A few days ago, I had a conversation with a man
who lives in our apartment complex.
A little while into our conversation I asked him if thought about what would happen after he died?
He was somewhat taken back but managed to share with me that He wasn't worried. Naturally I asked him why he wasn't worried.
He said, "That he and God had an 'arrangement' and that he would be OK."
My heart broke. Not broke like when your best girl dumps you. More like grieved because of the ignorance and absolute foolishness in his response.
I grieved because he really believed that he and God really did have an arrangement.
I tried to share with my friend why that was a very dangerous position to maintain but we were interrupted. My friend left.
I continue to pray for him. I will continue to share the gospel. I will continue to hope that God will be gracious and through His Holy Spirit apply the atoning work of Christ on the cross to his heart.
For the record, God does not make 'arrangements' with sinners. The only arrangement God made was with His Son, Jesus the Christ. He gave a people to His Son knowing His Son would be obedient, even unto death. Christ became sin and died as God required and by doing do appeased God the Father.
If there is an arrangement at all between God and any sinner it would be:
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."(John 3:14-15, NKJV)
A little while into our conversation I asked him if thought about what would happen after he died?
He was somewhat taken back but managed to share with me that He wasn't worried. Naturally I asked him why he wasn't worried.
He said, "That he and God had an 'arrangement' and that he would be OK."
My heart broke. Not broke like when your best girl dumps you. More like grieved because of the ignorance and absolute foolishness in his response.
I grieved because he really believed that he and God really did have an arrangement.
I tried to share with my friend why that was a very dangerous position to maintain but we were interrupted. My friend left.
I continue to pray for him. I will continue to share the gospel. I will continue to hope that God will be gracious and through His Holy Spirit apply the atoning work of Christ on the cross to his heart.
For the record, God does not make 'arrangements' with sinners. The only arrangement God made was with His Son, Jesus the Christ. He gave a people to His Son knowing His Son would be obedient, even unto death. Christ became sin and died as God required and by doing do appeased God the Father.
If there is an arrangement at all between God and any sinner it would be:
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."(John 3:14-15, NKJV)
Excellently written Gregg.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the week-end.
Yvonne.
Well put!
ReplyDeleteYvonne - Thank you very much. You words are always and encouragement.
ReplyDeleteIan- Thanks to you also!
True Gregg, do you ever wonder what it must have been like for Lot and his family in Sodom and Gomorrah? I wonder what he said to his neighbors...and they must not have listened to anything he might have told them (?) ... the Bible calls him "righteous Lot".
ReplyDeleteI hope the Lord pierced the man's conscience as he was speaking with you. Perhaps?
Susan - It should have been miserable for Lot. Since we aren't told we don't know. However, it seems he dealt with it and like where he lived. It does amaze me that he is called that, always have.
ReplyDelete