In heaven and in hell there are no secrets. You and the host of heaven will know everyone who had a hand in saving you, both as the sower of the gospel seed that moved you along the path to salvation and the person who reaped your soul for the kingdom of heaven. You’ll also know everyone you helped to save. Rarely does anyone get saved the first time they hear the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Usually it takes hearing the gospel seed sown 25-30 times before a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. God is generous and the Bible assures us that both the sower and the reaper of a human soul to heaven will be rewarded equally on the last day. God is reciprocal so the opposite is also true. God never made anyone with the express purpose of sending them to hell. All creatures made by God have the same chance at heaven. Nonbelievers who wind up in hell will be acutely aware of all their missed opportunities to be saved unto eternal life in heaven. Those in hell will know which of their family members, friends and acquaintances were believers who failed to witness the gospel of Christ to them. It makes no difference whether they would have listened or not. A nonbeliever in hell will always blame their plight on anyone who knew the truth of God and failed to witness the gospel of Christ to them.
Matthew 4:4 – (Jesus) – It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Romans 4:4 – Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 10:17 – So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The fact that nonbelievers weren’t given every opportunity to be saved by a witness for Christ means that for all eternity the condemned person will be in pain and agony in the fires of hell and he won’t take any responsibility for being in hell. It’s always someone else’s fault. He’ll continually blame and curse those who failed to witness Christ to them. Part of the eternal agony of the damned is knowing that they could have had salvation unto eternal life in heaven for the asking. The nonbelievers in hell will point their finger at all those Christians who failed to give them their testimony about God and they’ll declare for all eternity, “He never told us!” God will do his part by directing all nonbelievers into the path of believers when their heart is ready, or vice versa, so they can receive a witness for Christ. It’s the duty of every Christian to share the gospel message of Christ with the nonbelievers God guides to us. God gives every person multiple chances at salvation so it’s not all on us to save any one person to heaven. What would happen if we had the last opportunity to save nonbelievers from hell and we chickened out? Would God choose to appoint another witness for Christ to take our place or would they be lost to hell forever? Think about the prospect of somebody going to hell because of us. Now imagine a hundred people in hell that you could have saved if you’d witnessed to them and they’re all pointing a fingers at you and yelling forevermore, “He never told us!” about God’s saving grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That would be terrible! It’s far better for you to face rejection now on earth for sharing the gospel of Christ and receive glory from God in heaven than it is to be cursed forever by those lost souls in hell because you failed to tell them about God’s saving grace when you had the chance.
1 Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
Matthew 13:23 – (Jesus) – But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Acts 1:8 – (Jesus) – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
John 20:21 – So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
My greatest fear is not dying because I know I’m going to Jesus when I die. My greatest fear is displeasing God by not sharing my witness for Christ with everyone that God intended for me to witness to. On the last day believers in heaven should be filled with joy so why is it God says he’ll wipe away our tears in heaven? Those tears will not come because of our sins which God has already forgiven. Our tears in heaven will flow when God reveals to us all those people we could have saved to heaven if we had only shared our witness for Christ with them as God commanded. What we could have accomplished on earth won’t be revealed until we get to heaven. Everyone in heaven will have regrets about their life on earth and we’ll all shed tears for our missed opportunities. We can’t save everyone but we are commanded by God to save some. We can save one if we put our mind to it. We can save many if we have a plan to leverage our witness for Christ and we pray for God’s help. Without God we can do nothing but with Christ we can do all things.
2 Timothy 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Gentile).
Ephesians 5:15-16 – See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Matthew 22:14 – (Jesus) – For many are called, but few are chosen.
My eternal spirit came from God and I’m going back to God when I die. Our time on earth is our “testing time” to determine whether we’ll serve God or Satan. I chose to serve God at the age of twelve when I was baptized. Everyone has to make a choice and not choosing is a choice for Satan. We’re all aliens on the earth here but a short time and we shouldn’t waste a minute of our time on frivolous things. Our primary mission from God is to witness the gospel message of Jesus Christ to all who will listen in order to save lost souls for the kingdom of heaven. The spiritually aware can find this commandment throughout the Bible. It’s the only way we can truly please the God who made us. We find a good example of this command to witness for Christ in Colossians 4:3-6:
Colossians 4:3-6 – Meanwhile praying for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Colossians 4:3 – Meanwhile praying for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.
Note: Scripture tells us nobody is saved unless God first calls them. If you aren’t abiding in God’s word and praying to God on a daily basis you aren’t ready to effectively witness for Christ. When you are ready to speak the mystery of Christ to a nonbeliever God will bring them across your path so you can witness to them. For example, God sent Peter to witness to the Roman centurion Cornelius and then later God sent Phillip to witness to the eunuch from Ethiopia. We must be a worthy vessel in order for the master to use us to save others. Those who serve God are slaves of Christ and giving our testimony of Jesus Christ is not an option as true believers. It is a commandment of God for which we’ll all be judged on the last day.
Colossians 4:4 – That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Note: Being saved doesn’t make you capable of being an effective witness for Christ. God commands all believers to not only read their Bible daily but also to study God’s word for knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Once you know the truth of God intimately you can share your witness with passion and conviction. You’ll then be able to answer any question the nonbeliever may have. I have a written witness outline I developed based on what is called the “Roman road” to salvation. I no longer need to use it but it’s there if I want to refer to it. I have also created written proofs of God, Jesus and the Bible I can use depending on what questions the nonbeliever has about God. You cannot “do” the work of God until you know what to do just like you can’t be a doctor without first going to medical school. Without training and preparation in your chosen field (i.e., witnessing for Christ) it’s like the blind leading the blind like Jesus says in the gospels.
Colossians 4:5 – Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
Note: The Bible is God’s wisdom and scripture says those who save lost souls for the kingdom of heaven are wise. So when you walk in wisdom you’re studying the Bible, praying to God, and witnessing for Christ. Believers are inside the family of God and nonbelievers are those people who are outside of God’s family. Believers are those already saved so we’re obviously being told by God to witness to nonbelievers. The dictionary says the word redeem means to save someone from sin, error or evil. Several verses in the Bible urge believers to redeem their time here on earth wisely because our time here is short. Our treasure in heaven will be based primarily on how many people we save for God. Witnessing for Christ is the only thing we’ll ever do that has eternal consequences. Everything else we do in life is meaningless and this is declared by none other than King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. Go read the book of Ecclesiastes for confirmation.
Colossians 4:6 – Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one.
Note: Grace means polite good will so when you witness for Christ your tone should convey that. God says we should witness with meekness and fear (showing awe, reverence and respect for God). Your witness for Christ should reflect the knowledge, understanding and wisdom gained from studying God’s word. If you do the two things mentioned above you’ll be able to adequately answer any question about God posed by a nonbeliever looking for answers about God. Before you witness for Christ always say a little prayer to God to ask for his help in reaching a nonbeliever so that the gospel message falls on good ground.
Daniel 12:3 – And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Proverbs 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
Proverbs 14:25 – A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
I don’t know how many Christian believers are actively witnessing for Christ in obedience to the commandment of God. I do know it’s a relatively small number of the total number of people who claim to be Christians. Supposedly there are 2.5 billion Christian worldwide. We know there are 1.5 billion Catholics and a great many of them think they’re saved but they aren’t because a lot of them are depending on the church to save them instead of God. The leaders of the Catholic church discourage witnessing for Christ because they want salvation to be achieved only through the Catholic church and their priests so that they have power over their flock and their money. Have you ever seen or heard about any Catholic witnessing for Christ? I know I haven’t and I pay attention to those things. Of the remaining one billion Protestant Christians only about 300,000 belong to evangelical churches that make witnessing for Christ a tenet of the church. Only 10% of evangelicals who attend church regularly have read their Bible in its entirety, and fewer than that have actually taken the time to study the Bible for knowledge, understanding and wisdom. You can’t witness for Christ effectively if you aren’t in fellowship with God and that comes by prayer and abiding in God’s word. You can’t save someone if you don’t know what to say and that only comes through study and preparation. A witness for Christ must know their Bible well enough to locate appropriate scriptures and answer questions about God. A nonbeliever will tune you out very quickly if you’re not knowledgeable about God.
Ephesians 1:4-5 – Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Luke 12:8-9 – (Jesus) – Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
Matthew 10:38 – (Jesus) – And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
I’m being very generous when I say there are probably no more than 30,000 Christians in the world who are actively sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ in a meaningful way. So we have 30,000 true believers trying to save eight billion people on earth. I’m not crazy about the odds. God wasn’t kidding when he says his harvest field is great (the whole world) and the workers are few. We just didn’t know how few workers there are. That’s why every day millions of nonbelievers are dying and going straight to hell for the lack of a witness for Christ. Now do you understand my sense of urgency to witness for Christ and why I ask others to join me? That’s why every believer should be trying to save “one more for Jesus” every day. There are so few of us to reach so many! I’ve found writing my Christian blog and distributing Christian tracts to be the easiest, cheapest and best ways to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the most people.
Ephesians 6:19 – And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 – For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 – But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
James 5:20 – He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death (eternal death in hell).
Keep in mind that there are a lot of people who claim to be members of an evangelical church but only go to church once in a while which further reduces the number of believers actually witnessing for Christ. There are many evangelical Christians who study the Bible and are saved through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but when it comes right down to it they lack the moral courage to actually share their testimony about Jesus. This further reduces the number of active witnesses for Christ. These people are cowards. They are gutless. They can’t handle the potential rejection, the scorn, the persecution that comes with witnessing for Christ. Jesus says we’re to pick up his cross and follow him if we have the strength, determination and courage to do so. Do you have what it takes to follow Christ? My mantra every day is to save “one more for Jesus” by my passive witnessing for Christ through my Christian tract ministry and my Christian blog. You would be wise to contemplate how you can best serve God and then take action when you decide what you should do. Just do something!
Matthew 9:37-38 – (Jesus) – The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
John 6:44 – (Jesus) – No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Luke 6:39 – (Jesus) – Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?
1 Peter 1:15-16 – But as He who calls you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
And finally, you have those evangelical Christians who know how to witness for Christ and do share their testimony of Christ one on one when the opportunity arises. The only thing wrong with that is the opportunities to personally witness for Christ are few and far between so potentially only a few people can or will be saved this way. These believers won’t go out of their way to witness for Christ outside of their comfort zone. They are lazy Christians. God wants believers to be proactive and fight for him tooth and nail. Get out there among nonbelievers and mix it up. Witness to all who will listen. Expect rejection and be ready to counter it. Remember that God will glorify you when you are rejected and persecuted. God wants you to work his harvest field alongside him to save souls for the kingdom of heaven because you know a secret that they desperately need (the gospel of Christ). That’s the main reason God leaves us on earth after our salvation. That’s why Jesus gave believers the Great Commission before he ascended back to heaven; which is to share the gospel of Christ with all nations and all people. Our life is meaningless apart from a right relationship with God. A right relationship with God requires that we continue to share the gospel message of Jesus Christ with all nonbelievers everywhere.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 – For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Corinthians 2:6 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
1 Peter 1:17 – And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.
Revelation 21:4 – And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
When Jesus recruited Simon and Andrew to be his disciples he merely said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Jesus wasn’t just talking to the twelve; the original disciples. As believers we’re all disciples of Jesus Christ and God was speaking to every Christian believer in every age. All believers are commanded to become fishers of men and that requires regular prayer and a thorough knowledge of God’s word. According to 2 Corinthians 5:18, if you’re a believer God has already signed you up for his heavenly fishing tournament. Of course you’ll have to learn what bait you should use and where to fish but that comes with experience. You’ll also have to throw your hook in the water once in a while otherwise what’s the point of being saved and remaining on earth in the first place? Believers saving nonbelievers is all part of God’s salvation plan for man. That’s how heaven is populated and God is glorified. That’s how believers earn their treasures in heaven. You have a choice. You can get in the game of life and be an effective witness for Christ or you can do nothing and ride the bench in heaven for all eternity. I want to make a difference by saving lost souls. The good thing is you get to keep what you catch forever and there’s no limit to how many fish (men) you catch. In heaven God will honor all those fishermen who have effectively witnessed for Jesus Christ by showering them with glory, honor and riches beyond their wildest imagination.
2 Corinthians 5:18 – Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation (by witnessing Christ).
Mark 1:17 – (Jesus) – Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.
Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Matthew 7:13-14 – (Jesus) – Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
In summary, we were made by the hands of God and put here on earth for a purpose. Don’t let the devil cloud your judgment and lead you away from the truth of God. We don’t have to guess why we’re here because God tells us in his word. We are to glorify God by our life of good works. The number one good work we do for God is sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ with all endurance in order to save lost souls to the kingdom of God. First of all, if you don’t accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior you’re going to hell. It’s as simple as that. Secondly, if you don’t witness for Christ and help save lost souls for the kingdom of heaven as commanded by the Lord you’re missing your calling from God. While you get to heaven through faith in Jesus Christ you earn treasures in heaven based on the number of souls you save. If you save nobody to heaven you’ll have all your good works burned up on the last day and you’ll be on the bottom rung of heaven, much like a private in the Army. Those of us who save many for heaven will be like generals in the army. Once you earn your rank in heaven that’s it. There’s no chance of a promotion in heaven. Whatever rank you start with in heaven you’ll retain for all eternity. We’re talking about a trillion billion years being a day in eternity. Will you be happy just being a private in heaven forever or would you prefer to be a general in heaven and rule with Christ? I was actually a private in the U. S. Army for three years in Germany back in the early 1970’s and I can tell you from personal experience that being a private sucked. Everybody and their dog tells you what to do. You have my testimony. The choice is totally up to you. I plan on being a general this time around. Now you can no longer tell Jesus Christ on the last day, when you stand before the bema judgment seat of Christ, that you didn’t know what you were supposed to do with your life because I have told you and Jesus will remember my words and your actions.
Philippians 3:20 – For our citizenship is in heaven, for which we also wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:9 – God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:24 – Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
Joshua 24:15 – (Joshua to the Israelites) – And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Matthew 5:16 – (Jesus) – Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 21:22 – (Jesus) – And whatever things you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.
Matthew 28:19 – (Jesus) – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.