Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16

 

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.  Deuteronomy 31:21

 

Does this not describe many in our present day Churches?  Perhaps the hardest people to witness to are the ones who once were Christians.  Consider the Old Testament examples of Saul and Solomon, both anointed of God early in their lives.  And both, leaving the faith and embracing unrighteousness, costing them their souls.

 

And consider what the Bible calls impossible:

 

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  Hebrews 6:4-6

 

So are we wasting our time witnessing to those who once were Christians?  I don't know.  But I do know that we serve a merciful God.  And it is written:

 

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.  Matthew 19:25-26

 

So let us not give up hope.

 

Many years ago before I became a Christian I was asked a question.  (Although at the time I thought I was a Christian as I'm sure many unsaved who go to Church, still do.)

 

"Do you know beyond a shadow of any doubt, that you are going to Heaven?"

 

I had a lot of doubt.  I didn't know and I said so.  I said I didn't think it was possible to know.  And then I was told, "If you don't know, then you aren't".

 

That got me thinking and on my way to salvation because you can "know".

 

Knowing comes through praying (talking) to God, asking for His forgiveness for your sins because of the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and accepting His free gift of eternal life.  If you truly believe, which took some time for me to finally accept that this was true, the moment you do, the moment you finally ACCEPT His forgiveness, for there is nothing He will not forgive in your life when you truly repent, God will give you a supernatural "blessed assurance".

 

I had the pleasure of leading groups of fifth-graders to Christ at a couple of summer camps and the way they would describe this "blessed assurance" as a warm feeling inside their chests they never had there before, would bring tears to your eyes.

 

What do you do if they refuse to answer the question?  I have never known a Christian who would not quickly answer a resounding, "YES"!  And Amen!  And Glory to God!

 

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.  I Peter 3:15-16

 

Sadly though, until they can be honest enough with themselves to be honest with you and give you an answer, there is nothing you can do but pray (and fast, as the Lord leads) for them.  They are not open.  For now you must "shake the dust off your feet".

 

 

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  II Timothy 4:2-4

 

 

Shalom,

Ted Porter