The Pit
When I was a teenager, I attended a church service led by a ministry team comprised of two college-aged fellows both of whom were quasi-friends of mine. The dramatic and musical presentations were quite effective though they would have been seen as rudimentary by today’s standards. The duo was widely used in youth services and revivals at the time.
I vividly remember one sketch featuring high school friends united in fun but separated in faith. As the story went, the believing friend never attempted to present the gospel or influence his lost buddy toward salvation in any way during their acquaintance.
As it turned out, the unbelieving perished without Christ and entered eternity without hope. The Christian friend testified that he was haunted by the voice of his friend pleading from the pit and asking why he never shared the good news of Christ.
Moving, indeed.
Although the presentation did not initiate my thoughts, it helped solidify within me the desire to not fail my lost friends by withholding from them the treasure of Christ. We don’t take God’s gift and Jesus’ sacrifice seriously enough.
It may be that there are those tormented by living memories of friends lost for eternity. Probably, as a matter of fact. It may even be that recurrent dreams torment the concerned. I have heard of actual cases. There is one biblical example.
Jesus contrasted the earthly lives and eternal destinies of two men- one wealthy, one poor. The poor man’s name was Lazarus while the rich man remains anonymous. Lazarus begged at the gate of the rich man’s estate until he died with the rich man meeting his demise soon afterward. Old Testament terminology is used to describe Lazarus’ rest in heaven and the rich man’s torment.
The rich man pled for relief and relatives, but Abraham responded that the gulf between the eternities was impassable and provisions for the salvation of the living was to be found through God’s existing revelation of Himself. We are given enough information to convert in this life, and fates are sealed after death.
I said I was impressed by the presentation but that it was not the origination of my concern. For some reason, I feel as if I have always known emotionally, as well as, intellectually the desperation of the lost. At least as far back as I’ve been able to know anything at all. I have also felt that the majority are not impressed with the imperative of the gospel message and witness to any transformative degree.
Failure in the ministry of reconciliation has eternal ramifications. While it is rightly asserted that all our acts are of everlasting import, not all our acts directly affect the final destination of immortal souls. The point of Christ’s redemptive work concerns eternity.
In heaven, iniquities will be forgotten, but not so in hell. Everlasting remorse beyond redress will be the constant companion of the damned. And they will remember you and me.
By God’s enabling and my actions, may none of my acquaintances scream my name from the abyss.
Sterl
