Submitted by Sam Nobles
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ's behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God’” (2 Corinthians 5:20 HCSB)
What if you heard this story on the news tonight…
An experienced firefighter was recently charged with grave neglect of duty. Prosecutors maintained that he had abandoned his responsibility that resulted in the needless deaths of a family of five. Eyewitnesses were sickened when they discovered that the reason the firefighter remained locked in the emergency vehicle was simply because he was testing a new, hi-tech, MP3 player which, he maintained, he had bought as a gift for the fire chief. The fire chief immediately distanced himself from the defendant and he dishonorably discharged him from the department.
In a prepared statement, the chief said, “There are no words to describe such a betrayal of those he was sworn to protect.” The lead prosecuting attorney argued that for more than three minutes after arriving on the scene the firefighter wore earphones and listened to a MP3 while a family of five was screaming to be rescued from the sixth floor of a burning building. This terrifying drama took place in full view of the firefighter, as he remained seated in the vehicle, listening to the MP3 player. The defense pleaded no contest but added that the defendant went to great personal sacrifice to purchase the expensive gift for the chief and hoped that the judge would take that into consideration as he passed sentence.
What sentence would you give the firefighter if you were the judge? There are a lot of ways to share our faith in Jesus with others, but if we neglect it altogether then we are no better than the firefighter who sat back and watched people die instead of doing what he was supposed to do.
What sentence did you give the firefighter? Are you honest enough to judge yourself by the same standard? Think about your friends and family that aren’t saved. Think about their fate if you neglect your duty. Jesus was willing to give his life for sinners to be saved; what are you willing to do? To what lengths are you willing to go for people to hear and respond to the gospel? Maybe a better question is, “Are you doing anything at all?”
Scripture to Clam:
“…woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16b HCSB)
