HEAR AND BE PERSUADED UNTO SALVATION (PART 2)
TEXT:
"And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16 verse 31, King James Version).
Hardness of the human heart has been identified as the main reason why men shun salvation. Some major reasons that are responsible for hardness of heart are: deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3 verse 13), cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and lust for other things (Mark 4 verse 19 and 1st John 2 verses 15 to 16).
The story of the rich man and Lazarus told by the Lord in Luke 16 verses 19 to 31 gives us a vivid picture of life after death and the consequences of failure to embrace the Lord's Gospel of salvation before death.
It's important to point out at this moment that Lazarus didn't make heaven (an eternal place of comfort) because he was poor; neither did the rich man go to hell (an eternal place of torment) because he was rich. But the chief determinant of their eternal destinations was their respective responses to God's offer of salvation through the Gospel (which at that time was "Moses and the Prophets").
From the response of the rich man to Father Abraham, it was obvious that while he was on earth, he had neglected to hear the Gospel and to be persuaded by it unto salvation. For this reason, he desired for Father Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth unto his five living brethren "that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment." (Luke 16 verse 28). The question for the one reading this devotional this morning to answer is, how responsive are you to God's Gospel of salvation? Brethren, the time to hear the Gospel and be persuaded unto salvation is NOW, and not anytime after death. The Bible says in Hebrews 3 verse 15,
"While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation."
The realization that God is your Creator and that you are His creation is enough reason for you to humble yourself before Him and accept His judgment that all (including you) have sinned and come short of His glory (Romans 3 verse 23). As long as men continue to be blinded by satan to their true spiritual state and choose to remain unpersuaded that in God's Sight, all of humanity is lost and deserving of His mercy, salvation will remain elusive to them.
Brethren, heaven and hell are real places of eternal destination after death. Don't be fooled by those that say otherwise. Neither should you for any reason whatsoever neglect to prepare yourself and to live your life here on earth with eternity in contemplation. Many have neglected pleas to embrace salvation in Christ Jesus, only to wake up at death to face the grim and ghastly reality of hell fire, with no remedy therefrom. Like I said, the time to secure your eternal destination with God is NOW!
The Bible says that "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." (Luke 16 verse 16).
What are you doing to secure your eternal destination? How are you currently living your life? Are you among those seeking God's Kingdom and earnestly "pressing into it"? Do you realize that death can come knocking any moment from now? Understand that God sent Jesus to the world to save you. If I were you, I would take that one decision that would forever speak salvation unto you, even from now and especially at death. If you have made up your mind to do so, simply pray the following prayer and it's done, in Jesus name. Thereafter, my counsel is that you begin to live in line with God's Word.
PRAYER:
Father, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I'm in need of Your mercy and salvation. Dear Lord Jesus, I believe that you died for me. You were buried for me and on the third day, You rose from the dead for me. I confess You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You Father for saving me from eternal damnation, in Jesus name.