Christmas is a wonderful time for believer and unbeliever alike. But for the believer, Christmas holds a special meaning. It is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior . But while we are celebrating the birth of Jesus, we should not forget that the gift He brought us was wrapped within His death. We should also remember that not everyone has accepted His gift.
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Book of Revelation
Revelation 6:9 (KJV) tells us that those who accept Jesus Christ during the second half of the Tribulation period will be “slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held”.
Revelation 6:8 (KJV) tells us that one-fourth of the world will be wiped out at the beginning of the Tribulation period.
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Revelation 9:15 (KJV) tells us that a third of those remaining alive will die.
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
Matthew 25:31-46 (NKJV) Describes What Happens At The Final Judgment.
For those who don’t accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, life on earth will be horrible during the second half of the Tribulation, but the misery they will experience in eternity will be unimaginable.
Matthew 25:31-33
(31)“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
(32)“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
(33)“And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
Matthew 25:34-36
(34)“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
(35)‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
(36)‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 25:37-40
(37)“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
(38)‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
(39)‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
(40)“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:42-43
(41)“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
(42)‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
(43)‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
Matthew 25: 44-46
(44)“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
(45)“Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
(46)“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Unsaved Family and Friends
Our hearts always hurt for family and friends who aren’t saved. We pray for them. We tell them about Jesus. The thought of them having to suffer through the Tribulation to come to Jesus or never accepting Jesus and being condemned to everlasting punishment for eternity breaks our hearts. But we can forget about the rest of the world. Only believers will enter God’s Kingdom. Judgment will fall upon all who refuse Jesus and there will be no place to hide from this judgment. We need to have a heart for people (all people) who don’t know God, who haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
We don’t always think the timing is right or convenient for us to help people or to tell people about Jesus. We may not feel comfortable telling people about Jesus. But we shouldn’t let our insecurities, or our “busy” life stop us. We need to be obedient. What God puts on our hearts we should heed and do. We never know which person will respond to God.
I pray we all respond to the things God puts on our hearts to do in the coming year. May our prayers be not just for our families and friends but also for all peoples of the world. May we reach out to more than just our families and friends that need God. May we be obedient in whatever God calls us to do for whomever God calls us to do it for.