First, let me explain what I mean by "burden." Jesus tells Christians to cast their burdens upon Him, and we should do that. This is not the type of burden I am referring to. I am referring to the burden that arises from love for others. I mean the heart wrenching burden, when you see someone walking the wrong path, and you want to stop him or her, but they won't listen to you. THAT's the burden Christians carry.
Before continuing on, I also need to make sure we're on the same page on the term "Christian." There are many people walking around today who call themselves Christians, because they think they are "good people." I once knew an atheist evolutionist who referred to himself as a Christian, because he believed he was a good person.
Furthermore, there are highly religious people who call themselves Christians, but are in fact hell-bound. They have been deeply deceived and are not walking in the truth.
When I refer to "Christian," I am talking about saved, born again, Bible believing Christians, as per the Word of the Lord.
CHRISTIAN:
"And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." -Acts 11:26
"Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." -Acts 26:28
"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." -1 Peter 4:16
BIBLE BELIEVING:
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." -Psalm 119:105
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" -2 Timothy 3:16
SAVED:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." -Romans 10:9-11
BORN AGAIN:
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water {physical birth} and of the Spirit {spiritual birth - born again}, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh {AKA born of the water}; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit {AKA born again}. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven {Jesus was both on earth and in heaven - He is God}. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God {Jesus Christ}." -John 3:3-18
THE BURDEN
Jesus Tells us in John 14:6 that there is only ONE way to heaven, and that is through HIM.
When one gets saved, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live within that person, and to guide them. A saved person has a love for his fellow man. The Bible tells us we are to love fellow Christians, our neighbors, and our enemies. We are to love everyone. A Christian KNOWS the truth. A Christian KNOWS the one and only way to heaven. A Christian has felt the love of Christ. This knowledge, combined with the love for others drives a Christian to want to tell other people about Christ. Why would we want to see anyone go to hell?
Stay true to your calling from the Lord. Shout His truth from the mountaintops. Tell everyone you know. Tell everyone you meet. Remember, brothers and sisters - it's not our job to save people. It's just our job to tell them how to be saved. After that, it is between God and them.
Let's go! Let's get the message out there! :-)
