John 3: 16-21. 16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave* his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.*”
Do we understand the times we are in? Do we understand the battle that is taking place between two kingdoms, the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God.
These kingdoms have clashed from the garden of Eden until today, but there is a sense of urgency like I have never seen. It feels like we are in the red zone and the clock is running out in the fourth quarter. There are prodigals that are still in the pig pens of life. There are lives being stolen through drugs and other addictions. There are many people of all ages being imprisoned with depression, anxiety, and a plethora of other Mental Health disorders. And, their answer is a prayer away.
Jesus told His disciples to go out into the highways and hedges and compel the people to come in. How urgent that request was 2000 years ago and how much more urgent it is today. When time ends, the decisions people make will be locked into eternity. The lost will be lost forever…can we grasp this? Do we understand?
My salvation experience happened in March 1979 with two dreams. In my first dream, it was black and white and I was standing on a huge globe and I could reach up and touch the sky. And, God allowed me to experience the hopelessness of eternity without Him. This dream shook me for a day or two and then I was right back as I was before. Within a few days, I had an exact repeat of this dream, but this time it was in bright colors. And this time, the sky was rolled in huge layers. Again, I felt the hopelessness of eternity without God’s Presence and I cannot articulate that feeling. After the second dream, God orchestrated events to bring me to a place of radical salvation in Him. It was not just a little, “repeat after me prayer.” I became a new person and everything old, ugly, and dead passed away. How great is our God. Someone was praying for me then or someone had prayed for me before. I wondered if that person were alive at that time or alive 100 years before. Prayers never expire. Regardless, this prodigal came to herself and returned to the Father’s house.
What can we do? The most crucial thing is to pray and ask God to touch the hearts of those we love. None can come unless the Father draws them. Then we can make ourselves available as He leads us to those who are ready for the harvest. Some plant, some water, but God always gives the increase. We often quote that Jesus said to pray for laborers to come into the fields that are ready for harvest. We are those laborers and we must be willing to go into the fields for those who are coming home to God. Nothing is more important. God knows who they are. And we can make ourselves available to help disciple them in the way of the Lord.
What is more important than a lost soul? NOTHING! Jesus died on the cross for every person who would choose to come. He is no respecter of person or position. All are welcome! Let’s be a part of what God is doing. Let’s realize each day we are on assignment to touch a hurting person. Thank God He touched my heart!
