There comes a time when it is necessary to speak frankly. For example, if you've been there; been at the bridge that crosses over the river gorge, and have come to see for yourself that it's just not there, that it never was, what will you do? Will you deny it, or will you go and warn the others who are going that way of their impending doom? What will you do???
What do you do when you find out that there's no bridge? There never was? That it was all just a pipe dream put on some religious sounding map that claimed to have pointed the way into the promised land by a way other than by faith in the crucified and risen Christ alone?
Knowing what you now know, it's not only your duty but your calling as well to try and reason with these people who are on those trains; like you were, and that are heading to their deaths, and declare to them that a state of emergency exists, and that there's one way out. But in order for them to find it they must be willing to hear and accept the truth... now, today!
This is what a "Christian" does - he wants to warn the others - because he himself has been set free by the knowledge of the Truth and knows the Truth personally, and that its Author never lies. The train and its passengers that are about to go over the river gorge and plunge to their death is no different than a million other trains that went that same way before it, all trying to cross-over on their own merits, and with all their sleeping passengers riding off into the sunset of la la land. He knows that their only hope is to hear and heed the Gospel (Luke 16:31).
Think of it! Out of all those trains only ONE PASSENGER came back from the dead to tell about it: The One and Only Lord of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ! Sinatra and others did it "Their Way". They're all dead now! God's way and man's way will never mix! It will be either all the Lord's Way or it will be no way at all.
A decision is called for based on what we hear, who we hear and how we hear, one that will move us, with God's help, from the train of sin and death to the One and Only of Everlasting Life. The choice rests entirely with us -- we can either believe wholly upon what God says about His Son, come to Him and receive the promise to all who believe, or we can remain friends with the world and its thousand or so "systems" that claim to have eternal life to its followers and coach riders, and thereby stay far enough away from Him and "The Only Way" to have Eternal Life.
What will it cost you to follow Jesus? Probably everything you own! Why? Because it will be "His Life - His Way" you'll be following -- not your own. It seems like no one wants to hear the Truth these days, and all on board those trains with the bridge out ahead chose to live (and die) unto themselves, at best only listening to and seeing what they themselves and, or, their (fallen) leaders want them to be, without once ever really hearing or believing in what God has to say. The last time that I heard an awakened conscience cry out: "What must I do to be saved?"... was my own.
I, for one, grow tired; tired of trying to tell so many people: whether they be friends, family, or enemies as well, that they must get off the spiritless train they're on and onto the Narrow One that by-passes the bridge that's out over the river gorge. I am tired because "they don't listen". It's all a "game" to them. They show no interest in having to become born again of the Spirit of God. It took me this long to learn that if these people aren't interested in doing what's right and good for others (worldly things), then neither will they believe the heavenly things.
In other words, in hell, the shoe is on the other foot! Because if such people have no intention of obeying God by seeking to do His will on earth, then neither will they obey the Scriptures when they hear them and repent of their evil ways! I find these to be the very words of Jesus when he spoke to the rich man who asked if Lazarus could return and warn his family and friends so they wouldn't end up in the torments of hell. The rich man knew that it was over for him, and he ended up in the place of torment! Jesus knew that if men weren't interested in crossing that chasm - the one with the bridge out - while they still lived, then it would be too late for them after death. For such people all is lost!
It's a whole new generation out there. It's not like the old days when values seemed to mean something and most people seemed to treat what you were saying with respect and interest. Now you don't even get that even from members of your own family. They just write you off as being either "too judgemental or simply -- nuts". This is all new to me. I have recently come to find that many hate you just for standing for what is right and Biblical and therefore stand opposed to their evil ways, and they know it.
As far as telling them the Truth of the Gospel - it's their only chance to escape the train of sin and death that they're on. Yet they don't want to get off that train ride because they like the ride they're on through this world - they like keeping the control - and would be giving up too much if they got off the merry-go-round. (As if they'd be giving up anything in comparison to what they'd be getting?)
The sad thing about this whole thing is when one comes to find out that there are "real enemies" out there who hate you for no other reason than because you stand for the Truth and they don't. That's all - because you have the peoples eternal interests at heart and their interest is purely selfish, and because you want to see things done right and they only want what they want, and because you stand for the Truth, and they don't. Believe me, it's all as simple as that!
I am speaking here of self-serving people - not just one or two of them but a whole gang of self-serving people; a group of "pathological liars", who have nothing better to do than to spread lies and plaster your name and reputation all over the place, and defend each others lie. And for what purpose? To make them and what they represent look good and you, bad - to discredit your witness - to keep the hearers all confused and deceived, therefore keeping them from hearing the truth by intenionally and quietly falsifying the real story and by preaching lies! In the end they make you out to be the villan before those who don't know what really happened.
For example, the group I am speaking of have waited in the darkness of this world for the right time to pounce together on a defensless woman. A dozen of these "cowards and liars" that I am speaking of came in the same room as she was in, screaming at her, and neither giving her time to explain nor accept her explanation (which was all true). She had to leave the room and go outside to get away from them. Believe me when I say, that this was as cowardly and abhoring an act as I've ever heard of. And when the husband of that woman found out what had happened and got mad for what they did to his wife, he went looking for some of those people. In turn they made "him" out to look like the bad guy. Even though the next day they were proven wrong not a single one of them came and apologized to her for their evil actions that day. Need I say more?
I was sheltered I guess. I don't ever remember being in anything like this! I hadn't known that there were people like that in this world, at least not living in this country. This is only a small "minority" I speak of here, yet they are the ones who are intentionally changing the truth into a lie all over. What a fool I was to think that everyone was basically the same, and had the same general altruistic goals in mind as I did... and that was before I even knew the Lord!
However, I have since come to find that these people will stop at nothing to seem pure and righteous in everyones eyes, by spreading their cowardly lies knowingly backing each other up, even to my face when I questioned them! But those who can discern the truth from the lie will and do see what's going on and will be devastated over it. Yet, in looking back, I must never forget that Like attracts Like. As dung attracts dung flies so these are also attracted by the darkness, because they love the darkness. However, not everyone is fooled by them. There are those who've had direct dealings with them and who came out of such an encounter with a bitter and rotten taste in their mouths.
These are all "Non-Christians" I speak of. They are all void of Eternal Life. Nevertheless I have known that there were always those who know the difference between right and wrong, and thus know enough to avoid these other trouble-makers as well. It is to these people and these alone who are capable of listening and reasoning who must be told that they have to get off the train before it's too late! The rest of them, those who love the darkness, will not listen! And I speak by experience here! All pathological liars hate the word of God and love only themselves and those like them, just as they hate doing what's right and good for everyone else but themselves.
Read Luke 16:19-31
There can only be one solution! I don't know about you but as for me I will, I must serve the Lord and His house! As much as these evil people bother me - especially the ones that cause trouble for me and smear my reputation in the mud by lying and even cheering about it afterwards - I cannot, I must not return the favor. There is a struggle going on inside of me. I must not take an eye for an eye. Instead what does the Lord say? "Forgive your enemies! Do good to them who persecute you! Heap burning coals upon their heads. Vengeance is mine!"
So I can truthfully say that these things do bother me and bother me greatly (as lot was vexed in his spirit by watching all the evil doings that surrounded him in Sodom and Gomorrah - 2 Peter 2:8), but as much as this all bothers me it would bother me even more if I were to just up and avenge myself on them. It's only because I have been bought with a price - I am no longer my own, but I belong to another - that I chose to obey my Lord. It's not that these people don't deserve my wrath, it's because the Lord doesn't deserve it. The wrath is His - the promise is mine - He will deal with it all!
So, in my walk I have come to learn that there are those living today who are The Tares: those planted by the Devil, and also The Wheat: those planted by God. I have also come to learn not to go to those with dead consciences who refuse to acknowledge that what they do is a greivious sin, but only go to those who know or seem to know the difference between what is right and what is wrong.
In my soul I have to remain "Dead" to those who love the side of error, and remain "Alive" only to those who love the truth. It is to these I must preach the Gospel - it is to these and these alone who just might listen - and just might get off that train of sin and death, and board instead the only one of its kind - Saved by Grace - going to the heavenlies. This is what I must do 'IF' I love Him - "Go and Feed 'His' Sheep"!
Please pray for me! For when I am weak, then I am strong.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:13-17
May God bless you in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Biff
