The Flip Side of the Coin

Heads you win tails you lose! Who hasn't flipped a coin and used that phrase a time or two in their lives? The Bible says in Proverbs 11:30 "...he that winneth souls is wise." My desire is to be a soul winner. That is the reason (really the only reason) my wife Shirley and I moved to Sedona. Listen to what Jesus said when asked in Luke 13:23-24, "...Lord, are there few that be saved? ...he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." The Lord Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 7:13-14, "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." The answer is obvious, not all will be saved. Jesus said that the way that leads to life is the straight gate and not many will find it.

In Acts 2:47 the Bible says that "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." I asked the church in Tigard Oregon while I was still pastoring there, "if there are such as should be saved, are there then such that shouldn't be saved?" Is there a flip side to the coin? Are some going to be saved while others are going to be lost? There is an interesting scripture found in 2nd Corinthians 2:15-16 where Apostle Paul said, "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?" To them that perish? Who is sufficient for these things indeed!

I thought God was love! Surely He wouldn't let any perish. The Bible says in Luke 13:1-5 "There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." 

We also know that in 2nd Peter 3:9 the Bible says "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The Lord wants us to come to repentance. God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel and said to Israel in Ezekiel 18:31, "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" And again in Ezekiel 33:11, "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"  The question remains, why will you die and not rather repent?

God is longsuffering to us, not willing that we perish but He wants, He commands us to repent. (see Acts 17:30) He will save you but He requires repentance. If you have never bowed your knee to the Lord Jesus in humble repentance, flip the coin over and be saved. Don't think you can go on in your own way and at judgment, God will somehow understand and overlook your sin. Do what Peter said in Acts 2:38 on the Day of Pentecost  "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."  God has promised you salvation and is calling you to Himself today.