THE SIN OF INDECISION…

REVELATION 21:5-8: “And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “ It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost. The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:5-8

OBSERVATION: What is the greatest sin that one can commit in life? When we think of sin we are normally drawn to a list of the things that we find personally offensive. Some will go to the lists of sins found in the Bible and quote them. Usually among these lists, we will find murder, drunkenness, idolatry, and the like. Yet there is one sin most people pass over.

It is the sin of INDECISION!

The Book of Revelation is filled with God’s judgment on a sinful world. It is a book that is very graphic in laying out the final rebellion and judgment of a broken and lost world that would rather worship the Antichrist and an image than the Creator of the Universe. With each judgment men and women are given the opportunity to repent. Yet, they double down on their hardness of heart.

Revelation 19 introduces us to the End. Jesus, in all of His glory, with the armies of heaven, come to judge the world. He does not come to judge this world with weapons of warfare. He comes to judge the world with His Word! It is the holiness of Jesus Christ and the power of His Word that will bring the final judgment on the world.

• “From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND Lord OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:15-16

Revelation chapter 20 introduces us to the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. Satan is bound for 1000 years and all the promises of God’s covenant with Israel are fulfilled as Jesus reigns from Jerusalem and establishes peace in the world. Yet, this is still a restrained peace. Men and women still have the opportunity to choose to place their faith in the Messiah or remain in unbelief. When the 1000 years are ended Satan is loosed for one final confrontation with the saints of God.

The next event is the final judgment of God on the unbelieving at the Great White Throne Judgment. All those who had died, over all the ages, and in the final battle of rebellion, are given a fair trial before the throne of Jesus Christ. These are those who did not believe in Jesus Christ. They died in their sins. Their judgment is based on two things. The works they have done and the absence of their name in the Book of Life. Every person who rejected Jesus Christ will be held accountable and will be without excuse.

This brings us to the greatest reason for their judgment. In Revelation 21 Jesus summarizes the sins that will keep one out of the New Heavens and New Earth and destine them for eternal punishment outside of the presence of God. We are expecting at the front of the list the great atrocities that have been conducted against mankind. Yet, this list does not begin with these sins. It begins with the greatest sin of all.

It begins with the sin of INDECISION!

Jesus says, “…But for the cowardly, and unbelieving…”. It does not take great acts of sin to keep one out of the Kingdom of God. It is not the most vile person who is excluded from the New Heavens and the New Earth. It is the neighbor next door, the shopkeeper, the waitress, the clerk, the football coach, the civic leader, the politician, the doctor, the lawyer, the clergyman, and such – who never placed their faith in Jesus Christ and received His gift of salvation.

It begins with those who FAILED TO MAKE A DECISION!

What a sobering truth! What a call for introspection! So many feel that their good works will save them. Yet, these are all but filthy rags and in light of our entire lives, we would all be sentenced to eternal punishment based on our works. Only I know the deep hidden failures of my life that no one sees. These disqualify me from the Kingdom of God. There is only one hope that I have. It is not what I have done.

It is in what Jesus Christ has already done for me on the Cross!

The wonderful hymn says it so poignantly.

My hope is built on nothing lessthan Jesus’ blood and righteousness;I dare not trust the sweetest frame,but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:all other ground is sinking sand;all other ground is sinking sand.

It only takes one thing to keep me out of heaven and the coming New Heavens and New Earth. It is indecision. It is to trust in my works and ignore the call to repent and believe the Gospel. It is to be afraid of following Jesus and His Word.

It is cowardly unbelief that is the greatest sin. This is the sin of indecision.

Yet – HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS! God has spoken to us now through His Word so that we can believe. Our future, our eternal future, hinges on a single decision. Like the thousands who heard Peter preach on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is wrestling with our hearts at this very moment. We need to cry out as they cried out…

• “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” Acts 2:37

The Holy Spirit, as He spoke to Peter, now speaks to you and me. This is not a time for indecision. We are living in the final chapter of humanity. The days outlined in the Book of Revelation are right at the door. As we see these events unfold before us, let us hear the words of Peter’s response and let us hear them without indecision.

• “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

The Apostle Paul also speaks to us in this day.

• “…For He says, “A t a favorable time I listened to you , And on a day of salvation I helped you .” Behold, now is “ a favorable time ,” behold, now is “ a day of salvation ” 2 Corinthians 6:2

The only thing necessary to keep us from eternal life in the presence of the Living God is – INDECISION!

If you have not made a decision for Jesus Christ – today is the day for your salvation! Place your full trust in Him. Repent of your sin, and your indecision, and receive His free gift of eternal life to all who believe! If you know someone who is living in indecision – share this post with them. Pray for them and ask God to give you the boldness to be a light and a witness for Jesus Christ in these final days!

Lord, I pray that everyone who reads this post will move from their indecision to a decision to follow Jesus. Grant them the grace to surrender and lay down all of their righteousness at the foot of the cross and be clothed in His righteousness by grace through faith. Help us all to live boldly in these last days and proclaim through our words and through our lives – the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the only hope for eternal life!

In Jesus’ Name!