A question which is often posed to the believer by a largely-unbelieving world is
“But what if you’re wrong?”
When one is a new believer, this question DOES give cause for a pause.
After all–as one is told so often by those in the churches–such a question should be treated as an OPPORTUNITY. As an opportunity to win a soul to the LORD, or so the church stories go, one should take his time and choose his words carefully.
This puts the onus on the one who was asked the question.
And so, the new believer pores over Scripture to find the EXACTLY RIGHT thing to say when asked this question.
BUT as time passes, the new believer becomes more knowledgeable and realizes a few things about such a question.
“But what if you’re wrong?”
1- The new believer’s biggest opportunity when asked this question is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the one asking the question.
And that is pretty much ALL of the believer’s duty in a nutshell.
The gospel is then either a) believed and the hearer saved for eternity; OR much more commonly, b) disbelieved and the hearer condemns himself to eternal torment. The believer sharing the gospel has NO hand in this decision–other than to present the gospel of Jesus Christ for the hearer to make a decision.
The believer may STRONGLY desire that the person hearing the gospel makes the right choice and chooses life. BUT, the believer has no other input into that choice other than presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And praying.
“But what if you’re wrong?”
2- As the believer becomes more familiar with the world, the ways of the world and being so much different from the rest of the world, he realizes that the question (“But what if you’re wrong?”) is occasionally asked as a question; i.e., the person asking the question is interested in hearing an answer.
More often, the question (“But what if you’re wrong?”) is given as an ANSWER; as something which hopefully will cause the believer to question his faith; as a method to get the believer to shut up; of ending the current conversation instead of starting a new one.
The longer a believer has been around, the more he realizes that the whole world is deceived by Satan.
“And the great dragon…that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world”
–Revelation 12:9
The more knowledgeable believer also knows that deception is a SPIRITUAL problem. As such, it CANNOT be combated by information, more effective communication techniques, more research, clever words, logic, or any of the other supposed remedies provided by the world.
The best weapon the believer has in fighting deception is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and let the “power of God unto salvation” do its work.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
Or not.
IF a man believes he has some sort of power to win souls using what are, essentially, sales techniques: he is himself deceived.
“But what if you’re wrong?”
3- Finally, the believer understands that the question itself is easily answered–IF an answer was the actual goal of the question.
“But what if you’re wrong?”
IF the believer is wrong, then the world would not change for the non-believer. He would continue to prance along the wide way to destruction.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
–Matthew 7:13-14
While dancing to his doom, the non-believer would be blissfully unaware of his eternal judgment.
IF the believer is wrong, then life would not change for the believer, either.
However, so many ask this question, not as a question, but as a statement, and are not sincerely looking for an answer. For most, they believe they ALREADY possess all of the answers they need to live a productive and happy life.
In short, IF the believer was wrong–and so many believe beforehand that he IS wrong–NOTHING WOULD LIKELY CHANGE for ANYONE–particularly, the one asking the question.
The smug often unknowingly determine their future by their absolute conviction that the world is where one should place one’s faith for the future.
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
–James 4:4
DOES the reader feel that what he might say–other than the gospel of Jesus Christ–to an unbeliever is very important?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: December 6-8, 2019.]
MORE
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Power of Eternal Life
- TESTIMONY: The Believer’s Task
- TESTIMONY: The Churches Vs. the Bible
- Man Struggles Against God
- Believers of End Times Deception: Looking for Approval?
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- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- Tender Mercies of the Lord: Will Not Always Be Available
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Photo by George Becker from Pexels.com
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Filed under: END TIMES PREPARATION, Eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ, Good News/Gospel, but what if you're wrong?