Do You Have Blood on Your Hands???
(I received this earlier this week. It was sent from Amazing Grace Mission as their soul-winning tip of the week. Convicting, isn't it???)
Ezek. 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
I am sorry to say I know that I have blood on my hands. Yes, the blood of those who I have not warned of the impending danger of hell. Hell is not something most people want to speak of. We like the softer version of the gospel, which is the "gift of God," which comes from the love of God. We want to hear about the love of God, not the justice of God which comes in the form of hell. BUT, every one of us is called to be a "watchman," warning of the danger ahead for the sinner who is without salvation.
The fact that I have blood on my hands came again to me this week when I heard that my neighbor had died from the cancer which had been eating at his body for more than a year. Yes, he had been warned. He had been warned by Pastor Gooding of 1st Baptist of Prosperity. He had been warned by others, but he had never been warned by me. You may say, "Glen, don't be so hard on yourself," but what you don't know is that God had put on my heart several times during the last 9 months to go and warn him myself. You may say, "But, Glen if a pastor could not convince him of his need for the Saviour, how do you think you could?" I don't know that I could, but all I know is that God spoke to my heart even as close to two weeks ago to go by and see him, and "warn him." But, I didn't! You see it's not my job to save him, or convince him, that is the job of the Holy Spirit, which I did not take heed to. How do I know the Holy Spirit would not have taken that very opportunity, if I had made the visit to open the man's heart. Shame on me; Yes! this man's blood in on my hands because the Holy Spirit had spoken to me, and I did not respond.
You see, when a person goes to hell, they have no second chance. BUT, I have no "second chance" either! I will never have another chance to speak to the man, to warn him, to respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit. What is even worse is: how does a person like me ask for forgiveness for such an act. Yes, I know I can ask for forgiveness, and God will grant it, but it will never help Hal, my neighbor. I'm sure I am not alone in this lack of response, but that doesn't help me, or Hal. I'm sure most people who will read this, if they are honest with themselves, can remember people they will never have a second chance to warn. I'm going to endeavor to not let it happen again; how about you?
Labels: Evangelism, Words of Warning
posted by Jim @ 7:53 AM
14 Comments:
great post. its so OBVIOUS[ almost laughable] that its all about CONTROL CONTROL CONTROL .!!!!!!!
im surpised at you . your usually NOT this MELODRAMATIC. .
much more logical.
this post REEKS of desperation .
hope everything is OK with ya!!!!
Sattvicwarrior,
Everything is going fine this way... God is good to me ALL THE TIME!!!!! Even with gasoline at $3.50 per gallon!!! There is no desperation in my household... Ps 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Apparently you weren't convicted by the two references found in God's Word penned by Ezekiel and Paul; but that is understandable. That's a foreign concept to you, so I don't expect you to understand.
However, allow me to give you another illustration. If you came home late one night, and just as you began to go into your home or apartment, you noticed smoke and fire coming from your neighbor's house and you were aware that he/they were home asleep. Would you simply mind your own business and enter your home, turn on the TV, grab a drink and snack from the refrigerator, and grab the remote and channel surf for some interesting entertainment??? Or would you have compassion for your neighbor, even if he was a complete stranger, and do all you could to wake him and warn him of the approaching danger, resulting in his DEATH???
Which would it be; worship SELF, or warn a stranger?????
Speaking of control, isn't it amazing how SELF and PLEASURE and $$$ and SEX and DRUGS and MUSIC and PROSPERITY and the CONTROL these areas all exhibit in the lives of people today are surprisingly IGNORED by the world!!!!! But if any reference is made about God or His Word by one..... bring out the CONTROL ALARM!!!!!
Who's CONTROLLING your life??? God or Satan??? All men are controlled by one or the other..... Mt 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
That's a foreign concept to you, so I don't expect you to understand.
cmon dude . you GOTTA stop with that " I am better than thou" mentality
I expect more from you .
and GAS at 3:50 a GALLON???
good grief how lucky are YOU ??
the most extreme here is $8:46a GALLON [thats the extreame of course]
Which would it be; worship SELF, or warn a stranger?????
WARN THE STRANGER OF COURSE. YOUR ANALOGIES WERE MORE LIKE "APPLES AND ORANGES".
again your being silly. . your usually much more logical.
Speaking of control, isn't it amazing how SELF and PLEASURE and $$$ and SEX and DRUGS and MUSIC and PROSPERITY and the CONTROL these areas all exhibit in the lives of people today are surprisingly IGNORED by the world!!!!!
not amamzing at all its called EGO
Sattvicwarrior said....
> cmon dude . you GOTTA stop with that " I am better than thou" mentality. I expect more from you.
And I expect more from you by responding with that mistaken attitude above. My initial statement did not infer that at all... I am a saved sinner just as you profess to be, nothing more or nothing less. Our only difference is the faith and belief we have in the Word of God!!! The ground is level at the cross...
My "foreign concept" comment was directed to your lack of discussion or understanding you have exhibited in our conversations regarding any present or past Scripture reference. The posted verses indicate our responsibility as Christians to warn others about their eternal destiny. Do you believe that Christ forsook warning an individual He had direct contact with of the individual's future destiny??? Christians are to be Christ-like, and although we are far from being anything at all like Christ in our daily walk here on earth, we should still strive each day to exhibit our love and compassion to those whom we meet each and every day. If you profess to be a Christian, are you telling others of your faith??? Or does this Scripture verse refer to your current action....
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
You focus too much on people instead of Christ. Christianity is to be Christ-like; there is no fault in Him or His actions or words. However, professing Christians will always let you down simply because they are just men - men are far from perfect and will often fall. We don't focus on men, but Christ!!! Men will let you down; parents will let you down; friends will let you down; bosses will let you down; politicians will let you down; mankind in general will let you down. BUT JESUS NEVERS FAILS!!!!!
I'm glad you would warn your next door neighbor about the fire in his home, but yet you ridicule one who takes the time to warn the same man of his knowledge of his eternal destiny.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
I understand your hatred for phony organized RELIGION, but I have yet to understand your perceived distaste of the Word of God????? We have been corresponding back and forth almost six months now, yet you haven't opened up to share this fact with me, or exactly what event occurred in your life that resulted in this mindset. Of course, if it is none of my business, I'll respect your response to this question!!!
Plus, you know that I am mining engineer, but exactly what is your occupation??? I believe you list SCIENCE in your profile???!!!
If you profess to be a Christian, are you telling others of your faith???..
Of course not. its NO ONES BUSINESS but my own with my relationship with god
..Plus, you know that I am mining engineer
.. No I didnt know that , i actually I never thought about what you did ... honest. its totally irellivant. gee you assume a lot. but i told ya that before..
Sattvicwarrior said...
> No I didnt know that , i actually I never thought about what you did ... honest. its totally irellivant. gee you assume a lot. but i told ya that before..
Well, I guess you don't remember my first email to you back on 1/16/08 with a brief introduction... maybe this will refresh your memory...
"A quick introduction... I am a mining engineering by trade, working for a mining operation here in NC primarily as an assistant site manager and quality manager. I am married and have six children, three girls and three boys. My wife and I have home-schooled our children for 18 years..... I am originally a "hillbilly" from the state of WV."
Of which you replied to me on 1/19/08....
"whew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that's a slice of life fer sure!!!!!!!!!!!! no wonder why your not more " to the point" . dude., you have a LOT on yer plate. . and good for you if yer happy....................... i totally RESPECT what you say."
That's OK... I'm sure you have better things to do then to remember an internet "friendship" of almost five months.
About your other comment....
> Of course not. its NO ONES BUSINESS but my own with my relationship with god
Hmmmmmm.... maybe you can tell me the book, chapter, and verse from the Word of God which prohibits us from sharing our faith with others???
That pretty well sums up your true knowledge of Christianity.... and now I know why you are an expert and scholar of RELIGION!!!!! RELIGION centers on man and SELF while Christianity centers on Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour!!!!!
thanks for " dusting out the "cobwebs in my pea brain. i didnt remember but after you quoted me it came back .Good Grief this ageing process [ memory] is not what its all craked up to be is it???? hahahahah
Hmmmmmm.... maybe you can tell me the book, chapter, and verse from the Word of God which prohibits us from sharing our faith with others???
There is no " one word of God" as you so profess, its obvious by simply looking at the myrid of cultures,and spiritual influeneces throughout the centuries, its more than obvious. Haveing read volumns of said books, from many cultures over the last few decades it would seem not only silly but downright foolish to say " one book" is the word of god, since there is so much diversity throught not only the world, but the entire universe.
A simple example is the great flood. its was documented in the egyptian book of the dead LONG before there was biblical documentation of said flood. And i have pointed out to you that the book of CORINTHIANS is WORD for WORD QUOTES from the KORAN . now really. " one book"? cmon .
think a little "OUT OF THE BOX"
it aint gonna change your life. it just might give ya a differnt perspective
Sattvicwarrior said....
> Good Grief this ageing process [ memory] is not what its all craked up to be is it???? hahahahah
Hmmmm... I thought I was the one with the graying hair??? Maybe that West Coast sunshine is detrimental to the "thinking" process!!! You need to head to the South, grab some sweet ice tea, sit on the porch, relax, and let the fresh air and good neighborly conversation give your brain a chance to recover!!!!!
I liked your very last statement, although in my case, a little different twist, directed at the book of Books, the Bible!!!!!
You said....
> it aint gonna change your life. it just might give ya a differnt perspective
On the contrary,the Bible did change my life, and has given me a very different perspective!!!!! It has done the same to many more people throughout the ages.... it is different from every other book in the world. Once you pick it up and read a portion of Scripture, you will never be the same... it sticks with you; either in a favorable way, or unfortunately, an unfavorable way.
Again, we come to the source of our opposite "spiritual" thinking... I believe the Bible is the very Word of God. You, on the other hand, believe no specific book is the very Word of God, but simply man's word trying to point toward a god which he has "spiritualized" in his mind. In essance, you infer, especially by your answer in an earlier comment, whatever a man wants to believe with God, that is OK with him. It will all work out in the end.... once he finds this "truth," he is OK with God. He has no directive to share this "truth" with others, because that is offensive... let them find out on their own.
Hmmmmm.... Thus, God, the creator of the world with all its splendor and order of design, when it comes to eternity and man's final state, throws order out the back door, and allows man to make up all the rules. That does make things convenient; you can live anyway you like and not fear any future judgment!!! I can understand where you come up with that mindset; it is pretty popular today!!!!! And the world is reaping the benefit of this new RELIGION. Your defined RELIGION is OK.... but allow any thought from God's Word, the Bible; you twist its meaning out of context, you fail to read its words and civily discuss its statements, and instead, ridicule its TRUTH by pointing out the sinful errors of mankind playing RELIGION holding that book in their hands, but they haven't the slighest clue what it says... instead, they try to sound scholarly in their speech, but fail to know that actual author of the Book!!!!! They are not fooling anyone except for those who don't know the Book either!!! Satan doesn't what anyone to know that Book, that is way he puts out many copies and "spiritual insights" from many cultures throughout the ages.
Read the book of Judges sometime; it tells about a society and the fate of man who live by this philosophy;
Judges 21:25b .... every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Rom. 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
And their future judgment.... here is their warning;
Prov. 1:22-33 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
I pray that you will seriously think "ouside the box," and look around you, and understand that all you see was made by a Creator, a God who has given you His Word in the Bible. Don't focus on the SIN of men, and man-made RELIGION that paints a marred picture of God. Read the posted verses; pick up the book and read it.
lotta nice stuff there Jim in your comment back.
makes good sense., . regetably your " zealot manic" nature take over and ruins it. .
you always seem throw everything into one "pot" and turn something very clear and laced with common sense into sometimg very ambigious with sweeping generalizatons. .
no big deal .. as long as your happy. .
and saying i should think outside the box is dumbfounding.
thanks for the comment
Sattvicwarrior said.....
> lotta nice stuff there Jim in your comment back.
And he also said....
> your " zealot manic" nature
Thanks for the compliments... I'm glad you can see my zeal and confidence in the Book that we have been discussing back and forth at various times.
Wishy-washy christianity knows very little of God's Word and has little truth to stand upon. I'm sure you wouldn't give that type of person the time of the day, yet you come back again and again to discuss things with me.... you must of noticed a difference because you came to my blog on your own one day. Nobody has forced you to come my way and read my words other than your own curiousity, and I am thankful for the Internet friendship which has developed. Thanks again for the words of encouragement!!!!!
And finally, Sattvicwarrior said..
> saying i should think outside the box is dumbfounding.
I said that because the Bible is not in your box of tools... I notice a sincere silence on your part to discuss the actual content of the numerous verses I have posted from time to time to confirm my points. The times that you do have shown very little knowledge and understanding of the context or actual author of the specific verse. Instead, you throw back riducle or make fun of those disobedient Christians who do not hearken to those specific verses.
Therefore, time and time again I have asked you to quit believing what others say about the Bible and pick it up yourself and sincerely read it... The Gospel of John would be a good first step!!!
Happy reading!!!
you say....I notice a sincere silence on your part to discuss the actual content of the numerous verses
now really. i have repeatedly addressed issues of which you totally avoid, so i simply gave up getting a response. . you run off on some silly tangent quoting this and quoting that. and NEVER address the question. i come back to your blog because you seem like nice guy under all that " manic" behaviour..... I see you as a good person . not the ususal bible beating hell and damnation garbage which 99.99.99.99.99.99.9.9.% of people do .
Some things you say are quite profound , because it is coming from YOUR HEART. and NOT prefaced by some sweeping generalization out of a book that has been so distorted over the centuries it would even make GOD roll his eyes in a different direction.
I go to a LOT of blogs. your is NOT the only one. so please dont get the impression that i am " silent" because of anything profound from your corner. .
the bottom line i just see you as a nice person . . And if you believe in all that what you read then good for you . but i KNOW there is something inside of you that is far more in touch with god than all that hell and damnation crap, and some words that were written by a bunch of dirty nomads running around a horrid part of the world called the mideast..
you underestimate the power of god, to assume that it was only THERE that his greatness is to be exhibited for all of mankind. ..
no big deal. as long as your happy. . but i really do wish you wouldn’t assume so much., . it makes for a VERY small mind. and i believe you are not a small mind. . thats why i find you fascinating.
the moment one tries to get your personal response. you INSTANTLY come back and cover your expressions with all that bible jargon.
There must have been something in your past that REALLY affected you to keep you from experiencing your OWN thinking [ which is closer to god by the way] than constantly quoting someone else’s thoughts.
Wishy-washy christianity knows very little of God's Word and has little truth to stand upon.
so what ? its THIER life and thier choice. its only when it trys to affect MY life that i think they should revive an old "roman " tradidtion
BURNING THEM ON THE CROSS
I'm sure you wouldn't give that type of person the time of the day, yet you come back again and again to discuss things with me.
OPPS. sorry dude your wrong on that ., every one to me is equal . .there is no one that is different. we are all the same in the eyyes of god.
most people wallow in their own ignorance and consider it absolute truth cause someone one else said so. If you dont believe it their way then there is NO way. now how silly is that ??
so why waste my time. in the ignorance of other people ??/ they are Just as valid as i am in this fantasy called reality.. yet there is NO reason to enflame their ignorance. [ which of course is ALWAYS justified in the eyes of god because they are “ SAVED” etc. [ you know the routine I'm sure]
I really dont discuss things with you as you always seem to override it with some other jargon that has NOTHING to do with YOUR PERSONAL thinking principle which I feel is really coming from a pretty nice guy.
At least you haven’t condemned me to your proverbial biblical hell as pretty much all the others do . . SO you see.
you present a bit more humanity. . .and I have respect for that .[ some people call it a CLASS ACT}
Sattvicwarrior said....
> There must have been something in your past that REALLY affected you to keep you from experiencing your OWN thinking [ which is closer to god by the way] than constantly quoting someone else’s thoughts.
Thanks again for the kind words... something did happen to me in the past that has changed my life and THINKING....
By reading and acting upon God's Word (His thoughts, not simply just someone else's thoughts), I am getting closer to walking just as Jesus Christ walked upon this earth. That doesn't mean I'll be perfect, since I am far from that, but I am striving to have the mind of Christ in my thinking, speech, and interaction with others.
1 Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
By the way, I am attending a special church meeting the first half of the week, so I will be away from the computer... just letting you know so you may see your comments posted a little later than usual.
Finally, you said....
> At least you haven’t condemned me to your proverbial biblical hell as pretty much all the others do . .
It is not up to me to judge or condemn your life or thinking... I am simply a man just like you. You do not have to answer to me for your actions.... However, we both will one day face God and must answer to Him for actions in our life. I have simply shared some truth from God's Word with you... what you do with it is on your own account.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
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