Multitudes throughout history have missed their opportunity to respond to the gospel in a positive way. Today, we will look at some situations where well-meaning people missed Jesus. Where are you today? Where are the multitudes? Are they missing Jesus?
Today, we live in a world where people are their own god. They live according to how they feel. They do what is right in their own eyes. In Proverbs 16:25, this was the heart of many, and it is even more prevalent today. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” This is speaking of eternal death. These people have decided to use situational ethics. Whatever is best for them is right. Through ignorance, they have bought the lie that they can get to heaven on their own merit. Yet, Jesus addresses this with the rich young ruler in Mark 10:18 “And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Jesus asks this question to see if the young man recognizes Him as God in the flesh. However, he did not. The young man proudly told Jesus that he had kept all the commandments from my youth. He was feeling pretty good about gaining eternal life until Jesus gave him the last command. Mark 10:21 “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” He missed Jesus because of his love for money. All the good things he had done by keeping the commandments were not enough.
Some miss Jesus because they love the praise of men. They love the feeling of being socially acceptable. They desire the admiration of others. The idea of social rejection is incomprehensible to them. In John 12:42-43 we find rulers choosing social status over a relationship with Jesus “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” They miss Him because of what others think about them.
The third reason that is heartbreaking to me is that people miss Jesus because they follow the wrong religion. Many around the world seek God and believe they are seeking Him correctly, but they are not doing it according to the Bible. Some religions teach that our good works are the way to obtain salvation. That is why some of the most accommodating people in the world are those in false religions. They are working their way to Heaven. In speaking to the church at Ephesus, Paul taught them that it was not by their works. It is a gift, and nothing we can do is good enough on our own to gain eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Our work for the Lord is essential in proving our love for Jesus. James teaches us if our faith is genuine, we will have good works. This is the evidence of our salvation. However, many work thinking this is gaining them salvation. The Bible teaches that we do not work for our salvation, but we work from our salvation. We work to see others come to know Christ because He loves them just as much as He loves me. We work because we are saved.
James 2:18-20 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
While Jesus died for all men, all men must accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior to inherit eternal life. There is only one way to God, and that is through His Son. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” There are no exceptions! Are you missing Jesus because you have preconceived wrong ideas about how to get to Heaven? If so, now is the time to seek Him the right way. It is not too late. Do not allow your pride or prejudice to stand in your way of getting to Heaven. If you are a Christian and you know of people who think they are going to Heaven but are not seeking Him according to the Bible, take time to pray for them and share the truth with them.
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