"How To Walk Wisely In The World” Series

As Paul speaks about the Christian’s walk in this world, he tells us we need to walk wisely. We do this, he says, by taking advantage of every opportunity to give a verbal witness for Jesus. Why should witnessing be a priority for believers as we are living in this world? Two reasons:

Reason #1: Our opportunity to see people come to Christ is now!

There’s a non-biblical school of thought that says eventually everyone will be saved. But its origin is from the devil himself, as this false teaching had it beginning in the Garden of Eden, when the serpent told Eve, “You surely will not die!” (Genesis 3:4 NASB).

“Universalism has never been widely accepted by those who take the Scriptures seriously. Obviously if this teaching were true, there would be no pressing reason to fulfill the Great Commission or to urge

unbelievers to accept Christ in this life.” - Dr. Erwin Lutzer

Instead, the Bible teaches that what lies beyond this life is not another opportunity to be saved, but the judgment of God.

“It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” - Hebrews 9:27 (NASB)

After death comes the judgment of God. So now is the time to prepare myself and make sure I am ready to face God at the judgment. And the only way to make sure I am ready to face God is to trust Jesus as my Savior and Lord before that day; which means I must do so today.

“That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be - if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins.” - John 8:24 (Amplified)

“For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation.” - 1 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)

“How shall we escape [appropriate retribution] if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation [as is now offered to us, letting it drift past us forever]?” - Hebrews 2:3 (Amplified)

Mark it down, heaven is a real place filled with real people who placed their faith in Christ as their real Savior before they passed from this life to the next; and hell is also a real place filled with real people who refused to place their faith in Christ as their real Savior before they passed from this life to the next.

Reason #2: Our obligation to see people come to Christ is now!

When I say, “Great Commission” Matthew 28:19-20 comes to mind:

 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

But this command of Christ is found all over Scripture:

“And then (Jesus) told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’” - Mark 16:15 (NLT)

“(Jesus) told them, “’This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” - Luke 24:46-47 (NIV)

 “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’” - John 20:21 (NLT)

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8b (NIV)

“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith . . .” - Philemon 6a (NIV)

“You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” - 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

How many times should God tell us something before we realize its importance? Only once. Yet multiple times we are told that we should be active in telling others about Jesus. Now is the time for us to obey.

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” - Acts 20:24 (NLT)

“The glory of God, and, as our only means to glorifying Him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life.” - C.S. Lewis

It’s been said, “The only thing we won’t be able to do in heaven is see others come to Christ.” Why? Because now is the time to fulfill our obligation to Christ and obey His command to tell others about Him.