Most all people have made a trip to the hospital emergency room, either for their own personal need or to visit or accompany another in need. Normally, the first person to provide care in the emergency room is the emergency room nurse. The second Wednesday of October each year is set aside to celebrate Emergency Nurses Day in America. Emergency room nurses provide comfort and care to people who are seriously sick or hurt, and in need of urgent care. These nurses are highly trained to provide medical support to people during their emergency room visits.
“Words from Above” in the Bible suggest that there is really no greater emergency than to seek the proper care needed for the human soul in order to prepare it for eternity. It is truly a matter of life or death, and never to be ignored or taken lightly. Due to the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the human soul and has infected every single descendant of Adam and Eve.
The apostle Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:10 that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of the life that we have lived on this earth. He tells us in I Corinthians 3 that all that we have ever done will be tested by God’s fire, and we will be rewarded if we pass the test and lose our rewards if we fail it. However, if we have confessed our sins to God and then asked for His forgiveness, He will grant us His great gift of salvation and eternal life. Paul says in II Corinthians 6:2 that now is the accepted time to seek God’s salvation, and not to put off that decision another moment, because it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
In Romans 10, Paul explains that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is our Lord, and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved. But, he also goes on to ask a series of extremely important questions, beginning with the question of how shall people call on God if they have not believed on Him. He then asks about how people can believe if they have not heard of Him, and how shall they hear unless they are told by someone. That’s where those who believe come into the picture, for they are the ones to tell those who do not yet know. It’s a simple matter of passing on the message by those who know it to those who do not know.
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.
