S.O.S: Brotherly Love

Save Our Souls!

"And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh." Jude 1:23. 

The other evening at church a youth pastor visiting from out of town shared a wonderful message, and at the end of his message he showed a clip from the movie, "Titanic". The clip from the movie was where the people were drowning and screaming out for help, and in one of the lifeboats there was a woman that wanted to go back and help the ones that were still alive but the others on the boat didn't want to risk being pulled down into the freezing artic waters so they unanimously opted out of that plan. In another lifeboat there was a small group that went searching for others and got a few, but many had already died.

The pastor wanted us to gather from the scene how important it is for us as Christians to go out and save persons that are crying out for help, and to not sit by in our 'safe' little bubble looking out at what's going on around us and think to ourselves well we're safe why risk it, why should we even attempt to save there souls, we're fine right where we are. That's the wrong attitude to have, and it's selfish when we're called to be 

selfless. 

I'm certain God didn't intend for us to sit by twiddling our thumbs waiting by for his return while there are many out their that need to be saved, and brought into His Kingdom which is at hand. I fully agree with the pastor we should not sit idly by as friends and loved ones drown in their sins knowing God has supplied each one of us with knowledge of his word.  He has equipped us with tools of understanding, faith, strength, utterance, love, patience, vision, wisdom,  and so many other things to go out and rescue as many as we can.

Physical and Spiritual Babylon.

I wanted to pose this question to see the pastors response. What if they don't want to be saved what do we do then? How do you rescue persons that love drowning or are unaware? What about those persons that are crying and reaching out for help from drowning yet their feet are entangled, and although we may try to help them it's difficult. They want to be saved, but their still clinging on to things they need to release from their lives, like bad habits, bad company, unhealthy relationships, sinful acts, things that have been holding them back from God.

 In ancient times, the Israelite's we're lead into captivity in Babylon and they cried out for help from the Lord. Today there are people that are also in Babylon but a spiritual Babylon, the difference is the Israelite's  new they we're in bondage so they cried out for help, they looked around and could see the situation they were in and cried out and we're given help by God. Today people don't know they're in bondage so most of them don't cry out, and when you tell them that they are in bondage they still refuse the truth, hence not wanting to be saved. The word of God say's how there are people who love the darkness! So now what do we do when we come across these persons? The word of God say's, if people reject those that are sent on his behalf  then they are rejecting His Son and also rejecting Him our God! Is it safe to say then that we are casting pearls before swine? Wasn't there a point when Jesus during his ministry sent out seventy people and his disciples to spread the gospel and told them if wherever they go if they were rejected they we're to shake the dust off of their feet? Does this still apply today?

Some might say give up, it's hopeless, that person will never be saved. We must remember the word always, "One sows and another reaps". Yes indeed, there will be many times when people don't receive the gospel, so goes the last days, but we must not loose heart or become discouraged thinking our work is in vain. Remember, "He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good." Ecclesiastes 11: 4-6

This is something I need to remember too, because their have been times when I felt certain people are so far gone nothing can help them, but we mustn't let the enemy get into our minds and stop us from doing the work our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ told us to go out and do! He's "not mindful of things of God but of man"!

"Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready white for harvest!" John 4:35 

Be blessed, continuously pray for friends and loved ones and neighbors! Remember to listen out for their S.O.S!