Who is Listening?
“Who is Listening?” is the first in a series by Mark called, “That All the World May Know,” which explores remarkable moments in the Bible.
Would You Share?
If you had something very important to share with a good friend, how would you tell them?
Because they are close and a significant part of your life, you would probably meet with them in person and have a face-to-face conversation. At the very least you would call them on the phone if you were unable to get together.
What if you wanted all your friends to know about this important matter and by what means would you share it? It would probably be easiest to send out a mass email or post a notice on a social media platform.
But what if this announcement was something you wanted the whole world to know?
Mass Communication
How would you go about it? In our world of mass communication through the internet it is possible to share a message with thousands or maybe millions of people, but it would still be impossible for everyone on earth to receive it.
Hypothetically speaking, let’s say your message was made available for every single person in the world to hear or read, translated into every known language… There are still other factors to consider that may dampen your spirits; such as, would everyone want to listen? Chances are, not all people would appreciate what you have to share. Let’s face it, no matter how important some things are, there are always those who are not interested or think it’s of no concern to them.
Did you know that God has a message He wants all people to hear?
He has, in a sense, “shouted it from the roof tops,” but is anyone paying attention?
Who is listening?
A Message of Love
Despite the common misconception that He is silent and uncaring, God’s message is one of love and concern for our well-being. He hasn’t abandoned us. It’s not a complex message that only a select few can understand. You don’t need a PHD in philosophy or require specialized training in theology to comprehend it. Nor do you need to reach a certain degree of spiritual awareness to tune into “God’s frequency.”
It’s not limited to a specific gender, culture, background or social status, it’s inclusive to all people. God has communicated it with people directly and indirectly through either spoken or written word ever since He created the human race.
Today, the Bible is His means of sharing with us what He has to say to the world.
It’s a collection of sacred texts that God has provided us, it’s been translated into many languages, and is accessible to people worldwide.
God’s Purpose For the Bible
What is God’s purpose for the Bible?
- It is His means of divinely revealing Himself and His will for everyone.
- The Bible is authoritative because it is “God’s Word,” serving as a guide for our faith and a source of instruction on morality, behavior, and right living.
- It provides much teaching and wisdom to help us navigate through the challenges of life, in a way pleasing to Him.
- The Bible’s greatest intention is to tell us God’s plan for humanity’s salvation. It shows our fallen state and the necessity of finding forgiveness with God. It reveals the way in which God made it possible for everyone to have a chance of being restored and have a personal relationship with Him forever.
An Important Book
As you can see, the Bible is a pretty important book, providing us much truth. Many people scoff at the claim of the Bible being absolute truth. Do not be deceived by their skeptical claims. Find out for yourself. Take it upon yourself to seek out what it says about God’s salvation, plan and purposes for you.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7
The desire of God’s heart is for everyone in the world to know His truth, because what He has to say is of utmost importance. God does not want to see anyone perish and remain in their state of separation from Him. His passionate desire is for everyone to be saved and have certainty that they will be in heaven with Him someday.
A Warning
It’s a warning that everyone needs to hear. His intent is not to intimidate or attack anyone, but rather it is born out of a loving concern for everyone’s well-being, and eternal state.
Unfortunately, many refuse God’s warning about how they could avoid spiritual destruction. The only people who recognize and value it is those who have realized how important and urgent it is.
What is the dire warning and solution God wishes for everyone to know?
It’s this: our sinful human nature causes us to oppose God and eternal separation from Him is the effect. Only God Himself can rectify this issue. The awful reality is, if our sin problem is not dealt with, the result is everyone born must face an eternal place of torment and fiery judgment known as hell after they pass away. God took it upon Himself to intervene with a solution; He came down from heaven on a rescue mission. He became human like us. Born humbly as a baby named Jesus (which means “He (God) shall save”). He lived a perfect life with the purpose of being the sacrifice for the sins of the world.
There Was No Hope
There was no hope that anyone in this world could be made right, restored to God and escape eternal suffering, until Jesus came. The fact was that God’s holy judgment and wrath was set against all humanity, and this divine reality could not be altered. It is an aspect of His perfect character; that He cannot allow sin to go unjudged.
On the other hand, He is also a God of love. It was out of His love for us that He made a way that could bring humanity back to Himself justly. God the Son taking on human form, died for the sins of the world so we could be saved from eternal damnation.
Love, Mercy and Forgiveness
While in this world, Jesus extended love, mercy, and the forgiveness of sin. He performed great miracles, healed diseases and those physically disabled; He even raised the dead to life. He taught the words that bring eternal life, and many people followed Him; believing He was the Savior of the world. But not everyone understood.
Some didn’t care to hear what He had to say; choosing to remain ignorant to their need of restoration with God. Some outright refused Him with anger, hating Him while planning His death. They achieved their goal, having Him executed; nailing Him to a Roman cross.
The King of the Jews
The Romans wrote a sign and placed it above His head. So that many people could read it, it was written in three languages: Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. It said, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews,” for the whole world to see. Their display of mockery was aimed at the truth of who He claimed to be.
Little did they know that by killing Him in this way, they achieved His personal goal: to suffer and to die so anyone who believes in Him as the sacrifice for their sin, will be saved. But it didn’t end there; three days later He rose from the dead, showing the world His victory over the curse of sin, death and hell. Through believing in Him, anyone may receive eternal life and have peace with God the Father.
It’s an amazing plan that God engineered out of His love for us. It’s not easy to ignore the great lengths He went to on our behalf. He did this with each of us in mind.
The Titanic
Here is an example taken from human history about a time when a very important message of warning was sent out, but it was ignored, and as a result, many people needlessly died. As I read this story, please consider and think of God’s warning to you:
On April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic was on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. As it sailed through the icy waters, several vessels sent warnings about icebergs in the Titanic’s path. Among these vessels was the SS Mesaba, a merchant steamship.
At 7:50 p.m., the Mesaba’s wireless operator, Stanley Adams, transmitted a crucial message to the Titanic. The warning was received by the Titanic at 9:40 p.m., but unfortunately, it never reached the bridge. The Titanic’s wireless operators, Jack Phillips and Harold Bride, were busy handling passenger messages and other communications. Phillips, in particular, was preoccupied with personal messages, and the warning from the Mesaba did not receive the attention it deserved.
Despite the detailed information about icebergs, the message was not relayed to the bridge where Captain Edward Smith could take necessary precautions.
The Titanic continued its course, unaware of the imminent danger.
Later that night, at around 11:40 p.m., the ship struck an iceberg, causing severe damage to its hull. The collision led to the sinking of the Titanic, resulting in the loss of over 1,500 lives.
The Titanic has gone down in history as one of the world’s greatest tragedies that could have been prevented. This serves as an illustration to parallel God’s sobering warning to you. Don’t allow distractions, or your personal pride to get in the way of you wholeheartedly seeking God’s salvation. If you continue as you are, the result will be devastating.
That All the World May Know
Please join me for this eight-part series entitled, “…That All the World May Know…” as I examine biblical events that were declared with the intention of revealing something about God to the world, be it His character or His redemptive purposes. Here is an outline of the occurrences we will look at and what I expect to consider in each episode:
- The miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, where God wanted the world to know and remember He is a God who saves His people and keeps His promises. (Joshua 4)
- The one-on-one conflict between David and Goliath is a story about a humble nobody who confidently used great faith to defeat godless pride, so all the earth would know that the battle is the Lord’s. (1 Samuel 17)
- Solomon’s temple dedication ceremony marked the official opening of God’s earthly home, and as a result, all people on earth would know and fear God as the only true God, who delights to give good gifts to those who ask. (1 Kings 8)
- Good King Hezekiah and his army were forced to face the threats of the bullying nation of Assyria. The gods of all the nations, who were not gods at all, had failed to protect their people from the Assyrian war machine, and Assyria was sure that the God of Israel didn’t stand a chance against them either. God was not about to let His name continue to be blasphemed and His faithful people be attacked. God dealt with Assyria and it’s proud king in a manner that caused all the kingdoms of the world to know that God is God alone. (2 Kings 18,19)
- Egypt had become a superpower of the ancient world due to the slavery it inflicted upon the children of Israel, who built them cities to strengthen and solidify their empire. Pharoh was unaware that God was the one who had exalted him and bestowed upon him immense power. Then, Moses approached him with the intention of freeing God’s people from slavery in Egypt. Pharoh would soon learn that the reason God had raised him up was so that he could serve as a living example of God’s power and that God’s name might be proclaimed in all the earth. (Exodus 9)
- In the New Testament we read of the One Who God beckons all the world to know; Jesus, who by obediently following His plan, showed how much He loves God His Father and in turn wants everyone in the world to know. (John 14:28-31)
- Jesus requested His heavenly Father to grant spiritual unity with all those who follow Him, as well as their ability to see and partake in His glory. By this means the world would know that Jesus was loved and sent by His Father by the proof of this spiritual union. This episode is titled, God’s Unifying Love for Us (John 17:20-24)
God meant for everyone to be aware of these things, so these circumstances must hold immensely important truths for not only Israel but all the other people around the world.
God’s hope is that everyone will accept His means to save them,
“…God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
Called to Understand Love
The Creator of the Universe calls us to understand His love is for everyone.
Do you know Him?
You are included in this dear listener…
The Apostle John wrote in his gospel that “knowing Jesus is eternal life.”
In Philippians 3:10 the Apostle Paul wrote that his desire was “to know the Lord Jesus.”
How about you? Do you want to know Jesus?
The One who formed you in your mother’s womb is crying out to you, so YOU may know He has a plan and a purpose for your life. He is offering you a life that is abundant in His love.
Understanding the Message
Understanding this message of love is one thing, but coming to terms with it, receiving and believing it is another. To those listening who have joyfully welcomed it, the challenging question to you is, “are you living it?”
The Savior wants His followers to spread this message to everyone: may there be a burning desire in the hearts of all who have accepted Him, to share it in the hope that everyone on the planet may accept His gracious offer and be saved.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Matthew 28:19
Join me as we explore together the expression of God’s hope and heart for humanity in this series, “…That All the World May Know…”
Have you experienced God’s love? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
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