[ By: Tom Smith, Wooddale Church of Christ ]

The story is told of the church members of a well to do congregation arriving to services on a particular Sunday. As each member arrived, they saw a "bum" rummaging through their dumpster. No none bothered to go over to invite him to services. Some t thought it was disgraceful that hee was on their property. Some thought that he would surely come around panhandling. Finally, someone went over to the dumpster and told him that he had to leave the property immediately because he was trespassing. Services started and the preacher was nowhere in sight. As the song before the sermon was sung, the "bum" entered through a different door, proceeded to step into the pulpit and reveal himself as the preacher! Not a single person had thought him "worthy" of salvation.

This seems to be the attitude of many of us, even though we are often unwilling to admit it. There are those whom we consider unworthy of eternal life. What did the Lord teach concerning this? Jesus told us that we are to reach out to all with the gospel. (Mark 16:15-16)

The attitude that Jesus teaches us to have toward our enemies shows that all deserve the gospel. If our enemies are deserving of our love and concern, isn't everyone deserving of the gospel? The first century church was made up of individuals who had been among the "scum of the earth." I Corinthians 6:9-11, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." All these individuals were the kind of persons we would consider a "poor prospect" for the gospel. They heard the gospel and willingly gave up their sinful lives.

God wants every person to be saved, not just those whom we think are worthy. I Timothy 2:3-4 "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." If God wants all men to be saved, don't we have an obligation to not assume anyone cannot respond. There are of course, various soils (conditions of sinners' Hearts). Some are more likely to obey than others. But let us never completely write off anyone because of outward conditions. The person we dismiss just may be another Peter or Paul.