A Sobering Visit

A Sobering Visit

"What Would You Do?"

What would you do if the Lord Jesus Christ were to appear to you with a sobering message? He says, “Dear ____, I have come with an urgent message for you. The day of My return is drawing near. No man knows the exact time except My Father; however, I tell you—the time is drawing very near. I have a task that I am entrusting to you. Fulfill this task with all diligence, because the time is short. This is the task: There are many around you who do not know Me. They are headed for an eternity in the Lake of Fire—but I love them. I came to be their Savior and I gave My life to pay the penalty for their sin. I bore the wrath that they deserve. Warn them of the danger of rejecting Me, and tell them of Me and the gift of salvation that I have provided. It is for this reason that I came into the world. Don’t delay. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. The time is short.” Then, after saying this, the Lord vanishes from your presence…. What would you do? How would your life be changed from that experience? I would dare say that your life would be turned upside down! The priorities of your life would be completely rearranged. You would proclaim the Gospel with great boldness to all who would listen. Consider…What would you do?

Dear Friend, the Lord has sent this message to you… No, He did not appear in bodily form before you; however He has declared this same message to you in His Word. After His resurrection, the Lord gave that very task to His church (Mark 16:15). Then, in the final chapter of God’s Word, Jesus declares this truth—"Surely, I come quickly” (Rev 22:20). If the Lord’s return was imminent nearly 2,000 years ago, how much closer must His return be in our day?

Someone may say, “Well, that is different…sure it is in the Bible—but that is not that same as Jesus telling me that personally….” Why not? Why don’t we take God at His Word? We would do well to recall the story of the rich man who spoke with Abraham in Luke Chapter 16. He wanted Abraham to send a beggar named Lazuras back from the dead to warn his brothers of their need for salvation. How did Abraham respond? He told this rich man that his brothers had Moses and the prophets (in other words, they had the Word of God). He told this rich man that if his brothers would not believe the Word of God, neither would they believe even if one was risen from the dead. And thus it is with you and I. We have God’s Word and that Word is just as valid as if He were speaking to us bodily.

Friend, the coming of the Lord is drawing near (James 5:8). We must set our priorities in order. We are the King’s ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). We are to share the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with the world. The question? What WILL you do?