We Work Hard To Persuade Others

We Work Hard To Persuade Others

We must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies. It is because we know this solemn fear of the Lord that we work so hard to persuade others. –2 Corinthians 5:10-11

I spent a year working closely with Gracia Burnham, a missionary to the Philippines who was held hostage by terrorists for a year before being rescued. Sadly, her husband, Martin, was shot and killed in the rescue. One of the stories Gracia told me was about Musab, one of her captors, who made himself out to be a spiritual leader even though he was really, in her words, “a rat.” So she was especially disgusted when Musab forced Martin to carry his heavy load of supplies on top of what Martin was already carrying. “Someday that man is going to burn in hell, and I hope I’m there to see him judged!” Gracia hissed to her husband. At her outburst, Martin said sadly, “Oh Gracia, don’t say that. Someday God is going to judge that man, but you don’t want to be there to see it. Can you imagine how horrible it will be?”

Picture for a moment what judgment will be like for those who reject Christ. Our self-centered satisfaction of knowing that our sin has been covered and that we are free from condemnation has made us apathetic about the destiny ahead for those who reject Christ. Those who are not covered by the righteousness of Christ will receive the punishment they deserve for their sin. If we really believe this, shouldn’t it compel us to work hard to persuade others to receive the gift of salvation offered lovingly by God?

This time of waiting is a time of grace, when God’s offer of forgiveness and restoration is available to all. But this time will soon come to a close. So we don’t want to waste these days of waiting by amusing ourselves, satisfying ourselves, or closing our eyes to the coming reality of eternal judgment. What could make this time of waiting more meaningful than to use every means at your disposal to convince those outside of Christ of their need for him? Who do you know who is not prepared to stand before the judgment seat of Christ? What are you waiting for?

Righteous Judge, though it may be unpopular to talk about and I don’t like to even think about it, judgment is certain and will be terrifying for those who are not saved from it. Give me a vivid vision of the judgment to come so I will be willing to work hard to persuade others of their need for you.

DIGGING DEEPER