Come Now
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring – what you life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.
James 4:13-14 (CSB)
There are only two responses to Jesus: yes, I will follow, or no, I won't. Some try to add a third, saying they will think about it or do it later. Others delay the decision, but these delays are simply rejections at the moment. James reminds us that we have no promise of being alive tomorrow. Therefore, now is the time to decide about Jesus. This truth puts even greater urgency to the practice of evangelism.
We need to encourage people to respond to Jesus now. When extending an invitation to follow Him, we should stress the importance of responding today. This isn't about pressuring for an immediate decision, but about urging them to choose with urgency. Remind them that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and ask what they will do with Jesus today. The focus on 'today' is essential. If we believe tomorrow isn't certain, then today must be declared the day of salvation.
We must urgently invite people. Urgency in our evangelism manifests in two ways. First, we speak with passion and urgency, driven by our calling to share Christ. We recognize that God has appointed us as instruments of evangelism, and we are committed to ensuring the world hears the message. Second, we speak with urgency because we grasp the importance of their decision. Knowing the eternal consequences of their choice heightens our sense of urgency. When we understand life is temporary while eternal life is eternal, urgency naturally influences our evangelistic approach.
We need to invite others to eternity. A key part of encouraging people to follow Jesus is inviting them to Jesus Himself, not just to church. While inviting someone to church is acceptable, it’s more crucial to invite them to Jesus. Doing so shows a concern for their eternal destiny. Truly inviting someone means inviting them to become a citizen of heaven.
QUESTIONS
Why would it be more important to invite people to Jesus and not merely invite them to church?
How does tomorrow not being guaranteed fuel an urgency for evangelism?
