BLEEDING OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL

"When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy. I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners”- Mark 2:17 (ERV)

 On 16th May 1998, a young man was shot in the chest while playing basketball. Immediately, his friends carried him close to the entrance of a nearby hospital and they went inside to seek for help. The hospital staff refused to help on the grounds that it was against their policy to administer aid to those outside the hospital. Finally, a policeman got a wheel chair and wheeled the man into the hospital where he was attended to by the hospital staff.  Unfortunately, it was rather too late, as the man eventually died  about an hour later. (Culled from An Introduction to Healthcare Organizational Ethics, Robert T. Hall).

 The Church is God's hospital on earth and Christians are His chosen staff on duty (John 15:16, Mark 2:17). Many helpless souls are bleeding outside the church and they may eventually die if Christians remain insensitive to their plight. The death of sinners is a huge loss to Humanity and God detest it vehemently (Ezekiel 33:11, 2 Peter 3:9). This is the reason why the Saviour mandated Christians to be actively involved in the rescue operations for souls till He returns (Matthew 28:19-20). 

It is obvious that our churches are surrounded by people that desperately need to hear the Gospel, unfortunately, we are contented with sharing it only with those that manage to come inside the church. It is simply a case of "Souls are perishing outside while believers are amusing themselves in the church!" Like the hospital staff in the above story, we are simply giving flimsy excuses for neglecting our primary duty in the kingdom. This is quite pathetic!

Beloved, what excuse are you giving for not witnessing to lost souls? Don't you know that you will be held accountable for every bleeding soul that you refused to attend to or carry into the sick bay of faith (Ezekiel 33:6).

The chorus of this powerful hymn below re-echoes God's question in Isaiah 6:8 to believers in every generation:

PERISHING SOULS AT STAKE TODAY! By D.S. Warner (1885)

1. Perishing souls at stake today!

Says the banner of Christ unfurled;

Pleading in love for help to save

Blood-bought sinners all o’er the world.

 

Refrain:

      Perishing souls at stake, my brother,

      What is all this world beside?

      Perishing souls at stake, my brother,

      For whom the blessed Savior died;

      Perishing souls, perishing souls,

      Oh, who will help to save the lost?

 

2. Perishing souls at stake we see,

Yet the Savior has died for all;

Go and invite them earnestly,

Some will surely obey the call.

 

3. Perishing souls at stake today,

There’s a famine in all the land;

Many are dying for the bread

Freely given by Jesus’ hand.

 

4. Perishing souls at stake, go tell

What the Savior has done for you;

How He redeemed thy soul from hell,

And is able to save them, too. 

 

5. Perishing souls at stake we know,

Oh, do pity the sinner’s fate!

Brother and sister, will you go,

Give them warning before too late. 

 

6. Perishing souls at stake today,

Can you tarry for earthly dross?

Fly to the rescue, don’t delay,

Bring the needy to Jesus’ cross.

May God help us to be part of His dutiful and responsible staff in this generation. May He empower and use us mightily to rescue many bleeding souls around us from perishing in Jesus name, Amen.

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, I want to invite you to our Annual Youth Convention 2022. Date: 3rd to 7th October 2022. Theme: SHINE FORTH. Venue: Redemption City, Km 46 Lagos Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Happy New month. Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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