WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ORANGE

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TITLE: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ORANGE?

By Stanley L. Derickson

First published in the Baptist Bulletin.

What do I mean by this somewhat obscure question?

It is meant, probably most of all, to illustrate a great lack in our witnessing today.

There is only one logical answer to this question and that is this, "A banana doesn't have any bones." You say that doesn't make any sense. You are probably right! HOWEVER, I believe it makes as much sense as some of the witnessing that goes on today in America, as well as around the world. Let me illustrate for you.

If you ask a person if they want to be saved, or do they want to be saved from their sin, and this is all you include in your witness, I believe you are presenting a question very similar to, "What's the difference between an orange?"

You have given them a question that probably makes no sense to them.

You have told them they need to be saved - but the question in their mind is, "Saved from what?" If they ask you what they need to be saved from, you will probably reply, "From your sin." Please consider this one carefully - who wants to be saved from their sin? Please tell me who wants to be saved from their sin? THEY ARE ENJOYING SIN TO THE HILT - WHY BE SAVED FROM IT? If you think for one minute that the average American is concerned about sin, or even concerned about what sin might be, you are not up to date. The average American today IF, and I mean IF, he knows what sin is, he certainly is not concerned about being saved from it.

You see, something has happened in America over the last few years! You see, nasty, mean old Satan has gone underground. He has convinced the unsaved that he doesn't exist, he has convinced the unsaved that there is no such thing as sin, he has convinced the unsaved that there is no such thing as hell (even if there is, it's only here on earth), he has convinced the unsaved that everyone is going to heaven, he has convinced the unsaved that a loving God wouldn't have a judgment -- God loves us too much.

Then on the other hand he has convinced the saved that it isn't good to talk about hell (it's too negative), he has convinced the saved that it's only a separation from God, he has convinced the saved that if we talk about hell it will scare people off, he has convinced the saved that hell isn't a useful point of evangelism.

If you tell a lost soul they are going to be "separated from God if they don't accept Christ," SO WHAT! THEY ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD NOW, AND THEY ARE ENJOYING THEMSELVES IN SIN!

How do you approach the lost, concerning eternal separation from God?

Do you use terms like, you'll be lost, you'll be separated from God, you won't enter heaven, you need to have a relationship with Christ, you will be condemned, or do you use the term Hell, and describe what hell is, what it is going to be like, and how terrible it is going to be?

A news report a few years ago reported that a survey revealed that 58% of Americans do not believe in hell. That should tell us two things.

First of all, it rather taints the figures that tell us that half of America is born again, but more importantly, it should tell us that we need to help the people to whom we witness to understand that not only are they going to be separated from God for all eternity, but that eternity will be spent in TORMENT.

How can the lost person make a proper decision about salvation without knowing the entire story? Christ mentioned eternal torment a number of times in the Gospels. We ought to be giving out the same message, not just part of it.

We cannot wonder too much about why the doctrine of Hell has gone by the way side. We aren't preaching about it anymore, we aren't teaching about it anymore, we aren't showing the concept in our Gospel tracts anymore, and what is really serious is that we are not instructing many of our Bible college and Seminary students in the doctrine.

"What's the difference between an orange?" "Do you want to be saved?"

TWO QUESTIONS. They seem to be of the same type, in today's society!

Many don't view hell as being forever, thus we might mention Matthew 25:46 which says in a context of separation of the just and the unjust, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal." (Everlasting and eternal are the same word.) If hell isn't eternal then heaven isn't either, and that is unacceptable in light of Scripture!

PEOPLE IN AMERICA DON'T KNOW WHAT HELL IS!

It would be wise for all that witness to include an introduction to what they mean by "separated from God," so that the listener can have a proper understanding of the pros and cons of accepting or rejecting Christ.

The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). Those that have not accepted Christ as their personal Savior are sinners and deserve the very best that Satan has to offer and that is, his eternal repose, that is his eternal dwelling place, that is his eternal destination, that is the eternal burning fire of hell.

The sinner is lost and on his way to hell, and nothing can stop that descent into the place prepared for them unless they call on the merciful Jesus Christ.

Their choice is heaven or hell. Their choice is eternal delight or eternal agony. Their choice is eternal life or eternal death. Their choice is the refreshing waters of the river of life or the flames of hell. Their choice is eternity with the Father or eternity with the father of lies. Their choice is eternal light or eternal darkness.

Their choice is eternal comfort or eternal suffering. Their choice is eternal joy or eternal sorrow. Their choice is a glorified body or a tormented body. Their choice is eternal fellowship with Christ or eternal fallowship with Satan. Their choice is accept Jesus Christ as their Savior or accept the consequences of following the devil into the lake of fire.

That is if you call that a choice.

TO ME THE CHOICE IS OBVIOUS TO THE MOST CASUAL OBSERVER!!

To put it as one flippant observer of the Gospel has put it, 'It's turn or burn!'"

The Lord told us to go into all nations. (Matt 28:18-20) We are not reaching all nations today! Indeed if an impartial observer of statistics were to look at the data they would have to conclude that we are only trying to reach the United States. The figures show that only about ten percent of our Christian workers are on the foreign field. The amount spent to keep the home front going is the vast majority of funds available.

Are we in America really interested in preaching the entire Gospel? Indeed, are we even preaching the Gospel. The indications are that we are all waiting in our easy chairs, waiting for people to come to us to seek the good news that we have.

It is our generation's responsibility to reach the world for the Lord. There is no other generation that can do the job that Christ gave for us to do!

Let us close with the words of an eyewitness, in the place of torment. "I am tormented in this flame."( Luke 16:24) May these words move us to action. Remember that it is our generation that is to reach the present generation here on earth!

"I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME"

"GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD...."