"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades". One is luck, the other deadly.
I've been thinking about how often I've told people about the passing of my friend who took her own life a few years ago. I keep telling everyone she was 'so close' to accepting the Lord. 'Close' doesn't count. There is no such thing as being 'almost saved'. If someone hasn't made a decision to follow the Lord they are no closer then the one who has never heard. If they die tomorrow their knowledge without personal acceptance doesn't put them 'close' to heaven - their destination remains hell.
Jesus is the Light. St. Augustine said, "It is of no advantage to be near the light...if the eyes are closed." Satan blinds the minds of those who are perishing (2 Cor.4:3-4). Only God can create the sense of need for Himself in a person and as Oswald Chambers says, "The only thing that can possibly satisfy the need is what created the need." God alone creates and satisfies.
Then, for those of us who claim to know Him - why do we live 'mostly free'? Ann Mainse writes that "Jesus doesn't give us freedom in doses". If the Son has set you free, you are free "through and through" John 8:36 (The Message).
I need to remove words like 'close', 'almost', and 'mostly' from my vocabulary when it comes to talking about salvation issues. We either are perishing or are saved, and we can live completely free.
Don't be playing with horseshoes and hand grenades. We can be free indeed.
1 comment:
Amen.
This is what I try to tell my no-yet-there family and friends. But a wise man from church told me, it is not my job to save. That is the Holy Spirit's job. My job is to continue to plant the seeds.
P.S. Happy Anniversary! (I was at Lysa's blog & saw your comment there)
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