A continual stream of prodigal sons and daughters leave our congregations year after year. Like the father in Jesus’ story, we watch longing for their return. I have often asked the Lord if I have contributed to their obvious lack of fear for the Lord. If I have, I am truly sorry.
For those who will listen, I beg:
“Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6).
The first ‘Repentance’ verse I remember memorising was Luke 13:3— “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Jesus’ sense of urgency did not escape me. I too, along with those talking to Jesus about those who had met disastrous ends, have the same need to get myself right with God—To ‘repent or perish!’
The Lord’s church, as we know it, will disappear into obscurity if we fail to confront the world with the reality of Jesus’ identity and purpose. He is the Messiah who came in love to save a world already condemned in its sin. He told those who refused to believe in him:
“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).
Too many inside and outside of the church reason in their hearts that since nothing has happened, then nothing will happen. Have the “scoffers” that Peter wrote about won the day? He prophesied of them:
They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4).
The faithful look to the hope of the Kingdom. Thus, “the gates of Hades will not overcome the church” (Matthew 16:18), that is guaranteed! And Jesus also guarantees salvation for those who “do the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Like Ananias, we must not lose that sense of urgency. He told Paul:
“Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16).
John Staiger
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