Ocean Of Pain

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him – 1 John 2:15

I was asked recently where I stand on being in the world and not of the world. We see in the verse above that loving the world is fatal…

It is an eternal decision.

Love the world or have the love of the Father
(Jesus is the love of the Father)

So it is either…
Love the world or love Jesus

Thats easy… Jesus! Without Him, I have nothing.

So how do we not love the world but still live in it and spread the surpassing worth of Jesus Christ to the spiritually dead?

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
- John 17:15-18

Let me break it down…

15- Stay in the world. Stay away from sin and Satan.
16- Jesus’s and our citizenship is in Heaven.
17- Grow them in the bible, grow them in Me (Jesus).
18- I (Jesus) was sent into the world to save it, now I send them.

We have to be in the world but not of the world. Because lost people act like lost people. Most times, they do not go to church. Why would they, they do not love God. So our mission is simple.

Infiltrate the darkness and be light.

When it comes to someones eternity… do not play safe! Forget about what someone will think about you! Your friend, family member, co-worker, teammate, etc. will go to Hell if they do not believe in Jesus.

Would you really prefer to have the identity of “squeaky clean” while someone you know is tormented in Hell… night and day … without end.

NO

This is not a game
Eternity is not a game…
With me the gloves are off

As long as your not clothing yourself in sin, defaming Christ, or His church… PREACH THE GOSPEL WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART.

Jesus hung with sinners and tax collectors and His disciples.
He spent time with sinners and saints. It is oh so necessary for us to do likewise. If you find yourself hanging out with only believers, you are on you way to being a very fine Pharisee. Someone who Jesus disaproved of the most!

I tell you with tears, PREACH THE GOSPEL WITH ALL YOUR HEART!

Jimmy Needham has a song he wrote to his wife. I know it is not in the light of seeking and saving the lost but read it…

“If pain is the ocean that you’re swimming in, If I can’t pull you out, I’m divin’ in”

That is BEAUTIFUL. To a wife or not to a wife, that song is still describing a person. People lost or saved still feel pain. Deep pain. Especially lost people. That is all they know. They are constantly getting let down by sinful desires that never satisfy them. They live a life of frustration. They have NO JESUS!

It is a terrible life. They are all swimming in an ocean of pain. Love them. Never back down. Never leave. Never run out on them. Be faithful. Imitate Christ!

“If I can’t pull you out, I’m divin’ in”

Please consider my argument.

And to all who read this, when life knocks you on your butt, i say this to you …

I love you, “If I can’t pull you out, I’m divin’ in”