As a Christian, sometimes the realities of the fallen world are lost in the distractions of this life. As Epic at Davis is going through evangelism training it is encouraging to see students take action toward learning to share their faith. The training is helpful, but it isn’t enough. A heart for the lost must also be cultivated so we aren’t just sharing our faith out of duty, but out of the truth and out of joy in that truth.
So why is it important then to grieve for the lost. It is not something that we should do or have to do. I can’t tell you that you need to grieve for the lost. Grieving occurs as a response to recognizing the reality that we are living in. Here’s the thing, we grieve for the lost, but we do not pity them. For no one pities one who has died. We grieve for those that died. So it is with the lost, for the lost are dead in their transgressions. We grieve for those we love when they have died; death is understood as a point in time and grieving is a process from that point onward. Over time the process of grieving takes us to a point of acceptance of the current reality.
For us to grieve for the lost is not enough. For the lost who are dead in their transgressions can be reconciled to life through Christ. So our response to those that are dead in their transgression is never pity, not merely grief, but action and intention to share the Gospel which can bring life.
So as we learn to share our faith, take a moment to reflect on what the truth is in regards to spiritual life and death. A couple questions.
1.Why does God grieve?
2.What is the reason for Paul’s anguish and sorrow?
Romans 9:1-5
I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in 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 brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; 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 Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
Mike
awesome blog. i love it Mike.
I think God grieves because He has to send His beloved creation, His beloved people to hell if they do not choose Him, if they do not choose Christ and it kills God that He can not be with His beloved b/c they (we) are sinful and He is holy.
I think Paul’s anguish and sorrow because Paul desires for his brothers, his own race, the people of Israel to be saved, to not perish but to have eternal life.
I admire Paul, where he is so sorrowful and in so much anguish for the lost that he is willing to be cut off from Christ for them so that the lost may be found.