Some Things to Consider

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I AM with you always, to the very end of the age.”—Matthew 28:16-20

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”—Acts 1:8

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:  That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.—Romans 10:8-9

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, Who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.—1 Timothy1:1-6

Consider the following scenario…

What if Jesus visited you in a dream one night and said something similar to what I've provided below?

Dave…I need to tell you something.  You’ve had it all wrong, my young friend.  I didn’t come just to save you personally.  While saving "you" was a part of the plan, my purposes in coming and dying went far beyond that.  FAR beyond that!!  I came to save everyone, Dave.  And I mean EVERYONE!!  Every single one of you!!  Even though I do see and know you as an individual and love you deeply, you are intented to be one among many, many children in my Father’s house.  You will be in heaven someday, yes, but I cannot say when, for it is up to you and to all your siblings.  The new heaven and new earth are reserved for all people—ALL people, Dave.  And no one will dwell there unless everyone is there.  And I mean EVERYONE.  For if everyone confesses with one mouth that I AM Lord and believes with one heart that I was raised from the dead, then and only then will all of you be saved.

How would you respond to such a dream?  What if your “personal” salvation was, in fact, dependent upon everyone else on earth coming to Jesus in repentance? 

Would you live differently?  I would. 

Would the topics of your conversation with others change?  Mine would.

I know the theological arguments against the above “dream” scenario, so please don’t call or e-mail me about the errors in my thinking, okay?  The scenario above is purely hypothetical (for argument's sake), and the question I place before you is, quite simply, this:  What if the above were true and your eternal destiny was based on everyone else needing to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus first? 

If the above really were true, would you live differently?  Would the fulfilling of the Great Commission of Jesus take a much greater preeminence in your life?

These are just some questions I felt compelled to ask.  Not just of you, but of myself as well.

For those of you still stumbling over the “errant” theology of the above and feel quite confident and self-secured in your knowledge that you will, of course, go to heaven and that those who don’t know Jesus will simply just burn in hell for all eternity with no hope of redemption, I have just one thing to ask of you, and that's this:  Are you okay with that?

If you are, may God have pity on your tortured soul.

And mine as well.

I can say the words, "I'm not okay with it," all I want, but if my life (as I live it, which is all that really matters)  says otherwise, and it really seems as though it does and has been, I'm thinking that some things need to change.  Perhaps drastically.  May God, in deed, have mercy on my soul and enable me to change the way I've been living.

Daver

Note:  The above is, I know, a very difficult word to digest.  May God speak to you in this moment about how He would have you to be a better neighbor to your unsaved friends and family members.  Peace to you.