Unaware

Some people don't even realize they need Him. 

Like two people on a boat enjoying the sun-drenched day. There's no apparent reason for them to suspect they are in danger. The waters are calm. Their boats are stocked with food and supplies that they provided for themselves. Only the sound of the rippling water and the chirping birds can be heard. They aren't looking to be rescued or warned because there doesn't seem to be any apparent reason for them to even be concerned. But what they don't know is that a terrible storm is in the forecast. They haven't been tuning in to any broadcasts so they are completely ignorant to the precarious situation they are actually in. So they must be told.

And for many, that is where we must start. We must warn them what is in the forecast. We must tell them they can not lean on what their eyes are telling them and it would be in their very best interest if they trusted our words and heeded our caution. We must tell them the Gospel - that Jesus loves us so much that He came to earth and died on a cross for our sins. They must hear it plainly that if they do not turn to God and ask for the forgiveness of their sins, accepting Jesus as their Savior, they will be facing eternal damnation, without God, in deep darkness. 

And it's important for us not to sugar-coat the warning. We can't pretend it's not as bad as it really is. Folks - it's bad! Terrifyingly bad! But we are not using scare tactics. We are merely communicating the facts. There is nothing more kind in this world than telling people the truth. If you were in the path of danger, wouldn't you want someone telling you the truth so you could dodge it?

But we must remember that it is their decision to make. We can not make people listen. We can not force them to come with us. But we urge them with everything we've got. And we ask God to open their ears and soften their hearts so that they may hear the warning and move toward safety.  

The question for us today is this: Which one are you in this scenario?

Are you the one in the boat enjoying the beautiful day, unaware of the danger you are in? Are you hearing the warnings and taking them seriously - making deliberate decisions to come under God's shelter? My friend, if this is you, don't play games with your life. You have more to lose if you don't heed the warning, than if you do.

Or are you the one in the rescue boat that has been sent out to sound the alarm to all the boats on the water? What an important job you have! And how thankful the boaters that heed your warning will be when they see how your words literally made the difference between life and death for them!