For this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth. - 1
Timothy 2.3-4
To me it seems like things would be a whole lot simpler if
God had just created us as some type of flesh and blood robots that would do
what He wanted and love and honour and praise Him and treat each other right. That
way there would be no sin, no trouble, no problems, and no need for salvation.
But can you imagine a life like that? Can you imagine a life
with no freedom and no choice? Can you imagine a bunch of automotons going
through life all the same and all repeating ‘I love God – I love God – I love
God’ without any emotion or feeling or choice?
For there to be real love and a real relationship there had
to be a choice. The relationship between my wife and me is only special because
we choose to love each other.
And man had and has a choice. Our choice is to follow God or reject Him. Those
who reject God and His way have no access. Their sin separated them from God. That
separation is not God's plan and it is not His desire. God wants that relationship
restored - with everyone.
God's desire is that all men everywhere would come the
knowledge of the truth of salvation in Christ alone - but He is not going to
make anyone do it.
That is why it is imperative on us to share our faith. In
the same context of praying for our leaders are the words that God desires all
to be saved. That means that God wants us neighbours to be saved. He wants our
co-workers to be saved. He wants that 'strange' town character to be saved. He
wants that homeless person we step over to be saved. He wants that ISIS terrorist
to be saved. He wants that man or women in a prison cell to be saved. He wants our
political leaders to be saved.
It’s time we learn to see people the way God sees them. They
are not objects of hatred or scorn or contempt. They are all people that Jesus
was to see saved.
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