Why don’t we share the Gospel?
If we have a belief, it should impact the way we live. Do we truly believe it if it has no effect on us? Pastor Greg Laurie says when it comes to the judgement our friends and family are facing, we need to ask ourselves if we are doing enough to prevent it.
According to Christians, there is a heaven and a hell. So why wouldn’t we want to share the Gospel with people? Unbelievers run the risk of being judged. If we as Christians believe this to be true, we must act in a tangible way.
We need to prepare for Jesus’s return
We’ll all exchange our last words one day. It could be when we’re eating, in a hospital bed or anywhere else. We don’t know. It might be that we’re having a conversation with someone when suddenly Jesus calls us home to Heaven.
‘No one knows the day or the hour when Christ will come,’ Greg says.
‘But let’s pretend He’s going to return on Christmas Day. Would you live any differently? If you were complacent as a Christian, would you suddenly kick into gear?’
We need to always be ready and live in anticipation of Christ’s return. But are we spending enough time preparing? For many of us, it’s difficult to devote the same amount of time to God as we do to social media.
‘In the book of Daniel, the prophecy Jeremiah gave is happening in Daniel’s lifetime,’ says Greg. ‘He’s going to see the fulfilment of a prediction that Jeremiah made. It impacted Daniel, and he experienced a personal revival.’
Our hearts should be moved by the Scriptures
Our hearts should be moved by the Scriptures in the same way as Daniel’s. He understood that the Israelites were in Babylon because of their sin. We, too, have to admit we’re part of the problem.
‘We celebrate the things we used to be ashamed of,’ says Greg. ‘Everything is upside down. Right is wrong. Wrong is right. The Bible says woe to those who say evil is good and good is evil and dark is light and light is dark.’
We are cautioned in Ephesians 4:13 that we may lose our sensitivity and that our consciences may be burned as with a hot iron. The good news is that Christ can reconnect with us and sensitise our conscience.
‘Start by spending as much time in God’s Word as you can,’ Greg says. ‘Get the word of God in your life by reading, listening and investing in good Bible teaching. God is always right, and if we don’t agree with Him, we are wrong.’
I Have Sinned
Scripture says that God is the standard we measure all other truth by. The three hardest words to say are, I have sinned. Those are difficult words, but Daniel said them. He did not excuse himself or point the finger at others.
‘Daniel knew he was culpable and that he shared responsibility,’ says Greg.
‘Sin not only means to cross a line, but it also means to miss the mark. How about harbouring unforgiveness or priding ourselves on being spiritual?’
Greg believes Jesus does not say we must forgive in order to be forgiven. ‘If you understand anything of the forgiveness of God, you of all people, I of all people, should be a forgiving person. Forgiven people should be forgiving people.’