By Pastor Lazarus Muoka

Text: Hebrews 2:3: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great
salvation…”

The greatest danger facing many people, today, is not poverty, disease, war or economic hardship. The greatest danger is carelessness about the salvation of their souls. There are countless men and women who are very careful about earthly matters, but completely careless about eternal things. They carefully protect their money, health, businesses, and possessions, yet they pay little or no attention to the condition of their souls. They live as though life on earth will continue forever, forgetting that every person must one day stand before God.

The Bible asks a solemn question: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” This question deserves serious consideration. Notice that it does not ask how a person will escape if he rejects salvation, fights against salvation or mocks salvation. It asks how he will escape if he simply neglects it. Many people are not openly opposing God; they are simply neglecting Him. They neglect prayer. They neglect the study of God’s word. They neglect repentance. They neglect the worship of God. They neglect the salvation that Christ purchased with His precious blood. Yet neglect is enough to ruin a soul forever.

The careless soul often assumes there is plenty of time and intends to seek God someday. He plans to repent later. He expects to give his life to Christ when he is older or when circumstances become more favourable. But God’s word says in Proverbs 27:1: “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” No man controls tomorrow. No one knows when death may come. Every heartbeat is a gift from God, and every day brings us closer to eternity.

The people of Noah’s generation were careless. Noah preached God’s warning faithfully for many years. He warned them of coming judgment. He pleaded with them to turn from their sins. Yet they continued with their daily activities without concern. They ate, drank, married, bought, sold and carried on as usual. They ignored the warning until the flood came and swept them all away. The tragedy was not that God failed to warn them. The tragedy was that they refused to listen.

Our generation is behaving in much the same way. The gospel is preached in churches, on radio stations, through books, over the Internet, and in personal conversations. God’s warning is sounding everywhere, yet many remain indifferent. Some hear the message repeatedly without responding. Others believe they will have another opportunity. But one day the final invitation will be given, and the door of mercy will close.

The careless soul is often blinded by the temporary pleasures of sin. Sin promises happiness, but delivers sorrow. It promises freedom, but produces bondage. It promises satisfaction, but leaves the heart empty. Satan never reveals the true consequences of sin. He hides the shame, the regret, the brokenness and the eternal judgment that follow a life of rebellion against God.

The Bible says in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Every sin carries a wage, and that wage is death. This includes spiritual death, separation from God, and eternal punishment for all who refuse His offer of mercy. Yet many continue carelessly in sin, as though God’s judgment will never come.

The rich man described by our Lord Jesus Christ, in Luke 16, lived carelessly. He enjoyed luxury and comfort every day. He had no concern for God and no concern for eternity. At his gate lay a poor beggar named Lazarus. The rich man lived for this world alone. Then death came. The Bible says: “The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments.” What a terrible awakening! The man who had ignored God throughout his life suddenly found himself in eternity without hope.

Many people, today, are following the same path. They are occupied with earthly success, but neglecting eternal realities. They know about God, but they do not know God personally. They hear about salvation, but they have never truly received it. They attend religious services occasionally, but their hearts remain far from God. Such carelessness is extremely dangerous because eternity is forever.

God has no pleasure in the destruction of sinners. His heart is full of mercy. His desire is that men and women repent and be saved. The Lord declared in Ezekiel 33:11: “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” This is why He continues to warn us. Every warning in the scripture is an expression of divine love. God warns because He cares. He warns because He desires to save. He warns because judgment is real.

The greatest evidence of God’s love is found in the gift of His son, Jesus Christ, who left the glory of heaven and came into this sinful world to seek and save the lost. He lived a sinless life, suffered rejection and humiliation and finally died upon the cross for our sins. There, He bore the punishment that we deserved. His precious blood was shed for our redemption. He was buried, and on the third day He rose again in victory over death.

John 3:16 declares: “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.” What amazing love! What wonderful grace! God has made a way of escape through Jesus Christ. No sinner needs to perish. No one needs to face eternity without hope. The door of mercy remains open today.

Yet the invitation will not remain open forever. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” The Holy Spirit is calling. The word of God is speaking. The Saviour is inviting. The question is whether the careless soul will respond before it is too late.

One day every person will stand before God. Wealth will not matter. Position will not matter. Human achievements will not matter. The only thing that will matter is whether we have received God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Death is certain, and judgment is certain. No one can escape these realities.

Therefore, let every careless soul awake from spiritual slumber. Let every sinner turn from his evil ways. Let every backslider return to the Lord. Let every hearer of the gospel respond, while mercy is still available. The Saviour’s arms remain open. His blood still cleanses from all sin. His grace is still sufficient. His invitation is still extended to all who will come.

Do not delay. Do not postpone repentance. Do not assume there will be another opportunity. Today is God’s day of mercy. Today is God’s day of salvation. Today is the day to surrender your heart to Christ.

May the warning of God’s Word find a place in every heart, and may none of us be counted among those who neglected, so great a salvation. Instead, may we come humbly to the cross, receive the forgiveness that Christ offers, and be ready to meet the Lord whenever He calls. Amen!