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Do you ever think about heaven or hell? Our finite minds cannot begin to fully understand the splendor, glory or awesomeness of heaven. Nor can we begin to understand the horror and terror of hell. …
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Do you ever think about heaven or hell? Our finite minds cannot begin to fully understand the splendor, glory or awesomeness of heaven. Nor can we begin to understand the horror and terror of hell. Yet, we should find ourselves thinking about both of these places often. As Christians, we await the moment we enter into the glory of being in heaven. However, we should perhaps think of hell more, and the turmoil, pain and eternity people will spend there. Knowing that should encourage us and challenge us to break the social barriers we have to reach the lost. After all, that is what Jesus did.
Currently, I am preaching through the book of John. This past week I preached from John chapter four about the Samaritan woman at the well. This story is all about crossing social barriers. Jesus was willing to take water from a Samaritan while the disciples were in town getting food prepared by Samaritans. Not to mention that Jesus talked to a Samaritan. Jews didn’t associate with Samaritans.
We have allowed differences in appearance, culture, sexuality, ethnicity and religion to create barriers that stop us from reaching others. If we are going to call ourselves Christians, “little Christ,” then we too, are going to have to be willing to cross the social barriers that we have created to lead others to the love and knowledge of knowing Christ as Lord and Savior.
Penn Jillette, a proclaimed atheist from Penn and Teller, tells a story about an audience member giving him a Bible after a show. Jillette tells this story in a YouTube video called “A Gift of A Bible.” In the video, Jillette praises the guy for sharing his faith and says if you truly believe in an actual heaven and hell you should be telling others about it.
Why are we not? Why are we allowing social barriers that either we or our ancestry have created to stop us from sharing the love of Jesus? We are Christians and we are to imitate Jesus. Jesus didn’t allow social norms to stop him from sharing salvation.
“If you are a Christian and you truly believe in an actual heaven and hell, how much do you have to hate someone not to share your faith with them?” — Penn Jillette.
(Bill Harvison is the pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Powell.)
