John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Some years back we had an elderly lady in our church. She was a school teacher in her employment years. She was also interested in sending out letters with tracts enclosed. She spent many hours writing those letters. Our church did some mail-outs and she would go to the post office and notice how many of those mailings were thrown directly into the garbage. She wondered out loud if it was worth it to try to reach people with the Gospel, since they were not interested anyway. She knew it was worth it but it bothered her to see so many reject the truth. As we look at the facts surrounding the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, it helps us to see the love of God. Jesus Christ knew that His own people, the Jews would reject Him. There were a few like Simeon and Anna who lived with the expectation that they might see the Messiah. His mother, Mary and Joseph also welcomed the fulfilment of the prophecy of the coming Messiah. Zacharias and Elisabeth also were blessed in being associated with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the majority of the people did not welcome Him as the Messiah. They liked the miracles He did. They liked the teaching that He did. However, they did not embrace Him as their Messiah and Saviour. We are commanded to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. We are told to teach all people the truth. Those who submit to the will of God and turn to Him in repentance and are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are to be taught how to walk as true saints. God the Father did not see the sending of His Son as a wasted effort. Jesus Christ did not see His coming as a wasted effort. They knew what was involved in His coming and in His few short years on this earth. Jesus Christ came to lay down His life for the sheep. Yet many of His own nation never accepted Him as the Good Shepherd. We see the love of God in sending His Son even though He knew the poor reception He would receive then and in every generation.
Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Jesus stated that. He knew that not many would receive His gift. This did not discourage Him. He still spent His time teaching the Truth and healing many sick people. We read that He healed 10 lepers at one time and only one came back to thank Him. That one was pronounced “whole” by Jesus Christ. He was blessed with something the other nine needed but did not realize. Jesus wept over Jerusalem as He saw their hard-heartedness. He longed to bless them, but they did not want it. He kept on His journey to the cross. We can look at the efforts we put in to seeking to help people know the truth. We, those who are saved, know it is worth it. God says it is and we are God’s people and we have the love of God in us. We must be motivated by the same love that brought the Lord Jesus Christ to the cross. We cannot allow the devil to discourage us. We are in a war but we are on the winning side. We have a message that is extremely important to all people. We put a short report into our weekly paper. At the close of each article we always remind the readers that our services are essential. The government tried to declare churches non-essential, and for the most part they are non-essential. There are a few churches that know the Lord and that teach the truth. They are essential. They offer man the truth. They point people to the true God. Yes, there will be those who do not want to hear the truth. They will reject the tract you offer them. They will not want to talk about the truth. They will throw away the literature you send them. They will give account for that one day. For those who are saved, we serve the living God. We have a message that all need to hear. We also take the Word of God seriously when He declares that He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Just as that elderly lady was busy sending out letters and tracts, we too need to be busy using every means God gives us to seek to help others to know the truth. Some, and maybe many, will get tired of hearing the truth. I have family members who do not want me to talk to them about the Lord. They want to wallow in their self-pity. That is their choice. Those who are saved cannot force others to be saved. We can do all that God wants us to do and pray that hearts will be broken and souls will be saved. We had a visitor in our church this past Sunday that was there due to an appointment with God. He did not say that but we knew that. We trust that we did our part in giving him the truth. What he does with that will be between him and God. He said he will be back. We are praying he does come back. He needs to be saved. God knows his need better than we do. God wants him to be saved. Thus we press on. We keep writing and preaching and we ask God to make us vessels that are fit for the Master’s use. That is what we need to do. God will honour His word. Pastor Bartel
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