“Like a bride
Waiting for her groom
We’ll be a church
Ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing
Even so come
Lord Jesus come..”

I grew up singing songs about heaven.  Lots of them.  Songs of Jesus’ return were sung in praise and worship of the King of Kings who came to earth to die for the sins of man, and would one day return again to usher in a new kingdom.  A heavenly one.

And we sing.  We sing as though we can’t wait for Jesus to return, when in reality, every single one of us knows someone who will fall at the feet of Jesus–

TOO LATE.

It’s a hard pill to swallow.

If we truly believe that there is only ONE WAY to heaven…

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”  John 14:6 

And if we believe hell is real…

“The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:10

 ^“Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14-15

…then, even though we are anxious to see the One who gave His life so that we might be saved,

there are still so many who need to hear.

“ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?  And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”  Romans 10:13-15

I teach sixth graders on Wednesday nights.  This week I was trying to help them to see that having knowledge is good, but wisdom that comes from God is more than just knowing facts about Him–it is taking what we know and learning from it.  Applying it.  Using it.

Letting it change us.

Having Bible knowledge does nothing if it does not move us to action.

When was the last time you received some really good news, only to keep it to yourself?  Can’t think of a time that you weren’t just dying to share your news?  Me either.

Sobering to think, but we have The Greatest News, and others are dying while we neglect to share it.  I know.  It’s hard.  It’s awkward.

When I shared with these sixth graders recently that “one day you will have a friend, or a family member that will ask you about God.  They might ask you about what you believe, or if you are religious, and you need to be prepared to answer.  Saying, ‘I believe in God.’ isn’t enough.  A lot of people will say they believe in God.  The Bible says that even demons know that God is real.” [James 2:19]

The question you will need to ask is,

“‘What do you know about Jesus?’.”

And I shared the John 14:6 verse.

I barely got the sentence out before one of my boys was raising his hand.

“That just happened to me today!”

“I overheard a classmate saying that he was Hindu and another classmate said he didn’t have any religion.”

Sixth grade, y’all.  What these kids are thinking about and talking about is spiritually significant.  They know there are questions about life and death, heaven and hell that need answers.  They need answers.

And most likely, some of their parents are asking the same questions.  Especially when tragic world events unfold around them and they don’t have answers for them.  We sing and sometimes just wish that Jesus would come and take us all away…

…but He hasn’t yet.  Perhaps because in His mercy He is giving one more person a chance to turn to Him in repentance.

I am just praying that we take every opportunity to share the truth about some of life’s most important answers.  I want to be equipped and ready, don’t you?  There has only ever been one answer to life’s questions and it’s found in the God of the Bible.  Faith comes from hearing.  Seeing.  Believing. Trusting.  Turning.

“How can they believe without hearing about Him?” Romans 10:14

I’m ready for Jesus to return, but there are so many that aren’t.  I will sing the song, and I will anxiously await His return, but when I’m singing, I will be thinking of those who still need Him to come into their lives through salvation.

“Lord Jesus, come.  Come make us aware of those around us that don’t know you.  Fill our hearts with your compassion for the lost, give wisdom where we need it and boldness to speak, and faith to believe that You will use us to make a difference.”  Amen.