“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Prov. 6:23)
Most People do not take reproof and correction very well, in fact, they instead receive them personally, as an attack upon themselves. To reveal to them that something is being done in the incorrect way by them most generally causes a negative response from them towards you, and so the statement, “They will figure it out for themselves” was born.
If they will not listen to correction, we leave them to their own devices.
This my friends is pride.
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16)
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
Hell is as real a place as heaven is, we accept these truths by faith, and so we reach out to those we meet with reproofs and correction that do not know this as truth. But more than that, we tell them of the only way to receive this truth, and correct them in the lie they have believed their entire life, either their disbelief in these two places of eternity, their misconception that some work they perform, or continue to perform in, or their supposed idea of scales, of the weights and balances of good works verses bad deeds will fall to their favor by Him who created all that is.
We reprove them, in love, and they hate us for the corrections offered.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
From Lucifer, to Cain, to Judas Iscariot, to this day, pride will not hear truth, and it despises those who attempt to correct them in what we know is a fatal error, an eternal mistake.
“Please forgive me!” is screamed in hell billions of times a day.
Being good enough is the way of the deceived heart, not living in an attempt to be holy and righteous in the eyes of, and for the glory of, the Living God, in full submission to His will.
“And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” (Isaiah 66:24)
We who will experience His eternal rest will not only look upon those who will know eternal torment, but we will hear their screams, and each of us will recognize more than one of those voices.
I have penned these following words many times in these letters to you my friends, and I believe they are worth repeating again. “I wish I would have” is said in heaven as much as it is in hell, and there are no rewards in heaven for good intentions.
Reprove them, correct them, let them hate you, the alternative is too grievous to contemplate.
Their salvation is not in your hands, but there are consequences, perhaps dire and eternal consequences, for those who indeed are crucified with christ who will not reveal to those they meet correction and reproof in regard to the way they believe eternal life is received.
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8)
They believe a lie, we know the truth, the way of life is correction and reproofs, the way of death is to deny these truths.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18)
Always initiate the conversation gently and in love, but always in firm truth. Those who claim faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are not swayed, they are not removed from the path, we stand firmly om the Rock of our salvation and the truths of His Word. They will eventually see you are contentious, as too adamant, as unswerving, unmovable, and they will hate you for correcting them.
Let them.
Pray that their voice is not one that you will recognize coming from the pit, but will rejoice in hearing as they eternally praise Him who sent you.
