Is it Worth the Risk?

How much courage do you have in the face of risk?

What types of risks are you willing to take? I remember in 8^th grade, my health teacher, Mrs. Morrison, was discussing the idea that we take risks even by getting out of bed in the morning. We drive to school or work and we put faith in the yellow lines on the road that will keep us safe from harm. We risk our lives at some level or another every day.

As Christians, we all have friends and relatives who are of a different belief system than our own. We might be cousins, neighbors, friends, or siblings with a Mormon (see also), a Jehovah’s Witness, a Buddhist, or a Jew, and often we are very close to them. We love them, we care for them and we think about their concept of reality and truth. At the same time, we know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father but through Him (John 14:6), and that they do not have the real, biblical Jesus (1 John 5:11-12).

The thought of this can be saddening, angering and even terrifying. This is something we have to think about if we really care for them. What is more important, that we go through life as if nothing is wrong, or that we have serious discussions about what happens when we die with our loved ones? Is it better that we have a fun relationship with them now and they end up leaving earth not knowing who Jesus is, or that they don’t like us as much in the beginning of our agenda to show them Jesus and they end up in eternity with us and with Jesus?

Paul says in Romans 9:1-5, “I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.”

Paul seems to agree that his friends and family are a priority over even himself. He was willing to stay out of heaven if it meant that his fellow Israelites were able to know and trust in Jesus. He was deeply saddened for good reason, as we should also be for our friends and relatives who do not know Jesus.

Think about this for a moment. The Bible tells believers to “Contend for the faith” (Jude 3). Does this exclude those who are close to us? Certainly not. God is patient with us and desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9)! It seems that if they are close to us, it should give us all the more reason to discuss the things of eternal life with them with more frequency, especially if we know that they are lost. The fact that we have loved ones who are heading to hell for eternity should, through our love, sadness, anger, and terror, motivate us to talk with them about Jesus and where they will spend eternity.

People avoid or prevent talking to their friends and loved ones about Jesus because they do not see an immediate urgency to share Jesus. They live in the moment. People who live in the moment are not thinking about their future. They are not seeing that they exist for eternity. Colossians 3:1-2 says, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Do you see that? “Set your minds on things that are above…” In other words, think about the things which are permanent. This life on earth is temporary, and if we see our lives as even semi-permanent, we will not see the need to be urgent in sharing Jesus with unbelievers.

This is one reason we study apologetics. Apologetics helps us know the answers when we are confronted with tough questions concerning faith and theology. Apologetics gives us confidence in sharing our faith. Trust me, we need all we can get! Think about it, are you going to want to engage in conversations that you know nothing about? Apologetics helps a person conquer his or her own fears in sharing the gospels. On top of all of this, apologetics is truth seeking. If Islam were the one true religion, then we would be Muslims. The fact is, Christianity is true, and this is why we are Christians.

Talk with your friends, your family members, your neighbors about the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are commissioned by Him to do this (Matthew 28:19). Paul even reasons in Romans 10:14-15, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Bring the Good News to them. It is not too late at this point. You do not want to leave the planet with regret. Contend for the faith (Jude 3). The point is, it is worth the cost of your relationship (perhaps the worst situation!) with your friend or family member that they come to know Jesus and trust in Him alone (the best situation!). Don’t be afraid to lose your relationship with them, but instead, be concerned that they will not be with you in eternity.

For more, see my book on Mormonism:

https://www.amazon.com/Mormonism-Refuting-Fundamental-Apologetics-Latter-Day/dp/1662885377/

Written by Nace Howell through the grace of the Lord Jesus

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