Winner
Prov 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
“Man lifts car to rescue child trapped beneath it.”
“Young woman injured while pushing old lady from the path of a bus.”
“Soldier throws himself over live grenade to preserve the lives of many surrounding comrades.”
“House wife shows the love of God to needy family and leads them to eternal life in Christ.”
For the person who has really come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, there is an incredible awareness that He is who and what He said He is- the way, the truth, and the life, that no one can come to the Father but by Him, and there is salvation in no other. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) To know this salvation personally, however, is to become increasingly aware that those without Him aren’t just missing out on a good option, they are without life at all and are destined for eternal damnation.
In this understanding there is an adjustment of life’s priorities, where actions that produce salvation are moved above selfish pursuits. Being made right in Him begins to produce His fruit in a life that is transformed from selfish motives to love ones, where personal concerns are lost in the passion for saving another. This fruit is evidenced in the amazing examples given where people gain incredible selfless strength and courage to save someone else who is in peril. Lost in this love is not only the concern about personal needs, but there is also complete disregard of how saving actions might offend the one being saved. The greater the peril, the greater is the focus fixed on securing life, no matter what minor injuries might be incurred.
At the moment of emergency, though, it isn’t just an awareness of another’s danger that makes a difference, but the action taken to rescue them. It’s not just enough to become well versed in the magnitude of the impending doom, but there must be an immediate action taken in order to deliver the endangered one. Understanding alone produces no life, and attempting tolerance with sensitivity to the ‘feelings’ of the imperiled produces no life whatsoever. It is only the action of selfless love that makes use of whatever means necessary and available to save.
The world around us in on a path to certain destruction. It is evidenced in wars, the economy, addictions, moral degradation and natural disasters. Many are consumed with attempting to ‘care’ for those in the path of this peril, but, while natural and physical needs are emphasized with a focus on personal choice, there is a great deal of reticence to directly deal with the greatest peril of all. Concern for personal reputation and not wanting to ‘offend’ the imperiled cause many to compromise the only means of true salvation- the gospel of Jesus Christ. The very action that is necessary to sweep them from the path of the speeding train, lift the crushing load, and cover the explosions of life is letting them know that there is salvation in none other than Jesus. No matter what their political, religious, philosophical, or personal beliefs, they will perish if they refuse to accept the offer of life in Him. While this message can certainly be given with love and understanding, if it is compromised in the least, they will perish. To really believe this message of salvation and to really live it is to know that it can’t be kept as a private, personal persuasion. There is no personal salvation, because as soon as it becomes personal, it becomes the means by which another can also know eternal life. It must be told and its fruit will produce the wisdom of life.
James 5:19 My brethren, if any among you err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.