“What must I do to be saved?” is a question often asked by the soul searching to fill the spiritual void in their lives.  But the question usually not asked, but in reality needs answered is, “What must I do to be lost?”  The answer to that is very simple.  If you are not “born-again”, nothing!  You are lost (spiritually) just as you are.  Those stories of a God who made all that we see certainly are fables.  Surely the scientists know what they are talking about.  Even though they weren’t here, the tests and procedures they use to prove their theories and ideas are foolproof.  I mean, they are too smart to be fooled, aren’t they?  Don’t investigate those stories about a life that exists beyond this one.  After all no one you know has been there and back to tell of it.  And certainly you can’t fall for the idea that we are guilty of something called sin or that there is a God who loves us tremendously.  And that someone called Jesus lived on this earth for the sole purpose of being punished by death for these sins?  If you fit the picture that has just been described you not only know what must be done to be lost, but are actively pursuing that condition. 

What about the Christian?  What must he or she do to be lost?  Not a question asked very often I’m sure.  But we did ask and this is what we came up with.  The greatest command spoken of by Jesus says that our love for God must be with all of our heart, our mind our strength and our souls.  Even when the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip what hindered him from being baptized, the response was “if you believe with all your heart, you may.”  God isn’t pleased with half-hearted disciples.   If you love God with only part of your heart, mind, soul and strength, these are but a few things that will be affected.  Your study of God’s word will be affected.  Your desire to be with fellow Christians will be affected.  Your willingness to encourage your fellow Christians or even receive their encouragement will be affected.  Your willingness to give of yourself and your means will be affected.  The bottom line is that in our life we must make many choices, but the greatest choice we will make is how much we will love the God that loved us first and sent His Son as a sacrifice. 

Copyright © 2002, Nolan P. Rutter