The Number Who Die Lost, Apart from God, Grows Each Day!
“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain,
(The Revelation 21: 10-14 NASB)
[the apostle John was given this vision by God]
and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
having the glory of God.
Her brilliance was like a very costly stone,
as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates,
and at the gates twelve angels;
and names were written on them,
which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones,
and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
We would need to be underneath a rock in today’s world to not hear news about the war raging in the Middle East, of the way Israel is in conflict. As we hear the news, see the reactions of all the people across the world, and as we read the Word of God, we are drawn to the apostle John’s description of The New Jerusalem found in The Revelation.
Historically recorded within the Bible is the conquest of Jericho after the Israelites crossed the Jordan. Currently, I am reading a novel, one of historical fiction, based upon the “Fall of Jericho” found within the first book of the Bible—Genesis.
In this retelling, I am reminded of Rahab’s role during that historical time.
Rahab’s home was located in one of the most unfavorable places—her home was built adjacent to the exterior wall that ran around the perimeter of the city Jericho. Clearly, that was not happenstance, for God already knew of Rahab’s presence in the lineage of His Only Son Jesus.
Our Father already knew how His people would defeat the city Jericho through His Amazing Power!
Today, as we consider the presence of God, also ponder how our heavenly Father touches everything—our past, our present, and our future—
It’s quite easy to BECOME EXCEEDINGLY AMAZED!
Just imagine the amazing brilliance of this heavenly city sent from God!!!
“the holy city, Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.
Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of a crystal-clear jasper.”
&
“It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels;
and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.”
Just imagine the amazing wall with all the gates!!!
Just imagine ALL those gates with the names of Israel’s (Jacob’s) sons written on the gates!!!
&
And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones,
and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
Finally, just imagine that wall covered with stones—TWELVE—and listed on those stones, the names of Jesus’ chosen apostles.
“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:
(The Gospel According to Matthew 10: 2-7 NASB)
The first, Simon, who is called Peter,
and Andrew his brother;
and James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother;
Philip and Bartholomew;
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James the son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus;
Simon the Zealot,
and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.
[Replaced by Matthias after the ascension of Jesus back to heaven, as recorded in
The Acts of the Apostles]
“These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them:
“Do not go in the way of the Gentiles,
and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;
but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as you go, preach, saying,
‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ”
There are truths each child of God must accept—Each day we live.
- The earth’s population grows. &
- Thus, the number who are dying lost—Without Jesus—Grows too!
Jesus Christ gave His apostles specific instructions, telling them where NOT to go & what people NOT to reach & exactly what they SHOULD preach—‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Years ago, I was once a lost person. For the first years of my life, I walked through my days, headed toward my death and my eternal separation from God, headed directly toward hell.
Then Jesus was preached to me by faithful followers of God. &
The tiny seed of the Gospel message took root in my heart and began to grow.
Jesus Himself told His twelve chosen apostles the parable of the tiniest seed—the mustard seed—to reveal the importance of sowing the Gospel in the world of the lost.
“And He said,
(The Gospel According to Mark 4: 30-32 NASB)
“How shall we picture the kingdom of God,
or by what parable shall we present it?
It is like a mustard seed,
which, when sown upon the soil,
though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil,
yet when it is sown,
it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches;
so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR CAN NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.”
- Each Day, the Population Grows, so what are we doing to sow the Gospel?
- Each Day, the Number Who Die Lost Also Grows, so how we are taking the Gospel to them?
- Each Day, those Unwilling to Accept God’s Amazing Grace—Grows Too!
We (God’s children, who belong to God) must continually ask ourselves—
Are we Faithfully & Obediently sharing the Gospel message with those who do not yet know Jesus?
The Bible is clear!
- There is great joy in heaven when just one sinner repents and comes to Christ!
- There is exceeding triumph when one who is lost—is found!
- There is reason for rejoicing when a lost person comes to know Jesus as his Savior!
Maybe you are God’s child (like me) and are wondering: What should I be doing?
“Walk with Jesus” is a melody by Consumed by Fire that reminds us through song just how we are to walk through our days, until the day we are transported to the heavenly city John saw in his vision that we read in The Revelation.
- Help us never forget just exactly where our names are written—in the Book of the Lamb!
- Help us also recall how our names are written—in the Savior’s blood that He shed upon the cross!
- Help us never forget—Today—People We Know Are Dying—Lost!
“And he said to me,
(The Revelation 22: 6-9 NASB)
“These words are faithful and true”;
and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,
sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.
“And behold, I am coming quickly.
Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.
And when I heard and saw,
I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
But he said to me, “Do not do that.
I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets
of those who heed the words of this book.
Worship God.”