Coming, ready or not
…whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:18 (NIV)
I am not blessed with a good memory; in fact my wife would say I am not blessed with a bad memory either. My memory is atrocious. It is reasonably true to say that on some days I can’t even remember what I had for breakfast.
But one thing I remember very well is playing hide and seek when I was a young boy. Especially the hide part. The excitement as the finder starts their countdown and you rush off to look for your hiding place. The sheer terror as they reach 100 and you still haven’t found anywhere. You have literally no place to hide.
Our header verse reminds me of that experience: of being found out, with nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide. ‘…whoever does not believe stands condemned…’, says Jesus. Condemned to what? ‘For the wages of sin is death’ (Romans 6:23). Who has sinned? ‘…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23).
Of course, we who believe in Jesus will not perish but will, instead, have eternal life (John 3:16). That is a cast iron guarantee. But what about our unbelieving family and friends? Our neighbours? Even those who cross the road rather than talk to us. Don’t we want to do everything in our power to introduce them to the one person who can save them?
Jesus Christ is coming back soon, ready or not. He died so that the world might be saved through him. Let’s be about our Father’s business: telling the world all about his Son.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that you loved the world so much that you sent Jesus to save the world by believing in him. Help us to help them to believe. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Peter Mill
About the writer:
Peter Mill is a minister in Grace Communion International and Co-Regional Pastor for Scotland, Ireland, and Northern England.
Local congregation:
Grace Communion International Central Glasgow
Garnethill Room
Conference Suite
St Andrews West
260 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 4JP
Meeting time:
Sunday 11:15 am
Local congregtional contact:
Peter Mill
Email: edinburgh@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church