Issue 701 – Wing and a Prayer – April 1, 2022
On Wednesday, I took a stroll around Fish Trap Creek Park. I saw a wide variety of waterfowl, some cormorants, and a bald eagle. I played hide and seek with several squirrels as I tried, unsuccessfully, to get a good photo. The spring growth spurt is on, and there are plenty of attractive flowers, trees and shrubs to see.
Then I came across these duck wings in a marshy area. Some duck had fallen to a predator, most likely an eagle. It was a bit of a sobering sight.
Death is a reality in a fallen world. It will come for everyone if the Lord doesn’t return for His own before that happens. The question for most people isn’t “Will I die?” but “When will I die?” or “How will I die?” Only the Lord knows the answers to those questions as He has ordained our days.
Even though death is inevitable, most people don’t really think about it. They certainly don’t give thought to what happens after they die.
According to a survey, I read some years ago, 77% of Americans believe in some form of heaven and 76% in hell. Of those, more than 90% think they’re going to heaven. I suspect Canadian numbers will be similar.
If most people believe they are going to heaven, how are they getting there? They trust in their righteousness and works, some form of religious heritage or practice and that God wouldn’t send “nice people” to hell. It is a form of what I call wing and prayer theology. People don’t want to think about it, so they wing it and hope for the best.
It is incredible to think that most people believe in hell but feels they are good enough to escape it. That is willful, spiritual blindness. Even confronted with the truth of the gospel, most will reject it. In doing so, they discard their lifeline.
The single most important decision we will ever make is “What do I do about Jesus?” It is too important to leave to a wing and a prayer.
If you are trusting in the work of Christ by faith alone, you have your ticket to be with the Lord. Failure to hold that ticket means an eternity apart from Him.
The sad reality of life is that most people are going to hell. That was our destiny before we came to faith in the Lord.
If most people are going to hell without Christ, that ought to change our perspectives on how we see them. They are not simply misguided; they are as dead as that duck and lost.
Someone has to share the truth with them.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:12-17
You might think that you are not qualified to share, and perhaps you could use more training and practice (most of us could). Still, you need to be trying.
If you saw a person in danger of their life, would you try and save them? Of course, you would! How much more important is it that we try to save the eternally perishing?
God is responsible for the results but commands us to make an effort.
Is there someone you could share with today? Pray for God to give you the opportunity, the words to share and the courage to make an effort.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV). Spelling modified to Canadian English as required.
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