OceanSide church of Christ

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TRUSTING GOD FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE (1)

The Conversion of Lost Souls

Victor M. Eskew

 

            This year the theme for the OceanSide church of Christ is:  “Trusting God for the Impossible.”  This is an absolute essential for every child of God.  Why?  Because there are so many things that come before us and we believe they are impossible to accomplish.  We, however, are not alone in our walk through this life.  We have obeyed the gospel, have been forgiven of our sins, and have been reconciled to the Almighty God of heaven.  He is now on our side.  And, for God, nothing is impossible.  "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26).  Another way of saying this is found in Luke 1:37.  “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”  Think on those two statements:  “All things are possible” and “Nothing shall be impossible.”  If we trust those words from God’s Word, our success is limitless.

            One of the areas we often view as being impossible involves the conversion of lost souls.  We have believed this to such an extent that we seldom talk to anyone about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We have developed a mindset that says:  “If I speak to them, they are not going to believe me anyway.”  We often reason in our minds, saying:  “Those in the world are not interested in the truth of God’s Word.”  We tell ourselves:  “They will not be willing to repent of the sins in which they find themselves.”  We also think:  “They are so deep in their sins and religious error that they will never submit to the command to be baptized for the remission of sins.”  See, we have convinced ourselves that the conversion of lost souls is impossible.

            There are at least three things that we need to trust in order to get us out of this “impossible” mindset.  First, Jesus tells us that the fields are white unto the harvest.  “Say not ye, There are four months, and then cometh the harvest?  behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).  Jesus reminds us that not only are the lost in the world, but there is a vast harvest of lost souls to be reaped.  There are many with good and honest hearts who are in the world, and they will respond to the gospel call when it rings in their ears.  All we have to do is to diligently seek after them.

            Second, we must trust that the Word of God is still powerful and can save the lost.  Isaiah confirms that God’s Word will accomplish all that God has designed for it to do.  “So shall my word be that goeth forth from my mouth:  it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it” (Isa. 55:11).  The writer of Hebrews reminds us of the power of God’s Word in Hebrews 4:12.  “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  The apostle Paul asserts that one of the purposes of God’s Word is to save the lost.  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).  Even though, the Bible looks like every other book, it is not like every other book.  This book comes from God.  It has been instilled with the power of God.  God has designed it to save the lost.  All we have to do it teach it to those lost in sin.

            Third, we must trust that if we sow bountifully, the Lord will reward our labor in a bountiful way.  The psalmist’s words point to this fact.  He writes:  “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:5-6).  If we sow, we will reap.  “But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (II Cor. 9:6).  If we only teach the truth to one or two people, we may not reap anything.  But, if we will teach the truth to hundreds and thousands of people, our building will be filled with new converts. 

            Are we willing to trust God?  The answer to this question will bring either success or failure.  We must trust there is a bountiful harvest out in the world.  We must trust that the preaching of God’s Word will bring salvation to honest and good hearts.  We must trust that our harvest can be extremely abundant if we will sow bountifully.  Again, are we willing to trust God?  Remember, our theme for this year is:  “TRUSTING God for the impossible.”