We were having a get together one evening. My youngest son Levi was with his Mama,Kristina, by a fire that had been built. She was roasting a marshmallow for him when he suddenly jerked from her hand and lunged for the fire. She didn’t have much time to react so she snatched him backwards causing him to fall back. He ended up being fine other than his feelings being hurt. She said she’d rather him be scratched up or have his feelings hurt than be burned.
This is how we should feel about those that don’t know Jesus. We should care more about keeping them from burning than their feelings. Obviously I’m not saying that we should be rude or obnoxious about it. Because everything you do should be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14 NET). It was love that caused my wife to snatch Levi away from the fire. It should be love that drives us to snatch people away from the fires of hell.
Nobody likes to talk about hell, but it’s a real place where real people’s souls will spend a real eternity in. As it says in Revelation 20:15 (KJV) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. It will be said to those that are lost at the judgement ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41 NET)! That eternal fire was not prepared for us, but for the devil and his angels. Unfortunately though broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat (Matthew 7:13 KJV).
This is why it is so important. This is why we should care drastically more about someone’s eternity than their feelings at the time. Yes, what we say may hurt their heart, but if it changes their heart then it is worth it. As Paul would write: Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death (2 Corinthians 7:9-10 KJV).
If you are a follower of Jesus go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15 KJV) speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15 KJV). Knowing that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins (James 5:20 KJV).
Jude 1:21-23 NET 21 maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who waver; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.
If you are not currently a follower of Christ and this has pricked your heart as those in Acts 2:37 and you wonder as they did: what shall we do (Acts 2:37 KJV)? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5 KJV). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16 KJV). And in direct response to those who asked in Acts 2:37 Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38 KJV). This is the fulfillment of what Jesus said in John 3 and the great commission that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47 KJV).
Do not let pride hold you back. Do not let tradition hold you back. Do not let the fear of change hold you back. The demon possessed man wouldn’t let all the demons inside of him stop him, but when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him (Mark 5:6 KJV). Do not anything hold you back. Run to Jesus because now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV).
Luke 15:7 KJV I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth…