A Bittersweet Message
To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
- 2 Corinthians 2:16
Have you ever eaten something that was sweet going down but made you sick later? Let me restate the question: Have you ever eaten eight Krispy Kreme doughnuts in one sitting? I have. I got a little carried away. They were great going down. But less than ten minutes later, I was asking, What have I done?
In Revelation 10, the apostle John asked an angel for a small scroll. When the angel gave him the scroll, he told John, "Yes, take it and eat it. It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!" (verse 9).
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John said, "So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach. Then I was told, 'You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings' " (verses 10–11).
The message that we believe as Christians is sweet to us, but it is bitter to others. This is God's Word to us. We eat it like food. Job said, "I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food" (Job 23:12). For Christians to have a Bible study is like a feast. We love it. But for others, it is misery and torment. They don't like it.
Some hear the gospel and say, "I love that. I believe it. I want Jesus."
Others say, "Not only do I not like it, I hate it. And I hate you for saying it."
As believers, we need to take the message of the gospel and give it to as many as we can. Whether they love it or hate it is really up to them.
