A Perishing World

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.  And who is sufficient for these things?”  2nd Corinthians 2:15-16

 

Have we as a society become so complex, so manipulated, so burdened by our own prisons that most can not possibly see the simplicity that is in Christ?  I would equate the situation of America like that of an apartment complex meeting trying to solve how to fix the darkness in the hallway.

 

As the meeting is ongoing there is much debate back and forth on how to solve the problem.  The meeting drags out days with finally it being decided that the light bulb is burnt out and needs to be tended to.  One man suggests that he has some welding tools and perhaps if another can put a small incision into the side of the bulb he can fix the broken filament.  Another suggests that the bulb be carefully opened and tritium gas be put inside, perhaps the glow will provide enough light to get by.  One resident suggests pointing a flashlight towards the bulb to give it the appearance of operating and casting light, then they can continue on with there business.  After much debate, finally the newest member of the apartment community provides an extra night light for the hallway.  The light is red, but the residents are now able to function and begin to build their community strong once again, no longer debating over the darkness in the hallway.

 

There is one voice that is not heard though, a young child, meek and quiet, approaches the group several times during the meetings with an extra light bulb that their parents, who didn’t attend, had in their cupboard.  The residents are troubled by this little rascal whose behavior often troubles them.  The child is different, causing all of their children to get angry at his anti-social behavior.  While the parents are used to yelling at their children to be quiet, the fact that this one youngster is quiet becomes quite the annoyance to them.  The child tries many times to interject that the problem with the dark hallway is simply that a new light bulb is needed, but no one will listen.  Instead they bid the troublemaker to continue on his way, they do not have time to waste dealing with childish nonsense.

 

Have you ever wished that people would simply listen to the Gospel message?  Rather as you try to explain it to supposedly desiring ears, how many times can you count that instead of being able to explain the Gospel in its simplicity that you are now spending time refuting false doctrine after false doctrine, usually to no avail!  Who or what is to blame largely for such things?

 

“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”  2nd Corinthians 11:3

 

How many hoops must a Roman Catholic church member jump through in order to be supposedly affirmed by the priest?  How many steps does it take for one to be ‘secure’ while attending a Jehovah Witness church?  How much effort and learning of false doctrine does it take for someone to become a ‘good’ Mormon?  Rather how much positivism must be preached from the pulpit of so-called churches for someone to convince themselves of the ‘good’ that is in them and that the are part of the body of Christ?  Where are the simple Churches that preach the whole Gospel, that makes a man consider his ways, that creates godly sorrow and points the soon-to-be Believer to their Savior Jesus Christ, that the person might simply come to God in repentance, believing into His Son?  It is a free gift from God, Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins on the Cross.

 

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”  2nd Corinthians 7:10

 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

 

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

 

“Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ to the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 2:38

 

“Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was accounted to him, but also for us, to whom it shall be accounted, believing in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.”  Romans 4:23-25

 

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but gave Himself over to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.”  1st Peter 2:21-24

 

…”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”  Romans 3:23

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  The one believing into Him is not judged; but the one not believing is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But the one doing the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been worked in God.”  John 3:16-21

 

Man tries to create their own ways to become supposedly justified before Almighty God, yet it is God who created the Way for man to become reconciled to Him.  Will you, Dear Reader, realize the simplicity that is in Christ, understand that you are guilty of your sins before your Creator and accept the gift of Salvation before it is too late?  Will you consider for a moment?

 

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  1st Corinthians 1:18

 

“Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  John 14:6

 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”  Revelation 3:20-21