The Bible declares that there are people in each generation with special calling for the Lord’s work. In Colossians 3: 23-24, the Word declares that whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Paul implies that if we realize Christ’s eyes are upon us (Prov. 15: 3) (Jer. 16: 17), and if we are doing it directly for Him, then we would be more likely to do this work happily and more heartily if we love Him as we profess.
This consensus surely was prevalent among the early disciples. Paul urged Timothy to endure intense hardships for the Gospel, including imprisonment, desertion by friends and sometime family, and physical persecution (2 Tim. 1: 8) (2 Tim. 3: 10-12).
Earlier disciples before Christ’s time faced persecutions and afflictions persistently. Paul himself suffered at Antioch, Iconium, and at Lystra. These occurrences undergird the premise that all who live for Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (1 Cor. 15: 19).
Examples of this include foremost the Disciples chosen by Jesus. Of the original twelve except Judas Iscariot, traditional writings declare many of Jesus’ Disciples died as martyrs. Although the Bible is mostly silence on the deaths of the Disciples, records in traditional writings include deaths of crucifixions, stabbings, and beatings.
Peter supposedly was crucified upside down in Rome under Emperor Nero around 64-66 A. D. James, the son of Zebedee, was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa 1 around 44 A. D. in Jerusalem. John, the brother of James, is believed to be the only one who died of natural causes, possibly in Ephesus. Tradition states that John survived being immersed in a vat of boiling oil in Rome during a wave of persecutions under the Emperor Domitian, before John was exiled to the Island of Patmos.
Christian believers in the 21st century are aware of the commandment that the Lord Jesus left for His followers (Matt. 28: 19-20). We too, in following this commandment must accept hardships that will challenge our faithfulness and dedication to “deny oneself, pick up our cross, and follow Christ (Matt. 16: 24).
Jesus said that in the latter days, there will be a falling away of the Church. People’s lives will largely characterize skepticism, indifference, and respond often with violent resistance.
Some preachers today, like some Prophets in the past, are more respected as individuals rather than messengers for God. God’s messages often create a negative response as if challenging the status quo with themes of social injustices, repentance, and living a lifestyle contrary to that written in God’s Word.
In the days of Jesus, Christ said, “The road that leads to destruction has a wide gate and broad is the way, and many there be which go there”. The reality of this acknowledgment is that humanity is oblivious to the knowledge of Hell and Heaven as choices of eternal destinies. God’s Word is divinely inspired, authoritative, and transformative; but yet it acts as a guide and source of truth (2 Tim.3: 16).
Why would people in their right minds, choose to reject Heaven as described in (1 Cor. 2: 9) choosing instead an eternal life in Hell, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25: 41)?
Here in the 21st century Americans are known for their compassion for the less fortunate and helpless. Throughout our country countless stories of men and women who risked their lives to warn others of catastrophic dangers that were oblivious to their vision of view or knowledge. The reality of most of these people is that in many of these events, these people may have never met or known each other; someone simply was in danger and needed help.
In a much greater sense of urgency, millions of people are blindly traveling the broad road that leads to destruction and Hell and do not know it. Who is going to warn them? As written in the Bible, the harvest is great, and the laborers are few (Matt. 9: 37). Is this terrible oversight simply the result of the few laborers Christ speaks about that are simply being overwhelmed?
Many potential laborers admit that their lack of response is due to fear of failure, rejection of listeners, fear of proper response to questions, or that they may not be knowledgeable enough about the Gospel to rightfully qualify. It is certain, Christ will have something to say about this at Judgment, however.
If the above is so, will that make eternal life in Hell more tolerable for those who never heard the story of Christ’s atonement and redemptive payment for their sin debt on the Cross of Calvary? Would these lost friends and family members change their minds if they actually were knowledgeable about eternity, Heaven, and Hell?
As my grandfather used to tell me when we were camping, “It only takes a spark to get a fire started. Just a spark! Jesus’ commandment was to go, tell, and baptize (Matt. 28: 19-20). The plan of Salvation consists of five (5) parts. Laborers are commanded to go, tell, and baptize. He, Himself, would do the convicting and saving, the hard parts. Someone you know is on the verge of eternity. Scripture states that of those God has delegated for us to witness unto but fail, their blood will be on us (Ezek. 3: 18-19).
SIMPLY, ANSWER THE CALL!!! GO, TELL, AND BAPTIZE.
Someone lost is either waiting for someone to “come and tell” them about Christ’s atonement for their sin debt on the Cross of Calvary or he or she is waiting to die and awake in a place created for Satan and his angels called Hell (Luke 16: 19-31).
Sower's Field by L. Michael Schoonover 