Get Serious

I believe God is calling us to get serious today. Not one of us knows when our time on earth will be done or when Christ will return for us. That includes me, and that includes you. My last breath could be this one, or this one. I’m not saying this to scare you into making a decision you don’t really want to make. But if my saying this scares you then you should really do some, well I wouldn’t say soul searching, but you should do some Christ searching.

If your relationship with Christ is just a safety rope to get into heaven and stay out of Hell then you probably don’t have enough of a relationship to even make it into heaven. You’re only fooling yourself for God will not be mocked.

I know that all sounded harsh but it is the truth and we all need to be reminded and encouraged from time to time.

In the first chapter of Luke we have the record of the conception of John the Baptist and also of Jesus. In the second chapter we see Jesus as a child growing up. But, I would like us to focus on John for now. The reason for John’s existence is stated very plainly in verses 76 and 77 of chapter 1.

Luk 1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
Luk 1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,

I am pointing this out to validate John and Johns teaching for you. Verse 77 clearly points out that if one is interested in salvation and forgiveness then they need to focus on the teachings of this man. That was his “commission” if you will.

Luk 3:3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

So John is doing his thing, he is preaching the message of salvation to the people and then the crowds begin to show up.

Luk 3:7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
Luk 3:8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Why was John so harsh on this crowd of people in calling them a brood of vipers? In the next few verses we are going to find out whom this crowd of people were and that should shed some light for us.

Luk 3:9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
Luk 3:10 And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?"
Luk 3:11 And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise."
Luk 3:12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
Luk 3:13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do."
Luk 3:14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."
Luk 3:15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,
Luk 3:16 John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Luk 3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Luk 3:18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.

So we see that the crowd was probably mostly made up of Pharisees, Publicans, and soldiers, the wealthier healthier, religious people.

John was wise to them though and made it clear to warn them that if they did not bear fruit then they would be chopped from the roots. If they were just there, as I said earlier, to have a safety net in which to get into heaven then they may end up being the chaff that will burn with an unquenchable fire.

I am reminded of my children when they were younger and it was time for bed. They used to go through the ritual of "I have to go potty", "I'm hungry", "and I’m thirsty". Some how all this seems to coincidentally happen when it is time for bed. But its not a drink they want, there is no hunger, they’ve already been potty twice. They are trying to use a “good” thing and manipulate it for what they think they want. Having a drink of water is not a bad thing. But using thirst as a justification to stay up longer is.

The crowd that John called a brood of vipers in Luke is the same. They were not thirsty for the water of repentance they were just interested in an "easy" heavenly guarantee. They quickly found out from John that there was more to it then a ritualistic dunking or sprinkling or repeating a few bible verses. It required action. It required fruit.

There are a lot of people saying that they are thirsty in the world today. But there are not many people willing to drink the water of repentance. They want something sweeter with some sugar or honey in it. Religion offers all kinds of different waters to you. But there is only one type of water that offers salvation in Christ and that is the water of repentance. Don’t misunderstand me; I am not saying if your not baptized you can’t go to heaven. What I am saying is that if you don’t repent there is not forgiveness and if there is no forgiveness then there is no salvation.

There are no traditions or rituals that will give you salvation from Hell. Decide today to get serious about Christ. While you have the opportunity. Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.