We received news on Tuesday that someone whom we know and loved passed away. We were in shock as she was young—only 42 years old and she had, as far as we knew, no history of any serious sickness. She came for September’s church gospel rally. In fact, she had heard the gospel numerous times but she was resistant towards the gospel. Out of concern, I told her that night during refreshment, that when we as her relatives urge her to believe in the Lord Jesus, it must be for her good because we are relatives who love her. I also told her that night that the opportunity to receive salvation is not always available because we may not be alive tomorrow. I had preached the gospel to her in a group but this was the first time that I had been so forthright with her when speaking to her alone. It was also my last time.

As much as we felt very sad, I think that we as relatives who are Christians have done our part in inviting her to salvation in the Lord Jesus.

Dear friend, if you are resistant towards the Lord Jesus, I urge you to open your heart to the Lord Jesus. You will one day die and sometimes death comes to you sooner than you think. We praise God that Jesus loves you and died to take your punishment due to your sins. After three days, he also rose victoriously from death. Jesus has conquered death. Death opens the door to heaven. I urge you today to humble yourself before the Lord Jesus and ask Him to be your Lord and Saviour. You will receive eternal life and heaven. The Bible exhorts you, that “Today, if you hear His voice, so not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Hebrews 3:15). Do not say, “I’ll think about it tomorrow” because you may not have tomorrow. Be wise: How can you live in peace when you know death can come to you anytime? Jesus has conquered death. Believe in the Lord Jesus today.

Dear Christians, we are often more concerned about the bodily needs of our loved ones. But no matter how much material things or enjoyment you give to your loved one, he will still one day die. If you give to him Jesus, after he dies, he will live again because he has eternal life.

Today, you must start to pray regularly for his salvation. Ask God to soften his heart to save him. Ask God to help Christians around him to be good testimonies. Above all, you must love him. One thing you can do is to share with him what you learn from the sermons you hear on Sundays, your daily bible reading or Adult Sunday School. Invite him to Sunday Worship Service, Fellowship Meetings or church activities. Better still, arrange for him to attend the Basic Bible Class.

An acronym that can help you remember what to do to reach out to the lost with the gospel is the word FLIP, that is, “flip” lives for the Lord, where “F” stands for Friendship: Make friends with him; “L” stands for Life: You must have an abundant life so that you overflow with life to touch lives; “I” stands for Invite: Invite him to church activities; “P” stands for Pray: You must pray for him because only the Almighty Holy Spirit God is capable of attracting him to the Saviour Jesus Christ.

Do not let your loved ones die without Christ because they will perish in hell for eternity. They do not get a second chance for salvation after they die. Whilst they are alive, ask God to save them. But you must pray and be a good testimony.