Compassion for the Lost

Yesterday we started a series of devotionals I am calling "The Seven Cs of Soul Winning."  Today I want to point you to the second "C"—compassion.  In Mark 16:16 Jesus said,

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

Now, condemned is a pretty soft word in the English language.  I actually like the King James Version, where it says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Condemned or damned, it means eternally separated from God with no opportunity of rescue or retrieval.  Forever lost.  Think about it!

Do you recall the story Jesus told of the rich man who died?  It ought to send a shudder through the heart of even the most brazen sinner.

Jesus tells us that the rich man died and was in torment, in flame.  Jesus goes on to say that the rich man lifted up his eyes, and begged for mercy.  But no mercy came, even as it says in Revelation 14:11, "The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever."

I know it is not a popular subject in the Church to talk about hell, but Jesus talked more about hell than He did about heaven.  It is a very real place.  If we would consider just for a moment the end of the man or woman who rejects Christ, it ought to cause our hearts to be stirred with compassion.

When was the last time you and I shed a tear over lost humanity?  When was the last time you and I were truly broken with the things that break the heart of God?

Our compassion for the lost ought to move us to do all we can to share Christ with them! 

~Bayless Conley~