“Then he called for a light and sprang in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved’?”
Acts 16:29-30
Until we’ve answered this question, all others are insignificant and pale in comparison.
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The Philippian jailer was desperate. He thought the prisoners under his care had escaped as a result of the earthquake, which meant an automatic death sentence for him. But, thankfully, the Apostle Paul “cried with a loud voice, saying ‘Do yourself no harm—for we are all here’” (v.28).
How needed is the voice of calm reassurance in these days of increasing anxiety and apprehension over the world and the soul’s conditions! Although it would seem the majority are too busy “partying hardy” to listen as they were in Noah’s day (Gen. 6:5; Mt. 24:36-39), we still must believe the Holy Spirit is at work “convicting of sin, the need of righteousness and Judgment to come” (Jn. 16:8-11).
That’s why we, like Paul and Silas, must be “bold believers” who seize every opportunity to “pray to and praise God,” regardless of what’s happening to or around us (vv.22-25). Instead of sitting around lamenting our treatment or licking our wounds, we must rouse others from their spiritual slumber by heartfelt prayers and hardy praise.
And, in the process, we’ll see God move.
As only He can.
Bringing others to the place where they, like the Philippian jailer, will cry out “Sirs, what must I do to be saved.”
After the Holy Spirit came in power at Pentecost, Peter stood boldly and preached the Gospel . . .without hesitation or reservation. . .without equivocation. . .without fear of retaliation… telling his listeners what God had promised to do (Acts 2:14-21). . .how He sent Jesus into the world to fulfill those promises (vv.22-31). . .how they’d crucified Him and God had raised Him (vv.32-36). . .and what they had to do to be saved (vv.37-40).
And, dear Pilgrim, He’s wanting to do the same through us today.
We may never find ourselves shackled in a deep, dark, dank, dirty dungeon like Paul and Silas. We may never experience an earthquake during a midnight prayer-and-praise meeting. But, we can rest assured the Heavenly Father will position us in the lives of others who are desperate to know how to be saved IF we’re “abiding in Christ” (Jn. 15:1-7) and “walking in His Spirit” (Rom. 8:1).
The question is, “Will we be faithful to tell them?”
Never forget that the Gospel is simple enough for a child to understand, yet so profound that even the greatest theologians cannot fathom it. There comes a time in every person’s life where he/she must decide “What will I do with Jesus? Neutral I cannot be.” That’s why we must be “witnesses unto Him” wherever we are (Acts 1:8)—for eternity’s too long for us to be silent.
August 18, 2011
