In our Wednesday night series on the topic of holiness, this week we found ourselves discussing the topic of heaven and the Christian’s longing to be there. Specifically, we were discussing John’s prayer in Revelation 22:20, Come, Lord Jesus.
I was in the middle of explaining how going to heaven should be one of our greatest desires and how we should want Jesus to return more than anything else in this world when I was caught off guard by a comment.
Someone said, “But what about the people who don’t know Christ?” It felt like my heart stopped in my chest. Since class ended Wednesday night, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that question.
Truth be told, I get overwhelmed with life and its difficulties. I get frustrated by world events that I’m powerless to control. I am so very sick of politics. On top of all of that, I’m often discouraged by my inability to be like Jesus.
In my frustration and discouragement, I long for heaven. I long for the words of Paul to come to pass from 1 Thessalonians 4:16, …the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God… but I also know that not everyone will go to heaven.
The words of the Lord Jesus are chilling, 46 These will go away into eternal punishment… (Matthew 25:46).
Ashamedly, I sometimes become so self-absorbed that I fail to love the lost as I should. My desire is to love the lost as the Lord does. I should remember when I’m thinking, “Why is it taking so long for the Lord Jesus to return?” the words of 2 Peter 3:9, 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
The Lord is waiting patiently for all that will come to Him to come to Him.
I must also confess that I used to be much more diligent in my prayers for the lost than I currently am. Why did I slack in my prayers? I stopped believing that the people I was praying for would ever come to the Lord.
That’s a mistake. It’s not a mistake to doubt people; that’s not what I mean. It was a mistake for me to believe that God could not draw those people to Himself.
I should know better. He saved me, after all. And I know for a fact that people were praying for me prior to me responding to the Lord. How much did the prayers of others have to do with my salvation? I may never know. But I do know that there is power in prayer. Whether I understand how God works through prayer is really irrelevant.
I am renewing my commitment to diligently pray for the lost. Will you join me in this? Don’t doubt the power of God.
Let our attitude be the attitude of Spurgeon, who said, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”
Much Love,
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
