We have all experienced “breaking points.” Whether it was after a long day at school or work and being so tired that when someone asked us a dumb question we snapped back at them, or being so overwhelmed by emotions and stress we crumpled over and cried…we’ve all experienced these “breaking points.” When was your latest breaking point? What was the cause? What did it make you change? Are you right now at the Nth degree? Are you ready to snap? Is one more thing going to push you over the cliff?
We tend to view breaking points as negative. Sometimes the cause; sometimes the result. I submit though that there are breaking points that are necessary to experience. The first is the breaking point of Salvation. What does/did God have to do to break you into realizing your need of him? Our pride must be broken and we must realize that nothing we can do will get us to heaven. The second is the breaking point of obedience. How can you be convinced to do what you should and forsake that which you should not be doing? You may say I am doing what I should be. Are you? You know yourself better than I do, but if you are anything like me there is a sin that is like a splinter to you. It hurts a little bit so you try to squeeze it out, but settle for just getting a little piece at a time. You don’t view it as a major problem, just an annoyance. Instead we need to go ahead and get the needle out. Sure, it will hurt more than the splinter, but you will get rid of it and the cut can heal the way it needs to. Find that splinter and remove it. Or be as radical as to cut the limb off that it is on.
Finally, I believe there is one breaking point that is essential in the Christian life. The breaking point of the Gospel. What is bigger than the Gospel? You? Me? Your Job? Your relationships? What hinders you from sharing the Gospel? Why aren’t you doing it with more fervor? Who doesn’t deserve the Gospel? Who are you to judge? Don’t homosexuals deserve to hear of the true love of Christ for them? Don’t Politicians deserve to hear of the Justice of God? Don’t Catholics deserve to hear about the GIFT of eternal life? What about the Pope? What about President Obama? DO NOT ALL OF THESE DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE TRUE GOSPEL? I’ve found that most Christians subconsciously think that _________ doesn’t deserve to hear the Gospel because ________. We justify our action of uncaringly refusing the Gospel to people by judging the person. What about the thief on the cross? He didn’t deserve the Gospel because he was a terrible person and he even mocked Christ at the first. He reached his breaking point of salvation moments before dying. He was not the prime candidate of receiving the Gospel. What about the cashier at WalMart? “well they are working I don’t want to get them in trouble.” COME ON! A simple tract won’t kill you. And if you are buying enough stuff for the Apocalypse then you have plenty of time to share the Gospel. Sometimes “hearing” of the Gospel doesn’t come through audible speaking, but by the nature of your actions people can see the difference. Walking around with the name of Christ on you is a huge duty! It should cause us to always think, “Does this showcase Christ?” Does my conversation cause others to consider me one of them? Or is there something that is evidently different? This breaking point is the hardest one to overcome. Break yourself. Decide that you are going to LIVE the Gospel.
Every man deserves to hear of the good news of Christ. We are called to give every man that opportunity. If we fail on our end, then millions will die and enter into eternity without hearing. They will go to Hell. You CANNOT withhold the Gospel in good conscience. You are then handing them tickets to Hell. Everyone and I mean EVERYMAN and EVERYWOMAN and EVERYCHILD deserves the chance to hear the Gospel. You CANNOT NOT share the Gift of God, Christ Jesus, Messiah, the Lamb.
