When Dwight L. Moody was in London during one of his famous evangelistic tours, several British clergymen visited him. They wanted to know how and why this poorly educated American was so effective in winning throngs of people to Christ. Moody took the three men to the window of his hotel room and asked each in turn what he saw. One by one, the men described the people in the park below. Then Moody looked out the window with tears rolling down his cheeks. “What do you see, Mr. Moody?” asked one of the men. “I see countless thousands of souls that will one day spend eternity in hell if they do not find the Saviour.” Obviously, D. L. Moody saw people differently than the average observer does. And because he saw eternal souls where others saw only people strolling in a park, Moody approached life with a different agenda.
The context of our verse is one of living separated unto God, but in the verse cited, we can also see a soul-winning thrust. It is the love of Christ that constrains us to seek out those who know not Christ – it is the love of Christ that constrains us to tell others about His saving grace – it is the love of Christ that constrains us to pluck them as brands from the fire. Christ Himself had a passion for soul-winning. Everywhere He went He told of the free gift of salvation. Look in John 4 at His example of witnessing to the woman at the well. Verse 4 says, “And he must needs go through Samaria.” He was constrained to go through Samaria, for He knew there was a precious woman in great need of the salvation that only He could provide. He sought her out – He witnessed to her – He led her to the fountain of life – and He made a soul-winner out of her. He truly had a passion for lost souls.
But what gives us that passion? There are several things in this chapter that become new for us – that encourage us to win souls for Him.
First, in verse 1 we see we will have a new body in the future – “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” We have the promise that when this temporary body is gone, we will have a permanent new body – one that is eternal.
Secondly, in verses 2-4 we see we have a new desire – “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven … that mortality might be swallowed up of life.” We have the promise that when we have put off this body and gained a new body, we will live in heaven eternally with God.
Thirdly, in verse 5 we see we have a new assurance – “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given us the earnest of the Spirit.” We have the promise of God through the assurance of the Holy Spirit – given to us a downpayment of that eternal glory that we will one day partake of.
Fourth, in verse 7 we see we have a new sphere –“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” We have the promise of God that we now walk in a different plane. Whereas we once could only walk in places we could actually see, now we have the ability to walk in places that only our faith can take us. We can actually walk with God in His plane – and someday, when we have that new body, we’ll physically walk with Him.
Lastly, in verses 8-9 we see we have a new incentive – “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” We have the promise of God that one day we will be present with Him – and that promise keeps us going that we may be accepted of Him. That’s our incentive – that’s our ambition. For one day we will have to stand before the judgment (v. 10), therefore, we persuade men because of the terror of the Lord, that is that their eternal destination without Christ is hell (v. 11). So, “the love of Christ constraineth us.”
Quote – “If you can get a man to think about his soul and where he will spend eternity for five minutes, then more than likely he’ll be converted.” – D. L. Moody
