And then they just go about their business.
Even if they engage, even modestly, in the conversation, listening for a time, responding occasionally with alert eyes, more than likely, most of the time, the topic will cease to entice them, to hold their attention, and as their minds drift off to the cares of this world, so will their body. Some form of an excuse from them will occur, they will perhaps thank you for the conversation, and then get back to life as far away from your presence and remain that way, hoping to not cross your path again anytime in the future.
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16)
The unrepentant have no desire whatsoever to converse about the eternal, for the starting point for them must necessitate this fact, that eternity begins with death.
The cessation of life here is rarely a topic of conversation most people care to engage in, and if you spend any time whatsoever attempting to speak to others about this subject, when that absolute truth is interpreted in their minds, the fear that emanates from them is almost palpable.
Notwithstanding the Rapture my friends, the death of the body must come before eternity. And sadly, I have even had conversations about this truth with those who profess the Lord Jesus Christ who will divert even the smallest hint of the death of the flesh, of dying, and instead speak of their hope of being raptured. And in many cases, it is only because of the fear of dying.
And so, they also many times, will offer the excuse of pressing business, remove themselves from your presence, and like many others, avoid any future conversations with you whenever possible. If you have not already, test this truth, pick any subject under the sun, anyone at all, whether it be temporal or eternal, of the world or Scriptural, and nearly everyone you meet will be willing, and even enjoy those topics of conversation with you. Bring up the subject of their own death, and they will alter their available time frame to converse. Attempt to remain on the subject, and soon you will find yourself alone.
Saved, lost or wicked, it is the subject to be avoided at all cost, because it means the end, it is the pinnacle of finality.
Philippians 1:21 struck through my very soul years ago, in my mind it is the totality of a life devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of the Almighty, it encompasses every fiber of our being, it speaks of the complete death of self, of unquestionable assurances in His promises, of everlasting devotion both to the Lord of glory and from Him to us. In my mind, it has no equal in the Scriptures for those who have been born again. It removes all fear.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
In my mind as well, with no disrespect to my brothers and sisters in Christ who have yet to accept the truth of that verse, but especially to those who have no fear of God before their eyes Job, 2:4 is the verse they still adhere to.
“And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.”
If you have given your life to Christ, then what do you have left to give in the hope of continuing in it here?
If you can in all earnest say, “Thy will be done” then it should be just as easy for you to say, “To die is gain.”
