20). In the time of Abraham not even ten righteous ones could be found in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18). During the lifetime of Moses even thousands of the Israelites were destroyed because of sin (I Corinthians 10:8). In the era of Christ the masses rejected Him and helped to crucify the Lord of Hosts! Only a handful of faithful servants followed the Saviour. And today the picture has not changed. Millions are fascinated by "the pleasures of sin" and few truly seek God's kingdom first (Matthew 6:33).
Perhaps many excuses will be used in the Day of Judgment by those who are lost. But there are at least four of those excuses that will not sound at all convincing. If we are lost it will not be because:
A. God's grace proved ineffective:
In Titus 2:11 we learn that "the grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men." The word "grace" refers to the unmerited gift of salvation which God extends to man. Each of us has access to it.
B. Christ failed to die for us:
In Hebrews 2:9 we learn that Jesus tasted “death for every man." Paul informed the in 2 Corinthians 5:4 that "One died for all." He gave himself for our sins and for the iniquity of "the whole world" (I John 2:2).
C. The plan was imperfect:
The word of God is able to save our souls and to give us an eternal inheritance (James 1:21; Acts 20:32). The law of Christ is indeed "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25). If we are lost it will be in spite of a system perfectly adapted to our needs by God.
D. The way was too narrow:
Even though our Lord taught that "narrow is the way that leadeth unto life" (Matthew 7:14). He also tenderly invites all men to come unto Him (Matthew 11:28). In fact, in the last paragraph in the Bible we read, "whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." So, when men are lost in that final judgment scene it will not be due to a way that was too narrow to accommodate all who would surrender to Jesus!
Salvation is such a buoyant word that conveys forgiveness, peace and joy. All right-thinking people should yearn for that relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. No one thinking properly desires to spend an eternity with Satan. But to contemplate living forever with the Redeemer in glory is one of life's happiest moments. A Christian is a three-time winner. He not only lives the best way on earth, but he also misses hell and then goes to heaven.
In view of these truths it is indeed sad to consider the plight of the wicked. Why are so many in a lost condition spiritually? If we can find the reasons for this problem perhaps we can help to bring lost humanity unto salvation. We wish to suggest four reasons that men are unsaved.
Men are lost because:
1. They will not surrender to the Lord:
The way that leads to eternal bliss is narrow and the entrance to it is not easy. Jesus said "strait is the gate." The word strait refers to a difficult passageway in the sea. For a ship to safely pass through the Strait of Gibraltar takes great preparation, determination and skill. And, for a person to properly follow Christ one must be willing to submit his life to the Master. Notice the following passages from the new Testament.
Luke 9:23 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
Luke 14:33 "whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
Luke 9:62 "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Paul, the inspired writer, tells us to present our bodies "a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). The apostle Peter asks a thought-provoking question in I Peter 4:18: "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
It takes steadfast courage and complete commitment to be a Christian. Some people are just not willing to pay the price of giving their lives to Jesus. It is also difficult for many to believe that there are only two ways from which to choose. Thousands would like to think that there is some middle ground between truth and error. In this imaginary way would be placed "the good moral man" who never obeyed Jesus and those who died with noble intentions of someday becoming a Christian. In this category would be placed those who were not vile sinners but just ones who neglected their duty to God. The only thing wrong with such an idea is that it contradicts the plain teachings of the Bible! Our Lord tells us we are either for Him or against Him (Matthew 6:24; 12:30). There is no middle ground. There are only two destinies from which to choose - heaven or hell. If we are not children of God we are servants of the Devil. This decision is a difficult one for many because they do not wish to wholly submit their lives to the Master.
2. False teachers have mislead the people:
Christ Jesus taught that only "the truth shall make you free." He also warned against false prophets who would be as wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). Peter told his brethren that false teachers would, through desire for gain, teach "damnable heresies" (II Peter 2:1-3). John said that "many false prophets are gone out into the world." An evangelist of the Lord, Timothy, was warned that some would hearken to those teachers who would teach what they wanted to hear rather than what the audience needed to hear. It is even so today. But Emerson was correct when he stated: "'Tis man's perdition to be safe when for the Truth he ought to die." False teachers proclaim messages that cannot save a single soul. The meanest man is any town is the one who fails to impart the pure gospel of the Lord. When one omits the truth or fails to rebuke error that one thereby serves the Devil. Solomon was inspired by the Holy Spirit to say: "Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23).