Snatch Em from the Fire!

It is rather interesting at times to hear the excuses given to me when I encourage fellow believers to go so far as to reach right into the fires of hell to retrieve those who are on the fringe of falling in. A common excuse  goes something like this: “Well, that guy is so bad (horrible, disgusting, perverted, whatever may be), he deserves just what he is gonna get. He deserves to burn in hell!” Now, to be honest, there are people out there that have done such hideous crimes against others, I have felt the same way myself. But, contrary to all our excuses, GOD’s Word encourages us to do otherwise.

Jude writes these words: “But you, dear friends, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on some who doubt; save others by snatching [them] from the fire; on others have mercy in fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 1:20-23 HCSB). It is important to realize that sin is sin. No matter how horrendous or hideous another individual’s sins may be, the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse and purify all. Your sin, my sin, another individual’s sin—all put Jesus on the cross.

So, what should we be doing? Initially, we should be building ourselves up in the faith by studying the Word and hanging with other godly, god-fearing individuals; praying in the Spirit and allowing the Spirit to pray through us for us; maintaining a loving relationship with GOD; and expecting GOD’s abundant mercy both for us and others  for eternity. As we commit ourselves to these things, we will find ourselves driven from within to witness and share Christ regardless of the offense of others.

Out of this lifestyle will flow a mercy for others; a reaching into the fires of hell to snatch out those who are falling in; and a hatred for anything that has been defiled by the flesh. Godliness is not something that just happens to an individual one day. Godliness, holiness, purity are all grown into by individuals who are truly sold-out to Christ and to a lifestyle mirroring His. The more an individual puts into living a godly life, the more that individual’s life will become God-like. The more God-like we become, the more we realize that it is GOD’s desire that all men come to know Him and accept Jesus as their personal Savior.

People are falling into hell at an incredible rate. GOD has called you and I to snatch em out before its too late. How will you respond?