As I made my way to the front of the Church, I wondered what I would say to the congregation. I didn’t want them to hear from me, but from GOD. I’m not comfortable speaking in front of crowds, so the LORD would have to take care of that problem too.
As I stepped behind the pulpit, I immediately noticed the floor was damaged near the altar and realized it was serious. Without hesitation I ran down and prodded the area with my shoe. The carpet gave way and a big hole opened up in the floor. I jumped back and yelled for everyone to get away! The edge of the hole was jagged and I couldn’t even see the bottom, so the first priority was to keep people from getting too close. I grabbed chairs from the front row and blocked off the area. Our Pastor took a couple men to get material to cover up the hole.
I asked Brother Al to help keep people away. I told him “make sure nobody gets close to the hole, even if you have to push them back. We don’t want anyone to get seriously injured or killed.” He said “I understand.”
I called Brother David and asked him to tell everyone in the building “Stay far away from that hole, you could get badly hurt or even killed. Look them in the eye and make sure they understand the danger.” He said “I understand” and did exactly what I asked. Brother David returned within 10 minutes and reassured me everyone understood how dangerous it was. He was about to go help with the repairs, when I asked, “Did you make sure they know JESUS as their Savior?” He paused, with a confused look on his face. I said, “The danger of falling in that hole is nothing in comparison to dying without knowing JESUS.” He said “I understand” and immediately began making sure everyone knows JESUS as their Savior.
We don’t hesitate to tell people about a dangerous situation. We don’t want anyone to get hurt or possibly die because we didn’t tell them. We will even push them away to keep them safe. For some reason we are reluctant to tell those same people how close they are to an eternity in Hell. No place is safe from death. People die in Churches, at schools, in their own home and are in constant danger on the streets and highways. Even our complicated bodies can quit without warning. Though we take precautions and want to live a long life, death can reach us anywhere and at anytime. We have to overcome death, and we can’t do that on our own!
Thankfully “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). JESUS died on the cross to pay for our sins, so the end of this life can be the beginning of an everlasting life without fear and suffering if we accept Him. That will make death something to look forward to! “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory” (1 Cor 15:55 KJV)?
Now you know the danger, you must sound the alarm! That is GOD’s message for you. Tell people the danger they are in and that GOD loves them and made a way for them to be saved!
Wayne Lance