Are You Coming?
A phone call I overheard at a funeral home.
Recently, a dear friend of mine unexpectedly finished his race (2 Timothy 4:7) and is now in heaven. I was blessed with the privilege of preaching at his funeral. While I was greeting and chatting with people during the visitation, I overheard someone having a rather frantic conversation on her mobile phone. The snippet I heard was along the lines of, “Well, are you coming? The service is about to start.”
Those two short sentences made me think. There would be no “do-over” for my friend’s funeral. Either that person would come, or they would never be able to attend my friend’s funeral. That person had had plenty of time to arrange to be there, and now the service was imminent. Why wasn’t that person there?
The caller spoke with concern and intensity (i.e., fervor). She knew it was now or never. She understood that this service wasn’t important for my friend; rather, it was important for the person on the other end of her phone. Salvation is the same way.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. - Romans 12:11
Salvation isn’t for Jesus. It isn’t for believers who have fallen asleep (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Salvation is for the person on the call - “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Romans 10:13)”
Just as the woman on the phone at my friend’s funeral, we who are alive in Christ Jesus should be concerned and speak with fervor to people who are lost; we understand the gravity of their condition. There is no “do-over.” If a person doesn’t respond to God’s call, he or she will, for all eternity, miss the joy of eternal life (John 3:16). Instead, they will suffer forever (Mark 9:47-48).
This snippet of a conversation has changed me. Perhaps the juxtaposition of my friend’s spiritual preparation with that of someone who had plenty of time but hadn’t prepared galvanized my resolve to share the Good News of Jesus with concern and intensity. I pray that for you as well.
Remember: Live for Jesus. That’s what matters.