To Encourage You

1 Samuel 20:3 “But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”

1 Samuel 20:9 “And Jonathan said, ‘Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?’”

There are things that Christians know that the world around them is oblivious to. We have the inside track, so to speak, about the way things really are.  But it isn’t to stay that way, for God has called us to share the truth with everyone. 

In the verses above we have some excerpts from a conversation between David and his dear friend, Jonathan, the son of King Saul.  David is more aware of a danger he faced than was Jonathan. David knew that Saul was seeking to take his life as soon as possible. Saul was the king. He had many resources at his disposal.  Because of this, David felt that he was living on borrowed time.  The situation was worse than Jonathan thought it was; nevertheless, Jonathan promised David that if things were truly as bad as David said, then Jonathan would be certain to warn him.  That’s what friends do, after all, isn’t it?  They warn those they love of danger when they know about it. 

So, does this have anything to do with you and me?  Are those we love in any danger? And if so, are we aware of it?  Well, truth be told, the thing that David said to Jonathan was true not just for him, but for each and every one of us. Whether we want to admit it or not, death is very near – it could be a mere step away.  We may not know when it’s coming, but we know it is coming and its’ coming is likely sooner than we think.  For the believer, we can have confidence in the face of this.  Although, surely, no one looks forward to the process of dying, believers have the incredible promise that “to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). 

But for those who don’t know Christ, the ramifications are infinitely more severe.  To die without Christ is to suffer an eternity outside of his presence in a place with eternal “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:50). If we are believers, we know this, for Jesus has told us.  But if we know this, have we warned those we truly love?  Or does the fear that we might upset them or that they might reject us keep us from saying anything?  You see, Jonathan was committed to warn David if he became aware that David was in danger of physical harm.  For him to fail to do this would have been a great act of neglect.  How then can we fail to warn our unbelieving friends and family of the infinitely greater spiritual harm that they are facing without being guilty of even greater neglect? But do we think about it this way? Are we fine with our loved ones being oblivious to the dangers we are well aware of?  Have we ever told them of a way of escape? 

Jonathan had a commitment to David, despite the fact that to warn his friend might put Jonathan, himself, in the place of danger from his own father.  Likewise, when we commit to sharing the gospel with others, their enemy may very well turn on us as well.  But we have another inside track, for “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).” 

May God help us who know of danger serve as God’s watchmen (Ezekiel 33) to warn those we love, for the danger that faces our unsaved loved ones is far greater than the danger to the watchmen who are faithful to sound the alarm.