Mourn the living

I was thinking the other day of some folks  who had gone to heaven ahead of us. I will admit I was reminiscing, and then I was struck by another thought: why do we mourn those in heaven? What about those here and now? Those we pass by everyday who have a future in Hell? Why are we only weeping at the death of a loved one? Why are we not crying, grieving for those who are dead on the bus we are on, in the office where we work? Who we see everyday and give no thought to their eternal destination?

Christ tells us to let the dead bury the dead:

Matthew 8:21-23King James Version (KJV)

21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Christ was not being crass or unfeeling. He was putting the importance where it belongs: on the ministry to the living.

Christ was here to preach and spread the Good News of Salvation freely given to all men. Of a hope for life and life abundant.

There is a time and place for mourning, or in a Christian's case a celebration of the passing on.

However, we need to mourn the dead whilst they are still alive physically but dead spiritually in their trespasses and sins. 

We need to cry out for them today while there is still time for them to move from death to life, before they die and have no second chance. Before they move on to this place:

Matthew 8:12    KJV

12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth

We need to pray and sweat and grieve for them while they are here, while we still have time to work.

There is a need for prayer,  for tears, for grieving and that time is NOW.

Not after they are gone when they are cold in a casket, but now while they are alive and have a chance for the regeneration, the rebirth, into the family of God. While there is still a chance for them to escape their future in the pit of Hell.

Get on your knees today and then get up in the Power of God and tell them today. Tell them of their only hope: the precious blood of Christ shed for them.

Get out and get the Good News spread abroad. Christ is waiting for them now, Christ is willing that none should perish. 

But how Shall they know unless they are told? How will they know unless you tell them?

Mourn those living who still have time. Speak to them now of the blessed hope while they can still hear.