Logical, rational discourse based in the Scriptures with spiritual discernment for profitableness to both the hearer and the speaker. Or we could just talk about the weather and the big news that was on the television last night.
Guess which one is the most predominant all across this planet, and I could have used any analogy, from farm product prices to the mask mandates, to the rain in India at the moment, any subject, any topic whatsoever, as long as it does not fit into the opening statement of this letter to you today. This is not just “the world’s” idea of conversation, this does not come from our sin nature, this is not our “fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” (1 Peter 2:11) this is a personal choice, and since it is in part what you are going to be held accountable for it, your basis of rewards, it will in part be based on the words you spoke here on earth in this life.
You are the only one that knows, besides our Lord, how much of your time was used not just to attempt by your words to bring others to Christ, to His cross, but what your personal discourses, your average daily discussions revolved around. If you really wanted to, you could do the math, it might take a little while, but figure approximately how many words you have spoken every day since you became a slave of Christ, and how many of them fit into the first sentence in this letter to you.
I am going to presume that many of you feel badly at the moment as you contemplate that, and I am also going to guess that most of you are figuring that the day the Lord shows this to you, when it’s just you and Him going over your life, are expecting, or at least hoping, that He will say, “Oh, that’s alright, I saw your heart, don’t worry about it.” Conviction of the truth within ourselves does not always mean encouragement, I think most of you can see that right now at this moment as you read these words.
So, I just made you feel bad by showing you the truth about yourself, go ahead and blame me, if it makes you “feel” better, but when you give that account to the Lord on your day of accounting, (Romans 14:12) I will not be there, there will be no one there but you and the Savior. Guess who’s going to take the blame for your inactions in this area.
It really would be very wise of you to envision that moment on a regular basis, because it is going to happen, you are not going to enter into heaven until it does, for it is part of your glorification process, and you will not see God until you are glorified. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)
Works include the action of speaking. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14) And those who do not speak about the Lord to others because of their fear of others will face a very possible, very serious consequence for their inactions. “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:33)
I do not believe that the Lord is speaking of the lost here, for their names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, (Rev. 21:27) they are forgotten, He is speaking of those who are indeed in the kingdom, but who were ashamed at His coming, (1 John 2:28) those whom God was ashamed to be called their God, (Luke 9:26) to those who would not speak of Him on a regular basis for fear of shame, of embarrassment, for every conceivable excuse under the sun, with only one truth behind those excuses, they did not love Him enough to do so. The truth of these statements? “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)
There are servants of the Most High God that are dying every day for His glory, and there are those who are ashamed to speak of Him because of the possibility of personal repercussions, you decide which you are. I know which group understands perfect love.
