In Steve Cordle’s, A Jesus-Shaped Life, he writes about having an urgency regarding those who do not yet believe in nor follow Jesus Christ as their Lord. I think that sense of urgency should extend to all whether they believe in Jesus or not. 

If we think all we have to do is believe that God is alive, we are in trouble. James 2:17-19 says, “So faith by itself if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.”

I do not think we should come to God just to escape hell but we should remember that we all have a very narrow window within which to come to faith and to learn to live like Jesus. That window is open only as long as we live. Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ are spiritually dead and believers who are not living for Jesus are not any better off. Faith requires action and the time to act is now.

2 Cor. 6:1-2 says, “As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, ‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’ See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!”

For those who do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, now is the time to believe. For those of us who are believers, now is the time to live as though we believe. Now is the time to spread the Word of hope, give to those in need, visit those who are sick and in prison, and live our lives for God.

Pastor Don