Want To Be Shocked Or Lulled?

Read this recently, a quote from Vance Havner posted on Facebook:

My father was converted by the preaching of a hair-raising sermon on the text, “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1). It scared him into the Kingdom of God. Such preaching is discouraged these days, but it is better to scare men into heaven than to lull them into hell.

It gave me pause to think. He’s right – such preaching is discouraged. Larger audiences are gained by encouraging people to be positive, to look forward to happiness, to have a sense of well-being. Today’s attitude that all children are winners and no one is left behind came from adults who fail to understand that there are standards some do not achieve. Participation ribbons are not the same as first place medals and not all athletes compete in the Olympic Games.

There are winners and there are losers. My great-grandchildren are learning this lesson as they compete in wrestling matches. It is better to win than it is to participate, and they don’t miss those who do not even enter.

So why in this world do we look upon religion as being different? There is gain and there is loss.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:8 KJV)

Paul lost his career, his friends, his very way of life when he chose to follow Christ after their meeting on the road to Damascus. Jesus did not tell Saul he was going to hell. He did not tell him about sin or the devil:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:4-5 KJV)

But Paul knew, having read and believed David from the Psalms. Check Psalm 14 and Psalm 53. Paul used them in Romans 8, beginning with verse ten to explain that we all stand in need of God’s mercy.

Paul never mentions hell in his writing, though he does mention Satan as our adversary. Paul knew that salvation was necessary, and available.

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8-10 KJV)

It is a shock to understand from what we must be saved. Read the verses before this one to understand why:

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31 KJV)