The Vilest Sinner can be Saved

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.  –Luke 6:37 (KJV) 

Let me share a poem with you today that I learned as a boy.  This poem has stayed with me all these years and still touches me with its profound truthfulness. 

I dreamed death came the other night, and heaven’s gates swung wide;

An angel with a halo bright ushered me inside.

And there to my astonishment stood folks I’d judged and labeled;

As quite unfit, of little worth, and spiritually disabled.

Indignant words rose to my lips, but never were set free;

For every face showed stunned surprise;

As not one expected me.  –Author unknown 

There will be times when we will find ourselves looking at people around us and passing at least a form of judgment on them.  Anytime we do this we run the risk of passing unfair judgments which will ultimately hinder our ability to see them with the gifts and potential God has given.  This can then lead us to dismiss certain people as being unfit or incapable of being useful in God’s service.  Jesus warned us about passing such judgments lest we be hindered in our ability to reach out to those around with His love.  Will we so limit God’s transforming power through Christ that we dismiss people as being beyond reach?  Is any sinner beyond the reach of God’s wonderful grace?  According to the Word of God, the answer to that question is no. 

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners (Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32).  If we truly take this truth to heart, we begin to delve deeper into the power of God to reach even those we might otherwise have thought were beyond reach.  So great is the power of God that He can reach into the hearts of the vilest sinners and bring them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  You and I are called to go such persons in Jesus' name and share with them the salvation the Lord offers.  Sin is the sickness and Jesus Christ is the cure. 

Let us not be caught up in judgmental attitudes toward the lost people that are all around us.  Someone has said that anytime we point a finger at someone there are four more pointing right back at us.  The late singer Rich Mullins also said, “There’s no use in pointing fingers, unless you’re pointing to the truth.”  Well said; that truth is Jesus Christ. 

By the grace of God we have been saved through faith in the Lord Jesus.  I was that vile sinner, but thanks be to God I have been set free in Jesus!  Go and share that message today.