“Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.” (Acts 8:22-23 NLT)
These stern words to Simon the sorcerer came from the Apostle Peter following Simon’s request to receive the Holy Spirit’s power by paying Peter money. Then, upon hearing Peter’s words, he begged Peter to pray for him so those things wouldn’t happen to him. My sense is we won’t find brother Simon in heaven. It’s obvious his concern centered on him, not on Jesus.
A lot of people are like Simon today. They don’t realize the foulness of their sin until they see something about Christianity that is appealing, so they pursue it in the energy of the flesh, never stopping to consider if they could have what Christ offers without Christ, the Cross served no purpose. David Jeremiah reminds us: “The stench of sin is worse than all the foul odors of earth. When we dishonor the commands of Scripture, it’s a stench rising to heaven.”
Ideally, the foul odor of our lives will point us to Jesus, but often, until the stench of our own sin becomes too much to bear, we’ll continue down our path to hell without a thought of changing. Like the baby’s diaper, we don’t usually change it until it stinks or gives us evidence of its need to be changed.
Too often the beauty and majesty of Jesus fades in the light of our own “goodness.” When we’re full of ourselves there’s no room left for Jesus. Max Lucado makes an interesting observation when he writes: “We can never be cleansed until we confess we are dirty.” We can’t be forgiven for a sin for which we haven’t asked forgiveness.
The tragedy is, we often wait too long before we realize our perilous plight. I think of the 5 bridesmaids from Matthew 25 who didn’t have enough oil for their lamps, but while they went to purchase more, the bridegroom came, and the door was shut. Jesus’ words haunt us as He said: “Believe Me, I don’t know you!”
The point of the parable is simple – BE PREPARED! If someone isn’t prepared when they die or Jesus comes, for them it’s too late. Are YOU prepared? If your heart would stop and your life would end this moment, are you certain you’d have a home in heaven with the Lord Jesus. The only reason any of us can have that certainty is Jesus.
There’s nothing about any of us that deserves heaven except Him, so, to believe we’re good enough because of all the good we do, all the money we give, all the compassion we show, or anything else is to let our lamps run out of oil. There’s no hope of heaven without Jesus and the only way to know we’re right with Him is through recognizing the stench of our sin and seeking the Savior who is Christ the Lord.
If you’re certain of your right standing with Christ because of your faith in Him alone, then please, be attentive to those around you who are dying in their sin but believing they’re going to heaven because of their own goodness. And, yes, I understand it’s sometimes a thin line to cross when someone believes they’re right with God, but like Simon the sorcerer, they’re clearly not.
The Lord will help you find a way to let them know, but more importantly, make sure you’re not approaching them under the cloak of your own self-righteousness. Allow the Lord to search your heart first before you seek to help guide anyone else in the cleansing of their heart.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
I’m
Walking With Jesus 