The writer of Hebrews asks the question, "How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Heb. 2:3). The prevailing question about this verse has always been, "Why are there so many who neglect so great a salvation?" Why are people so unconcerned about their eternal destiny? Are they too wrapped up in worldly pursuits to consider what our Creator has revealed through His Word? We know there are many who do not pursue salvation because they think their religion will save them. Over a billion Catholics believe their baptism and the sacraments will save them. Over a billion Muslims believe they simply ask Allah to forgive their sins and they are forgiven. These religions have won the allegiance of their followers in the same way Satan won the allegiance of Adam and Eve - with a fatal lie!
People are unconcerned about "so great a salvation" because they do not know the reality of almighty God's divine justice towards sin or the sinner's helpless and hopeless condition. As the eternal Creator of everything, God is holy and requires perfect obedience to His Law. Man has broken God's Law, and the consequence for his sin is death and separation from God. People need to know that man can do nothing to save himself and that divine justice must be satisfied. This is why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as a merciful Lord who purchased full atonement for all who will turn to Him in repentance and faith.
If people continue to be indifferent to God's offer of "so great a salvation," there will be no escape on the day of judgment. God's Word explains why: "Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof." (Proverbs 1:24, 28-30). How utterly sobering are these words of almighty God! Yet, He is fully glorified before angels and men not only in His infinite mercy and grace, but also in the unrestrained fury of His holy justice.
Do you have compassion for those who live in the constant danger of such eternal misery and punishment? No matter how pious, religious, devout or moral they may be, if they have not been born of God (John 3:3), they will experience God's sin-avenging wrath and judgment. They will be thrown into a lake of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50). They will discover the eternal fire of hell is kindled with the anger of almighty God (Deut. 32:22). There will be no intermission or relief, for they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev. 20:10, 15).
It was for this reason the Lord Jesus came to this earth to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). When He ascended into heaven, He passed the baton to the church. We have been given the awesome responsibility to seek after those who will never seek after the true God (Rom. 3:11). Can there be any higher calling than warning people of the fatal sin disease they inherited from Adam? Can there be any greater act of love than offering them the only cure that can save them from this fatal disease? I know of none! We, who have been graciously entrusted with the glorious Gospel of God's saving grace, should share it faithfully. Let us make sure our Lord's great commission has not become our great omission (Mat. 28:18-20). Let us engage people with the Gospel throughout the day. If we only have a few minutes to spend with someone, we can offer them a Gospel tract that reveals the greatest news they will ever hear about the greatest gift they could ever receive from the greatest Man who ever lived. Let us sow the imperishable seed of God's Word and pray it will find fertile soil in their hearts.
As we engage lost people in conversations about "so great a salvation," we must encourage them to believe the inspired Word of God instead of the words of uninspired men. That is because the Bible is so amazing! It brings truth where there is deception, knowledge where there is ignorance, confidence where there is doubt, certainty where there is confusion, light where there is darkness, and life where there is death. Instead of trusting what man says God says, we can go directly to what God says.
The greatest attack on the Christian faith today is the attack on the purity and exclusivity of the Gospel. Recently, Janet Mefferd, host of two nationally syndicated daily Christian talk shows airing on Bott Radio Network and American Family Radio, interviewed Mike about his new book Contending for the Gospel. Listen to the very informative and enlightening interview here.