The Good News and Urgency
The Gospel is summed up in John 3:16-17:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Why do Christians call their Theology “Good News” yet they seem adamant in influencing others to be saved? What is the motivation of the Christian who thinks the world will collapse if others do not accept Christ and this Gospel or Good News as they call it.
Answering both pagans as well as other Christian sects, the urgency is that one should heed the call when it comes because the drawing of the Holy Ghost may never happen again. One cannot be “Saved” unless the Holy Spirit draws them. The could person die after denying the call of the Holy Ghost and never again be called to Christ. This is part of the urgency. Anyone can be saved but anyone can deny the call.
The urgency has to do with knowing that God saves and gives but humans must be receptive. Christians can pray and ask the Lord to soften hearts. This is why you hear of Christians praying for people. Parents can be influenced by children. God sometimes moves quicker when Christians pray. Sometimes God won’t move until He is asked. Thus a reason as to why Christians pray for souls to be saved. Prayer and repentance influences The Most High’s actions toward time and creation.
Here is an analogy…
God receives the prayers and actions of mankind from his position in eternity. Eternity is out of the confines of time and space. The Most High who is seated in eternity can see a prayer in the past, present, or future. We pray in the present and He is able to change the events that occur in the future when we do repent, when we do pray. How is this so? Because, God is not confined to time nor to space. He even said in the Bible that a time is coming and that if He doesn’t cut the time short then even his people will be deceived and lost. This clarifies that a plan is set in place but God is able to change, lengthen, or shorten the plan according to His Will. This displays the ability of God who is able to reach into time and space and even change past, present, or future. He is able. He is God. Just don’t be asking Him to roll back time to fix your past mess-ups. *wink* Learn from what occurred in the past and help others not to make the same bad choices. The trials help us to grow.
The Good News is that Whosoever may come but the urgency is that you better come when He calls because there may never be another chance to hear and feel the call.
Jeremy Brown -- March 2003