30 Seconds

Eastford Baptist Church
January 26, 2007

In New England during the month of January, it’s not uncommon to fantasize about going on a short vacation to a warmer climate. As I type this my thermometer currently reads minus three degrees outside. It’s so cold that when I stepped outside this morning, my shadow actually froze to the sidewalk. (I had to bring it in and thaw it out in the microwave!) OK, I am exaggerating a little – but it’s still pretty cold out there! Travel agents know that colder temperatures can work to their advantage as they tempt us with vacation packages to warmer places this time of year. But realistically few of us can just drop what we are doing when the thermometer takes a dive and head off for a vacation in the sun. So we imagine a visit to a place with white sand, blue sky, palm trees and warm water - a 30 second vacation that doesn’t cost us anything. Granted, it’s not quite as satisfying as the real thing – but it still brings a sense of warmth to a cold New England morning.
Now let’s take another 30 seconds of your time and allow me to ask you a question. Let’s play a game called, “What If?” What if God offered to let you spend 30 seconds in heaven or 30 seconds in hell today, which would you choose? Now again, I’m not talking about forever; just a thirty second visit. Which location do you think would make you a stronger, more mature follower of Christ? If you were able to see the glory and majesty and beauty of heaven for 30 seconds, how do you think it would impact your life? Or if God were to show the reality of the lost as they are eternally separated from Him in a fiery hell - how do you think that would impact your life? Which 30 second visit would make you a stronger Christian? Which one would give you a greater burden for lost people?
Regardless of how cold it is currently outside, I doubt many would opt for the visit to hell. I mean, I’m sure we would all like to be a little warmer, but I think most would consider that going too far. Heaven would undoubtedly be the more appealing choice. But if God gave me the option of letting every member of our church spend 30 seconds in heaven or 30 seconds in hell, I think I would ask God to let all of us spend just 30 seconds in hell. Because those of us who know the Lord are going to spend eternity in heaven, but I think that 30 seconds in hell would change us for the rest of our lives. If we could see the agony and hear the voices of those who are there, we would come back and be the most evangelistic Christians on earth.
In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells a parable (which only takes about 30 seconds to read) about a rich man and a beggar who both die and go to their eternal destinies. The rich man, who rejected the Word of God and lived selfishly, is seen suffering in torment in hell. The beggar, who never enjoyed many blessings in life but responded to God’s message of salvation, was rewarded with the comforts of heaven. The primary focus in this parable is on the rich man who calls out for someone to go and warn his family members. He doesn’t want them to end up like he did - in a never ending torment in hell. But the response to his request is that they already have been warned in the Scriptures. If they are not willing to respond to what God has already revealed in the Bible – they would not respond even if someone were to rise from the dead.
Now this passage is more than just a story. It’s a thirty second window into reality that is meant to impact the way we live our lives. It’s given to us by God to underscore the urgency of spreading the Gospel. Each one of us is called to declare the reality of heaven and hell. Each one of us is called to be a witness that heaven has been given as a gift to everyone who is willing to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior – and hell awaits those who reject Him. Each one of us had been called to declare that death and sin have been conquered through (and only through) the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each one of us is called to carry a burden for those who do not yet know His forgiveness and grace. We are to understand that it’s not about something man has created or imagined. Heaven and hell are not creations of man. They are realities of life. - - So many people rely on the imaginations and wisdom of their own mind instead of the revealed Word of God - playing a game with their eternal destiny. We are called to break through the imaginations of man and declare the truth of God’s Word.
I encourage you to take thirty seconds today and read the passage mentioned above. Ask yourself if you have a burden for people who have not yet surrendered to His love, grace and forgiveness. Take 30 seconds and pray for each person that comes to mind and ask that God would open their hearts to the truth of His Word. Take 30 seconds and ask God to lead you to someone who does not yet know the Gospel. Watch for that opportunity and when it arrives, take 30 seconds to plant the seed of salvation in their heart.
And if as you read this you realize that you have not yet surrendered your heart to Him and asked for His forgiveness through the cross of Christ – take 30 seconds and in humility receive His grace.
It’s only 30 seconds. But it can make a difference for all of eternity.

Hoping you are secure in the warmth of His love,
PT