The title of this post was the theme of our Barry County Southern Baptist Associational Annual meeting.  We had four sessions beginning Monday evening with the preaching of the Annual sermon by Hubert Conway, interim Pastor of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in the Northeast part of our Association. 

The meeting was held at the Arnhart Baptist Church, and was well attended.  The songs, the singing, the sermons were all great, encourageing, and uplifting as well as challenging.  Every message was a reminder of the coming of our Lord.

Last night Dr. Stan Norman from SBU in Bolivar spoke on the final judgment of the Great White Throne, and challenged us to have the heart of Paul concerning our witness and testimony.  Paul wrote in Romans, “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”  Romans 9:1-3 (KJV).  To wish ourselves accursed for the sake of another soul.  That is challenging.

Would we, are we as Baptist, and as Christians willing to be willing to endure the fires and torment of hell, so that one soul or many souls might be saved?  Would I, if I could, give up my salvation for a lost soul to enter heaven for eternity?  I am still thinking about that one.

If we had the heart of Paul and of Jesus Christ there would be a great influx of souls coming to faith in Christ, as the Spirit of God would be moving in great power and glory to Christ.  Let’s think hard and pray long and diligently concerning our hearts and the souls of the lost in our communities, and around the world.

-Tim A. Blankenship