“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2nd Cor. 6:2b)
It must be their decision, they cannot be cajoled or enticed with any human words or ideologies, the truths of the Scriptures should be sufficient for them to make a decision.
I personally believe, and I am sure the Scriptures verify this in many places, that they should be in a proper state of mind. A highly emotional state caused by external circumstances, a loss of some sort, a sickness whether upon themselves or one they love, any number of incidences or circumstances that at the present time have removed them from their normal state of mind is not the time to suggest to them about making a life-changing, eternal decision.
You cannot fully count the cost in emotionally distraught situations.
“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19)
Here is why so many, as we have come to call it, fall away from the faith, they never were born-again in the first place. The cares of the world were too much to bear, there was no place left to go, and some well-intentioned believer swooped in with the message of salvation, got them to repeat some words, declared them to be born-again, and then wondered some time later why they did not remain on the path.
The Muslims, some factions of them at least, say that if you speak a certain set of words, then you are now of their faith, and many who serve the Lord, or at least profess to, have done the same to thousands, if not more.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
“There you go, you said the right words, now, let’s get you baptized just to make sure, and you will have yourself a key to heaven.”
And we wonder why they fall away.
It is sad how so many will attempt to bring the message of salvation to those who are in the throws of heartaches, in physical or emotional pain, in suffering, and expect them to have made a decision when they are not in their normal state of mind, when deductive reasoning skills and cognizant thought has left them in that season. Yet here is where so many seek for the lost. Why do you think so many pastors, in part, visit hospitals?
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb. 11:6)
Should we visit the sick, the suffering? Console those who are weeping and in sorrow? Of course. But is it wise to ask them to make this most eternal of decisions when counting the cost is not mentioned? When all we are doing is telling them of healing? What if we told them that where they are is exactly where the Lord wants them, in fact, He put them in that position just so we could have an opportunity to speak to them about Him? Do you think they will listen then?
Many of us were in some kind of a pit of despair when He called us, how many of us who took His hand then still hold His hand today?
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2nd Cor. 13:5)
We grieve with those that are grieving, we remind those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ in those times of the promises, of the joy that awaits them. For the lost, we offer the truths of that same hope if they will come to Him, repent and call upon Him. Just make sure that through their tears, through their pain and suffering they hear the entire truth.
They must know the cost.
Sometimes it’s best just to plant seeds in those moments, then come back later and water them.
