12/13/2018
Do you have an intolerance for those who are yet to accept Jesus as their savior? Do you walk a wide circle around those who still live in sin and treat them as if they were lepers; having nothing to do with them? If you have found the Love of Jesus Christ, and it has changed your life, don’t horde Him... share the love He had for you while you were yet a sinner with those around you. Even though you don’t find yourself to be a preacher... teach the gospel.
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
Jude 1:20-23 ESV
If you visit a hospital, and you walk around in it a bit, you will undoubtedly pass a room that is labeled as “Isolation Room”. These rooms contain patients that have illnesses that are airborne in nature; in other words they are easily spread from one person to the next by simply coughing, sneezing, or even breathing the same air. When you walk by these rooms I’ll bet you are tempted to hold your breath, or walk on the other side of the hallway. Sometimes we treat sinners like this. We quarantine them, and walk as far from them as we can get, but if you stop and watch that isolation room at the hospital you will see nurses and doctors going in and out of it. Granted, they have on gowns, gloves, masks, and other such protective clothing, but they are still treating those inside who have these illnesses. Are they fearful? Yes! Are they careful? Yes! But they don’t treat these people by simply slipping food and medicine under the door, and hoping they have enough strength to heal themselves. They risk coming into contact with infection to save a life.
We should approach sinners in the same fashion. We should protect ourselves by praying in the Holy Spirit, and putting on the armor of God’s Word, but we should never avoid going into the room marked “Isolation Room”; don’t lose your love for sinners. Don’t simply yell “Jesus Can Save You!”, or throw a tract at them, and hope they get the message as you take a wide path around them. Be a physician to those who need to be healed; even when that illness is sin... especially when that illness is sin.
“And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."”
Mark 2:16-17 ESV
Without the proper medicine, which is God’s Word and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, sinners will never be saved; they will never receive this inoculation against sin... the saving Grace of God will never flow from Jesus into them, and what will we say to the Lord on the day of judgement? More importantly, what will Jesus say to us regarding our lack of concern, and failure to show God’s love and do His will?
“"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
So, do not treat sinners with indignation, and stray away from them in an attempt to selfishly guard your own righteousness. Put on the armor of God, and wrestle for the very souls of those who are lost. Remember that God is your strong tower, and goes before you into battle, take strength in your faith and His Word... then wrestle like your life depends on it.
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:11-12 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, and the example He set for us regarding the healing of sin amongst those who are sick and dying as a result of it. I thank you Holy Father for teaching me to become a healer, for giving me your love and concern for the sick in sin, and anointing me as I put on your armor, and your robes of righteousness, so that I can enter the places where sin has infected souls. I pray in the Holy Spirit that you will strengthen me, embolden me with courage, and give me your wisdom so that I can confidently offer the life of your Son to those who are suffering there. I pray that these patients who are feverish with spiritual sickness and depravity, will accept your precious serum of life... the Gospel of Christ. Great are you my God who so loved the world that you gave your only begotten Son that it might be saved! Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, who never abandons me, and sees through the sin that suffocates each of us to find the treasure within... a treasure worth such a painful and precious sacrifice to redeem. Praised be your name Holy Father, and let my voice always shout in prayer... “Glory to God in the Highest! Glory to God Who Healed my Soul that was sick with Sin!”
Rich Forbes