Daily Devotional: Do You Care Enough to Share? - As shared by Pastor-Evangelist, Rev. Don Schink, (C) 2004, 2005
"'Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" Matthew 13:47-50 NIV
This parable as well as the parable of the tares are only found in Matthew and teach the same lesson. Both describe the final judgment day. Both describe that day when there will be the final separation of good and evil. Here we have the picture of a large dragnet, which is dragged from a lake containing a haul of every kind of fish imaginable. When the net is finally pulled to shore, the fish were separated. The good were collected and placed in baskets to be saved. But the fishermen threw out the bad ones. These are those who are unusable, unfit for use. This illustrates how Jesus states that, at the end of this age, the angels will separate the good from the bad.
The warnings of such parables are very clear. We see a clear and urgent warning to each individual to be sure that he or she is among the good fish in the Kingdom, not the bad. There is also a warning to human leaders not to clearly teach the truth that there will be a final separation of the righteous from the wicked ones. That day will come with certainty and the results will be final. There will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth" for all eternity of those who are cast out.
The Bible treats the reality of the horrors of hell as a very serious matter. While pastors in days gone by were known to deal straightforward with this issue, many today fail to do so. Their reasoning is often due to the fact that they don’t want to be offensive. They don’t want those attending their ministry to become upset, perhaps causing them to go elsewhere. They view those old-time preachers as archaic. Some even deny the reality of hell! What part of weeping and gnashing of teeth do we not understand?
What about the very words of Jesus in Mark, chapter 8, where He says, "37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
In Matthew, chapter 8, we read Jesus’ urgent warning, "11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
For those concerned about what others might think of you if they should take offense about what you might share, consider this: What will those same people think of you when they are in absolute agony in the fires of hell, in such misery that is beyond description, where there will be eternal "weeping and gnashing of teeth," that goes on forever? And if you are ashamed to share, we see that Jesus clearly states that He will also be ashamed of such ones when He returns. That certainly sounds like dangerous ground for those who do not share, as they are ashamed to do so.
Are you ashamed of Jesus? Do you steer clear of sharing such truths that you realize may be offensive to those around you? Are you more concerned about what others may think of you or about the eternal destiny of the lost?
Personally, I don’t like to offend people any more than anyone else. However, if my failure to offend means that someone will spend eternity in the agony of the fire of hell, then I will gladly take a chance at offending such ones for the sake of turning such ones’ eternal destiny from hell to heaven! It is a joy and privilege to do so!
In the beginning days of my walk with Christ I remember feeling an urgency to share with others. There certainly was a lack of confidence on my part as to being able to properly share such an urgent message. I knew that I needed to overcome that, as my concern for the lost was much stronger than my lack of ability to do so. Having been taught that the Lord always answers a sincerely seeking heart, I soon realized that as I yielded to Him, the Holy Spirit would empower me to effectively share. In all that I enjoy in life, there is nothing that satisfies me more than sharing Christ with others.
Time is short! Soon we will all stand before God on that great Judgment Day. In Christ, we are safe and secure. Without Him, we are hopelessly lost. So, as believers, we need to sense the urgency of sharing the gospel with others around us. In John 14:6, Jesus said, "6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." So many trust in many things that cannot possibly save their souls. We have the answer. I encourage you to reach out to someone, today, realizing that the Holy Spirit will speak to needy heart as we allow us to work in us and through us as only He can do! Hallelujah!
As I pray today:
Please note:
You are welcome to share this devotional in your local churches, home fellowship Bible studies, etc., but I suggest that you personalize it. You do not have permission to publicize it or to make money from it in any form. May God richly bless you as you minister for Him with rich spiritual rewards of seeing many souls saved and sanctified for all eternity! Please let me know whatever helpful results you may get from this!
With Warm Sincerity in Jesus’ Love,
Rev. Don Schink, Pastor-Evangelist
Sonlight Ministries
Tijeras, NM
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