14 Reasons Not to Accept Jesus
1. All my friends will be in Hell, I might as well be with them. We'll have a party,
2. People at Church have hurt me. Or, you should see what some of these people have done or what they are doing. I don't want to be part of them.
3. I've done so many things wrong. It's too late, now.
4. I'd have to give up too many things.
5. What will my friends (spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, parents) think?
6. I'm divorced.
7. Each person has his own Heaven and their own Hell.
8. There are many ways to God.
9. God would never allow anyone to go to Hell.
10. Look at all the terrible things done by people in the name of Christianity.
11. I'm Jewish.
12. I’ll have to clean up my "act," first.
13. I'm already a Church member. Or, I'm attending a Church. I'm covered.
14. I am only ___ years old. I will take care of this before I face judgment.
Before we respond
individually to each one of these reasons (as you will soon realize these
reasons are nothing more than EXCUSES), there are some things that one really
needs to know where these reasons come from. Just look at these scriptures.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. - 1 Peter 5:8 (Jesus is
speaking) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because
there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he
is a liar, and the father of it.- John 8:44
Answers:
1. Hell is a REAL place and nothing to joke about. Matthew describes it as a fiery furnace. John calls it the Lake of Fire, and further says those that are not written in the Book of Life will end up there.
2. Church is full of people who have hurt others and have been hurt by others. Jesus wants us to do as He would do, "Forgive and Forget." Don't focus on others. FOCUS ON THE LORD. You will find kindred souls if you are open. You will be able to grow in the Lord with support and fellowship.
3. As long as you are alive, it's never too late. Confess before Him and mean it, for He is ready, NOW.
4. Are you a slave to those things? Or, would you rather be free in Christ?
5. You may be surprised to find out that many will respect your decision to follow Jesus. You may be in a better position to lead THEM to the Lord than any Preacher could. There is a saying that you take nothing with you when you die (a lie of the devil). You take your soul and those you have brought to Jesus.
6. Divorce is not the unpardonable sin. Jesus took your place on the cross for that sin. Again, confess it and be forgiven.
7. I don't think so. Heaven and Hell are real places and we will all end up in one place or the other. Check out Heaven and Hell in the Bible.
8. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except by Me." John 14:6
9. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:15 Is your name in the Book of Life?
10. Admit it, they were not acting as Jesus would have, were they? They are not REAL Christians, are they?
11. There are 333 prophecies pointing to Jesus as the Messiah. He is the only person in history to have fulfilled those prophecies.
12. Jesus will accept you as you are, RIGHT NOW. Isn't it better to have Jesus with you to help, rather than you being on your own?
13. There are many Church members on their way to Hell. For many it is just the "right thing" to be. For many, it is a social club. Many have not truly accepted Jesus into their lives.
14. Jesus could return at any moment. There is no guarantee that you will be alive two minutes from now. With every minute that passes by, you are one minute closer to eternity.
Don't let the devil mislead you or keep you from the Lord!
Please pray this prayer, now. "Dear God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, my heavenly Father, I confess that I am a sinner and have been separated from You. I ask forgiveness of my sins. I confess with my mouth that your son Jesus is my savior and died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. I receive Jesus into my heart and ask Him to become the center of my life. I ask, in the Name of Jesus. Amen."
Fort Myers Foursquare Church
2222 Cleveland Avenue
Post Office Box 9365
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Contact: Tom Provenzano, Outreach Pastor 239-267-8641 or email: tprovenz@comcast.net