WHO CARES?  

Scripture for the day: 2 Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering (patient) toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Thought for the day: It all began in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden (well, really it began long before that, but we won't go quite that far back in time).  Eve had succumbed to the temptation of that forbidden fruit and Adam had joined her in her sin.  They'd both doubted their Creator and had fallen from grace.  Now, as the Lord strolled through the garden, they hid in the bushes for fear of the One they'd disobeyed.  And God said, "Adam!  Adam, where are you?"  And He's been seeking lost souls ever since.   And this seeking has been active on his part; the Lord isn't just sitting on his magnificent throne waiting for people to figure out their need and come running to him.  Paul said in Romans 3:11-12 "There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.  They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one."  And again he says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  In other words, not only have all sinned, no one is looking for God, not really.  God is making the first move in every person's life because of His great love.
     Now there are many who believe that our God is too loving to send anyone to hell.  In a sense that's true; when people die and go off into a Godless eternity, they do so by their own volition., they do so in spite of all God will do to keep them from doing so.  Remember, Jesus said, "I have come to seek and to save that which was lost."  When people end up in hell, they do so over the love of God, over the pleadings of God, over the warnings of God, over the prevenient grace of the Holy Spirit.  When people go to hell, they will do so in spite of the Word of God, in spite of the Cross of Calvary and in spite of the prayers and pleadings of friends and loved ones who know the way.  God has done everything possible to keep mankind out of hell.  He has provided sermons by the truckload, churches on nearly every corner of the land, missionaries to carry the message throughout the world, and technologies beyond imagination to reach those outside the kingdom with the gospel; the Good News.  If, in spite of all these attempts to save, they will not repent of their sins, there is no choice left but to consign them to hell.
     God is good.  He is so good He "sent His only Son that whoever will believe on Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  It doesn't get any "gooder" than that!  The problem is; there are a lot of people out there who could benefit eternally from the Good News, but no one's telling them.  Many are beaten down by Satan, overwhelmed by the cares and concerns of this world, discouraged by their attempts to do better on their own and feeling as if no one cares because they've been neglected, often by the people of God.  Even David said as much in Psalm 142:4 "[I] look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul."  But I want you to know; I want everyone to know, God cares, and will always care.  And there are people who care, whether the sinner knows it or not.  Think for a moment, those of you who have found the Lord - how many do you suppose have prayed for you over the years?  In heaven we'll know and I think we'll be surprised at the number who have brought our name before the throne at one time or another.
     Because God is love and God is good, God is calling.  And He's continued calling all down through the ages.  Someone once said there are over 1,900 instances of invitation to repentance contained in the Bible (no, I didn't look them all up and count - some things you just have to take on faith).  What that means is that the Lord is not willing that any should go to hell.  Listen to his plea: "As I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live" (Ezekiel 33:11).  "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).  "Everyone who thirsts; come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat.  Yes, come, buy wine and mild without money and without price.  Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good.  And let your soul delight itself in abundance" (Isaiah 55:1-2).
     God cares.  His heart breaks for the lost and dying of this world.  Now, if you're a Christian today (and I'm assuming the vast majority who read this are), you may be saying, "Well, I'm already saved; what has this to do with me?"  Just this - go share it with someone who isn't already a member of the family of God.
Now go take on your world.  -  Bill