Have you ever thought how valuable a human soul is? According to Scripture a human soul’s value is quite high. (Mark 8:36) tells us: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” And did you know that there is a cosmic battle for the eternal destiny of souls and we as Christians play a vital role in determining that destiny.
The Bible makes it clear that each soul will live on into eternity. The only question is where will that soul reside when its owner leaves their physical body through death. Either a person’s soul will spend eternity in the presence of the Lord in the new heaven and new earth or be banished to a literal hell, forever separated from the presence of the Lord.
So, my question to you and to me is what’s our passion level for souls? J. C. Ryle makes a stunning comment about our understanding of the gospel when he shared: “We know but little of true Christianity, if we don’t feel a deep concern about the souls of unconverted people.”1 Oh, for having the heart of missionary David Brainerd who once said: “I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts.”2
When was the last time you did a passion check on your concern for lost souls? According to Charles Spurgeon: “The man who is all aglow with love to Jesus finds little need for amusement. He has no time for trifling. He is in dead earnest to save souls, and establish the truth, and enlarge the kingdom of his Lord.”3 Time is so short for us to be about the business of helping people to say yes to Jesus. I pray that the following three observations will help all of us to make evangelism a priority and a consuming passion in our lives.
First, we must know, deep in our hearts, that we have the only hope and remedy to bridge the gap between sinful man and a holy God. The gospel is the one and only message that the world needs to hear and accept or else mankind is eternally doomed. Actor and Christian, Kirk Cameron paints a perfect picture of how to view the gospel: “If you had the cure to cancer wouldn’t you share it? … You have the cure to death … get out there and share it.”4
Second, as Cameron says: “get out there and share it.” Evangelism is not something optional for the Christian, but part of our very life blood as believers. We have the good news but unless we share it people will perish. Yes, we run the risk by sharing the gospel, that we may be reviled or even persecuted, but, when we consider what is at stake – the eternal destiny of a soul – we need to overcome the negative and consider the great joy we will receive when one gives their heart to Jesus!
And third, while knowing and sharing is important, without fervent prayer for the lost, souls may still be doomed. I like what Andrew Murray says on this point: “The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.”5 To this Billy Graham adds: “Prayer is crucial in evangelism: Only God can change the heart of someone who is in rebellion against Him. No matter how logical our arguments or how fervent our appeals, our words will accomplish nothing unless God’s Spirit prepares the way.”6
While prayer is hard work, it is essential to the opening of hardened hearts and blind eyes to the message of the good news. For you see we are all dead in our sins and trespasses, before we come to Christ, and without the aid of the Holy Spirit, and its convicting power of sin, it is impossible to resurrect the spiritually dead we are witnessing to.
My friends I have learned that whatever we have a passion for we not only prioritize but we pursue it with all of our heart. So, if winning souls to Christ is not your passion, I think it’s time to ask the Holy Spirit to change the values of your heart to echo the words, we shared earlier, from David Brainerd: “I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts.”
1 J. C. Ryle quotes : We know but little of true Christianity, if w…
2 The Lost Agony For Souls 8/17
3 The man who is all aglow … | Christ Our Vision
4 20 Important Quotes about Evangelism • Evangelica Sola
5 The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history. – Grace Quotes
6 45 Billy Graham Quotes to Inspire Your Prayers – prayer coach