What is the next big thing you have planned that you are excited about? I’m talking REALLY excited about. What if the plan got suddenly cancelled? Does the thought of that bring you immediate disappoint and sadness? What are some other things in your life that quickly make you sad? The kind of sad that sends a sharp pain to your heart at the mere mention of the subject. The kind that provokes you to action no matter the difficulty it takes to bring about the desired result.
Was the thought of a lost loved one at the top of your list? If not, why? Sure, I think we would all say, “Yes, of course.” But does it truly burden us?
I was recently reading in Romans chapter 9:1-2 where it says, “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:” Here, Paul was expressing his deep concern for His Jewish kinsman. He loved them so much that he wished he could go to hell in their place. I was struck by this expression of real love- by the heavy burden that Paul bore for these people. Then I thought, am I THAT burdened about the unsaved in my life? Do I show that level of love?
I was then reminded of the story of the rich man in Luke 16. He begged to go back to earth and warn his loved ones of the torment he was facing, but it was too late for him to do so. Then I thought, “Wow, God left us so much in His Word to warn us of the importance and severity of ones soul, but do we treat it as so?” Our opportunity to reach them and to intervene is now.
Do you feel a deep burden for a lost loved one? What are you doing about it? Paul would have been willing to take their punishment. Jesus paid the price on the cross. Yet, we’re often not even willing to skip a meal to seek the Lord on their behalf- much less a couple. We justify not witnessing to them to make ourselves feel better.
“That will cause tension.”
“They know the truth.”
“I’ve tried before, it won’t do anything.”
“It will push them further away from God,” (Really? Is that possible, because right now they don’t even know Him?)
Sadly, we’ve become so familiar with the attributes of Hell that we’ve become calloused to its reality. Are we even feeling the heaviness that we SHOULD be feeling when presented with this truth? If not, that should tell us something. Our hearts may have grown cold and hardened to the reality.
Ask the Lord to break your heart for the lost once again. Take time to intentionally seek Him on their behalf (not just casually praying for them- but truly seeking God to move). Pray and look for opportunities to be a light to them. Ask God to soften their heart, convict, and intervene. Don’t wait until it is too late. How do you feel about the picture of them being thrown into eternal torment at the Great White throne judgement? Now is the time to do your part. Ask a sister in Christ to join you in prayer. Let us become burdened for the lost we love once again.