Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":
The Samaritans were right—Jesus has saved the world. “They said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world’” (John 4:42). But they were not believing the falsehood of Universalism—the false doctrine that everybody will eventually be saved. They knew that “all men” will not open their hearts to receive Him. Those who reject Jesus reject a real flesh-and-blood Savior, not merely a potential, maybe, perhaps, “would-like-to-be” Savior.
Yet how can it be that Jesus is “the Savior of the world” and yet most people do not receive Him?
There will come a “Great White Throne” at the end of the 1000 years of Revelation 20, before which will be gathered all the lost souls from all time; they will be facing what the Bible calls “the second death,” the death from final judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). The great book of record will be opened; every lost person will see his own life-record, his heart opened fully to his own view and the view of the universe in judgment; it will be realistic. They will all at last see everything as it really has been.
At last they will see that the sin they have life-long selfishly indulged is in reality a re-crucifixion of Christ. The One who sits on the throne is the Savior Himself; each one of the lost will look in His eyes and realize too late that He was always their Best Friend, and yet their sin they clung to was the same as that of those who 2000years ago cried out: “Crucify Him!”
A wise writer says that the lost will at that time “welcome destruction” that they might be hidden from His face (The Great Controversy, p. 543).
How much better will it be if we realize that truth today, when we can do something about it?
You and I may try to evade the truth and say, we could never do that! But don’t let yourself be proud; wait on your knees, alone with the Father, in prayer; ask Him to please tell you the truth about yourself. Let me assure you—He will NEVER discourage you, or condemn you! He will tell the truth, yes, but at the same time the truth will include the conviction of the Saviour’s love (agape), the love that died your “second death.” “We see Jesus ... crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9); that was the second death, and “every man” is you.
People who want to be saved eternally appreciate what He did; the lost do not, like Esau who “despised” and “sold” his birthright (Gen. 25:33, 34; Heb. 12:17).
He never stopped crying thereafter.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
