Articles
Heart Exam: A Burning Fire
Jeremiah 20:8-13 (NASB)
"For each time I speak, I cry aloud; I proclaim violence and destruction, Because for me the word of the LORD has resulted In reproach and derision all day long. But if I say, 'I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,' Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it. For I have heard the whispering of many, 'Terror on every side! Denounce him; yes, let us denounce him!' All my trusted friends, Watching for my fall, say: 'Perhaps he will be deceived, so that we may prevail against him And take our revenge on him.' But the LORD is with me like a dread champion; Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed, With an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten. Yet, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, Who see the mind and the heart; Let me see Your vengeance on them; For to You I have set forth my cause. Sing to the LORD, praise the LORD! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one From the hand of evildoers."
So this like you or me. Do we want to shout out the word of God to family and friends? Or are we afraid to say anything, because friends and family may say that we should denounce Him rather than do what we know is right? Are you afraid of the word "No"? Will they kill us? All they can do is maybe not speak to us anymore. So is that really a problem? I think not.
Mark 16:15-16 says, "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.'"
So do we wish to do what Christ has told us to do, or are we to do as the world wants and be condemned?
So do you have that burning desire to talk to everyone about Jesus? Or do we say, "Next time, I will talk to them," or when they are on their deathbed say, "You know, maybe it’s time to talk about your soul"? Or after they pass, you might say, "I should have said something to them, but now it is too late."
Just think of how many souls they could have brought to our Lord and Savior and saved other souls. Next time you're around someone, just say, "Hey, would you like to go to church with me this Sunday?" The answer is always "no" until you ask; who knows? The answer may surprise you. They may say, "Sure, what time do services start?"
Remember: they can not believe unless they hear. They can not confess until they know. They can not repent unless they know why, and they can not be baptized until they understand. And none of this will happen until you ask!
So the ball is in your court. Please don't wait until it is too late to ask!
