Are you ready to talk to others about God's goodness? Are you ready to give an account of what you believe and why? We do not judge others, yet we are required to share the Gospel of Christ with a dying world.
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. - Titus 1:15-16
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Matthew 10:32-34 (King James Version)
God's Way. He Requires My Total Commitment. Yesterday my family and I were looking at some things on you tube. We came across a very popular preacher where he spoke about the Gospel on Larry King Live a few years ago.
Larry King asked this preacher if he believed that individuals that didn't believe in Christ were going to hell, he would not give him a straight answer. He said it wasn't his responsibility to decide who was going to hell or not and that only God could judge the heart. He also said when he went to India with his father how the people loved "god" and how could he judge if they were going to hell or not.
Larry King again asked him so if you are Muslim or some other religion then you are not going to hell if you do not believe in Jesus Christ. Again he would not answer the question. He said, I believe in Christ and in "my way" but I cannot judge.
While some individuals posted to this recording and said they did not see anything wrong we must be careful how we view such things. He never acknowledge Christ as the way. He spoke as if he was simply one of the ways and that all ways lead to God as long as you have a sincere heart.
God's word speaks clearly to how God views us when we deny his Son and his word. God says if your actions (that means you speech as well) are not pure by his standard you are disobedient and good for nothing.
Jesus speaks himself about how we should view him. He tells us if we refuse to confess him (acknowledge or admit he is true) before men so will he refuse to confess us before his Father (acknowledge us as his and admit we are true believers).
Many are uncomfortable about saying Jesus is the only way to the Father because they feel it will be viewed as judgmental and not received well. That may be true, but do not try to make the message of truth "softer" so that someone will accept it. Give the truth as it is. Allow God to convict the heart. If the refuse to accept the truth, that is between them and God. You do not have to beat someone up, you simply give the truth in love and let God do the rest.
While it is true that we do not go around pointing a finger at individuals saying you're going to hell or you are not. We are called to proclaim the truth of God's word and to be ready to give an account of what we believe and why. This preacher did not do that. That is the sad thing about it. He was in a position to show the message of truth as one of blessings but he refused to acknowledge that Jesus is the only way. So many that follow him may believe that all ways are good as long as you have a sincere heart.
A sincere heart can still lead you to hell if you are going in a direction contrary to God's. So today I pray for us that we be willing to make a total commitment to God, his way. Let us be ready with boldness and with love to tell the world about Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the Light and no one (I didn't say it, the word of God did), no one comes to the Father accept through him.
