John 3:3,16-18 – In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (NIV)

This morning when I was praying for the salvation of several relatives, as well as many individual friends, a question suddenly popped into my mind.

“Do you really believe My return is imminent, Sharon?” A shiver ran all over me because I knew who the question was coming from. It was from the Lord.

“Yes, Lord,” I whispered. “Many Christians, including me, believe that You will return in our lifetime, and it could be any day. I am so afraid for my relatives and friends who have not committed their lives to You. How can I convince them that they need a Saviour? …”

The answer came swiftly, in just two words: “You can’t!”

I felt my heart sink. But hope was instantly revived as the following words came to me. “But there is something you can do. You can write each of the people who are heavy on your heart a letter explaining the way of salvation, address them, and leave them with your will. Someone will see that they get them after you have come to be with Me. I will make sure of that.”

I didn’t need any further prompting, but went immediately to my computer and began to write.

This was such a vivid encounter that I felt that I needed to share it in case other readers were feeling the same sense of loving desperation that I was.

Prayer: Dear Lord God, we believe that Jesus could return at any moment. Help us to live daily in that expectation, and to be ready at all times to share what we believe when the opportunity presents itself, “keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:16 NIV) We ask this in the awesome, powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sharon Greer
Sandycove Acres, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada