Messengers of Life – by Sheldon Bass

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. (Proverbs 24:11 NIV)

The first murder had just taken place; and God asked Cain, the killer, “Where is your brother Abel? ”From the mouth of another sinner came a question that haunts our consciences even today. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

What business is it of mine if someone else is trapped in a sinful lifestyle? What’s that have to do with me? I won’t reach perfection until Christ returns and relieves us of the flesh. Should someone as imperfect as me be worried about those who are not under God’s grace and are heading to an eternity of hell? The above verse commands us to rescue them. It says nothing of judging them.

Rather, it speaks of sharing with others the knowledge of salvation that is found through faith in Jesus, our perfect sacrifice for sin. It speaks of us, the yet imperfect who are in Christ, leading those others to put on the righteousness of God’s Son since none of us on earth meet the righteous requirement for salvation without Him. It’s Jesus’ righteousness that fits me for heaven, not my own.
However, the process of restoring the image of God within us, which has been marred, begins the moment we are born anew in Christ. It’s God’s love that compels me to share the good news of His grace with those who are staggering toward eternity without God. That’s what love does.

Today’s writer is a Bible teacher with a big heart who works with the homeless. Sheldon lives in Indiana. Contact