“God our Savior …wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
Do you have parents, spouse, children, or friends who do not know the Lord Jesus? Does your heart ache for their eternal salvation? Then pray for them to be saved – earnestly and with the utmost confidence. For God has placed a burden on your heart for them and He plans to use your prayers and witness to bring about that miracle.
How do I know this? First, because the Bible tells us that God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Paul said it. Peter said it also. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). And the prophet Ezekiel said it also. “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11). And guess what? Jesus said the same thing as well. “I tell you…there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7). Jesus put it this way, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10). That is His Christ’s mission, to save those who are lost – without any qualification except that they believe. God is the savior of all people (1 Timothy 4:10).
But isn’t Jesus merely speaking about the Elect, those whom He’s already chosen to be saved? Isn’t He simply saying that He doesn’t want them to perish? No, not in the least. Think about it. We know that Jesus – the Creator, Redeemer, and Judge – prepared a place for the redeemed – heaven (John 14:1-3). We also know that Christ prepared a place for the devil and his angels – eternal fire (Matthew 25:41). If, therefore, eternal fire was prepared for the devil and his angels, rather than for sinners, where did God intend for them to go – if indeed God only chose for some to be saved and others to be lost? It follows that Christ made heaven big enough to accommodate everyone – and God wants to fill it (Luke 14:23). You see, Jesus said that God so loved the world – not merely the Elect – that He gave His one and only Son (John 3:16). God loves and made provision for the salvation of every human being that will ever live. For, Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Christ is the Propitiation (literally, “satisfaction”) for our sins; but not only ours but also for the entire world (1 John 2:1-2). There is nothing limited about God’s desire to save us nor of His provision to save us. So pray on with confidence for your loved ones. God is sharing His burden for their salvation with you and you are praying according to His will.
REFLECTION
- Do you get discouraged when praying for the salvation of loved ones?
- Isn’t it possible that your prayers for them may not be answered in your lifetime?
- Keep praying for those who are lost. This way you’ll be aligned with God’s will.
