How about just be a friend?

The day after Boxer Day, December 27, 2024. Just going to start on a note this morning before I go out for coffee with my favorite cousin. About (1) not falling back into the lie, (2) your love waxing cold and (3) thinking that discipleship is just about "counseling." I remember a couple of times when people who were further along in the Lord than I was met me for coffee to "minister" to me. Another time I thought I had been invited for dinner, and it turned out they wanted to preach to me or find out what was bothering me or something, and, all along, all I needed was a friend. So I'm going out to have coffee and lunch with someone who actually knows what it is all about, for which I am exceedingly grateful, and I will be back later to reflect on all this later... And so then what is really on my heart this evening is the subject of hell. Today, people are so backslidden they have no fear of God whatsoever. I am not sure how that happens, but there is no doubt that is the case. Second Timothy 3 comes to mind again and again "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:1-5). The truth in these verses just seems more evident every day. What I started out with this morning about friendship is still true. About falling back into the lie, you can't tell anyone anything they don't want to hear, and just because we know the truth doesn't mean it's always necessary to be preaching. On the other hand, Christians may think they don't need to rely on God as much after they've been walking with him for a while. I used to refer to my New Testament numerous times a day for a word of encouragement or strenth. I was very aware of the fact that I was now in a very dark place I hadn't known about before. I was just more aware of it then because it was a new revelation. I understood why in the Bible angels were always saying, "Fear not." But then you get a little used to being in the world with a new spirit inside and you start being overconfident, which could be dangerous. Before my conversion, the world was just the world. It was the only reality I knew. But once enlightened and born again, filled with the spirit of truth, everything is different. It's like living in two different worlds, parallel but going opposite directions. It can be overwhelming, disturbing, terrifying, but with the companionship (and friendship) of God the Holy Spirit, because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God's Son, we can have peace, because he is the Prince of Peace. So many things come up day and night to tempt us to worry, to be anxious, to be fearful, until we remember and remain conscious of the truth about Jesus. As long as it's just words to people, they will find no compelling reason to believe. That's why I think many times the fewer words spoken, the better. I am not talking about writing or blogging. When people are reading something, they can stop whenever they want and reflect, but in conversation, live conversation, face to face with another human, too many words can be a hindrance. Anyway, that was the first point (falling back into the lie). There are many ways that may manifest, but not the focus at this moment.The second point (your love waxing cold) is a serious one. Our love for God can cool; our love for others certainly can cool, and these both are a danger for Christians who have walked with Jesus for any length of time. Our love for God needs to be white hot and bright all the time. I don't think that has to mean an emotional high or a mountaintop experience every second, but it does need to be something we are constantly attending to. Otherwise we become like the salt under the feet of men. That means we have to be in constant pursuit of the Lord, talking to him, reading his word. The third point (thinking discipleship is only about counseling) just happens to be one I have experienced, and it is very obvious to me that a lot of mature Christians think walking with God is all about preaching to people all the time. If God has given us his spirit it is for friendship as much as anything else. Jesus even said he was going to call us friends (not simply servants), so that is something to keep in mind. It is especially meaningful to me since two of my best friends have now passed away. So how did we go from just being a friend to the subject of hell? Well, I just saw something someone said about hell on social media that was basically a lie. Well, I know there is such a thing as the truth and such a thing as the lie. The lie is what the world is living under because the world is under the sway of the evil one, who is also "the god of this world," Satan, the devil. The world chooses to doubt the truth because they are subjects of the Father of Lies. They are in bondage to the enemy of our soul, who is real, as is heaven and as is hell. Doubting all of these truths is very dangerous. You may have seen the reasoning of Pascual (the following paragraph is copied from a google search). I have Pascal's book, but I couldn't find what I was looking for: "'Pascal's principle' regarding belief in God, often called 'Pascal's Wager,' argues that even if we can't definitively prove God's existence, it is still more rational to believe in God because the potential reward (eternal happiness in heaven) if God does exist is infinitely greater than any potential loss if God does not exist; essentially, it's better to 'bet' on God's existence, even with uncertainty, due to the high potential payoff if you are right." And I would add the tragically irreversible consequences if you are wrong. I just found a great thought of Pascal's I would like to share here. It is number 352 in Pensees (thoughts): "The strength of a man's virtue must not be measured by his efforts, but by his ordinary life." So, in conclusion, our life is our testimony, our relationship to other people is our main occupation here on earth, and as we grow in Christ, we should become better friends. Included in that friendship is telling the truth about God, about Jesus, about heaven and hell. We must realize that the enemy is fighting very hard to keep all our loved ones out of heaven, and, as friends of God and friends of sinners, we owe them love, and not the kind of love that spares them hard truths. May God give us wisdom and discernment about when and how to share the truth about heaven and hell, the truth about Jesus and his death and resurrection, and about the need for repentance. I know it can be very difficult, but God is faithful to show us the way if we ask him. I pray that God will bring all our lost loved ones to the place of coming to their senses. He did it for us, and he can do it for them.