1 Way Only--What They Don't Know

What They Don't Know--by Kimberly B. Southall

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"What they don't know won't hurt them," goes a popular saying. But is it true? Give consideration to the following individuals:

Those who don't know about common sanitary precautions in order to prevent disease and infection.
Children who don't know not to play in the street, put a bobby pin in the electric outlet, touch the hot stove burner, etc.
Those who don't know that illegal drug use is addictive and physically harmful.
The high school graduate who needs to obtain a good job with benefits but does not know how to read and write.
The person who doesn't know that the one they are about to engage in sexual activity with has a sexually transmitted disease.
Those considering suicide who don't know that they have friends who really care and still have very good reasons to live.

So after reviewing that list, could we honestly say, "What they don't know won't hurt them"? Of course not! The truth is that what they don't know can hurt them a lot.

Likewise, consider the following situations:

Those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Those who know about Jesus but don't know about the biblical plan of salvation.

You see, as followers of Jesus Christ, we have an obligation to tell and show others the truth (Matthew 28:18-20). We ought to care when we realize that someone doesn't know the truth, because it will, indeed, hurt them very much. If we truly love Jesus, we will love one another (John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:21). We won't want anyone to suffer the eternal consequences of not knowing the true way of salvation. We are to treat others the way we wish to be treated (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31). And if we were on the path to hell, wouldn't we want someone to tell or show us how to get off that path and onto the straight and narrow road of righteousness? Of course we would. No one wants to spend eternity burning in hell.

So please give this matter special consideration. Ask God for guidance and to help you recognize when someone else needs you or your help. Because especially if it's about salvation, what they don't know will hurt them.