In This Issue:
“You’re Forcing Your Religion Down My Throat!”
Too Late!
Bloody Hands
Verses on Soul-winning
Volume: 972 August 26, 2024
Theme: Telling Others
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“You’re Forcing Your Religion Down My Throat!”
Bill Brinkworth
Infrequently, after telling another what the Bible says one must do to know they are going to Heaven, I have heard, “You’re forcing your religion down my throat.” Often, that might be a tactic to halt what one doesn’t want to hear.
In most cases, when someone is explaining the Bible’s way to Heaven or what the Scripture says about a subject, it is because they are concerned for another’s soul and life. Why would anyone knowingly want another to spend an eternity of torment? How can anyone not say anything when they know, according to God’s Word, that the person may face terrible consequences for their actions? A caring, concerned Christian should want to do one’s best to alert any from a terrible future. It is not “forcing” a belief on anyone. It is a warning!
Can you imagine being on a nearby hill overlooking cars traveling on a two-lane road? From that vantage point, an onlooker could see a distant truck swerving all over the road, from one lane to another.
From that point of observation, down the road, traveling toward the upcoming danger, the observer could also see a car traveling in the direction of the dangerous swerving truck. Unless the car pulls over to the safe side of the road, the vehicle may be struck by the oncoming lane-wandering vehicle. Someone could be hurt from the possible danger the observer could see.
Would the onlooker not do his best, if it was possible, to warn the car of what may await it in the immediate future? The vehicle could be damaged, and the driver and any passengers could be harmed or killed.
Would he not scream as loud as possible to get the driver’s attention? I am sure arms would frantically be waved or anything done to prevent the accident that would soon happen.
One warning another of a burning eternity in Hell or consequences of a drastic wrong decision are similarly alerting another, as anyone should do, when one sees an imminent danger. That person knows of the Bible’s promises about everyone’s future and cares enough to attempt to keep anyone from being eternally punished or affected by wrong decisions. At the cost of possibly being misunderstood, disrespected, or disliked, the believer bravely heralds the upcoming danger. He is not “forcing” anyone to do anything. He is just relaying dangers he has learned from God’s Word.
Listen to those delivering the truths from God’s Word. Heed the biblical warnings they are sharing with you. Their cautions are to help you. They may be the last opportunity to prevent you from a nearby eternal disaster.
Many years ago, a merchant lay dying. When the physician who attended him saw there was no chance for him, he thought it would be time to talk about Christ to the dying man.
There are many Christians just like that physician. They wait until a man is just entering the other world, just when the sands of his life are about to run out, and when the death rattle is in their throat before they speak of Christ to the person.
The physician stepped up to the dying merchant and began to speak of Jesus, the beauties of Christianity, and the salvation He has offered to the world. The merchant listened quietly to him and asked, “How long have you known of these things?”
“I have been a Christian since I came from the East,” he replied.
“You have been a Christian so long and have known all this and been in my store daily. You have been in my house, associated with me, knew all these things, and why didn’t you tell me before?”
The doctor went home and retired to rest, but could not sleep. The question from the dying man rang in his ears. He could not explain why he had not spoken before but saw he had neglected his duty to witness. He went back to his dying friend, intending to urge upon him the acceptance of Christ’s salvation, but when he began to speak to him, the merchant only replied in a sad whisper, “Oh, why didn’t you tell me before?”
Oh, my friends, how many of us do the same as the physician? We do not make the eternity of those we meet a priority, and we let too many slip through the cracks into an eternal Hell. If we do not tell them while we have the opportunity, they will continue stumbling in a godless direction.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverb 11:30
“If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he [the watchman] blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. … 6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” Eze. 33:3-6
When God gave His words to Ezekiel, as recorded in Ezekiel 33:1, He first gave the prophet an example so he would understand the importance of the task he was to be given. The parable was about a watchman who was selected and placed in a position to observe any enemy entering the country.
If the guard saw the enemy arriving in the land, he would blow a warning trumpet (Eze. 33:3). The watchman was not responsible if any perished for not heeding the instrument’s blast in either fleeing or facing the enemy; their blood was not “on his hands”. He was not guilty of any deaths (Eze. 33:4) if they occurred.
However, if the lookout saw the enemy coming and did not alert the people with the instrument’s warning sound, the death of any slain would be on his hands. He would be guilty of their demise (Eze. 33:6). His negligence made him accountable (Eze. 33:6) for their shed blood.
God then gave Ezekiel the task to be the nation’s watchman (Eze. 33:7). It was not so much a physical enemy he was to warn his people of, nor was he to man a trumpet and perch high on an observation post. The prophet’s task was to take the warnings God gave him and ensure God’s people heard His words. After Ezekiel delivered the message, it was up to the people what they did with the warnings. The rest of the book’s chapters reveal that Ezekiel fulfilled his commission.
Today, according to God’s Word, there are no longer prophets (I Cor. 13:8), no matter what many claim. All God wants us to know is preserved within the pages of the King James Bible for English-speaking people, so there is no longer a need for one to give us the message from God’s lips, as did Ezekiel.
However, since we have God’s Word, it is still imperative that all hear His message. Every Christian is responsible not only for reading God’s Word and obeying it but also for making sure as many as possible hear God’s warnings. We are to be watchmen warning of a horrifying eternity, telling of the one Way (Jesus) to avoid it, and telling all we can about how God wants us to live. Yet, most Christians have not done what is expected of them. There is blood on many hands!
God’s name is cursed, while most are silent. Our Savour is mocked and ridiculed, yet not much is said. Many live an ungodly life, yet nary a word that would help them leaves few Christians’ lips. Most around us have never trusted Christ as their Saviour and are doomed to eternal torment, yet not a word is offered to rescue them from a horrible future. Too many of today’s watchmen are silent!
Their warning “trumpets” are hushed as many are never warned of God’s words. There is innocent blood on too many hands. Oh, that we would have diligent, bold watchmen who would sound the warnings God wants us to announce. Sound the “trumpet” loudly as danger is close, lives are at stake, and it is up to us to sound the alarm! Keep your hands clean from the blood of others!
“Oh, how many we have encountered could have been saved or have their lives changed if we were bold enough to share the Word of God with them!”
“Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:20
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23
“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” I Cor. 9:22
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” I Cor. 9:19
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15
“If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.” Rom. 11:14
“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” I Tim. 4:16