"And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh." Jude vs 22-23

 A vacationing businessman was walking along a beach when he saw a young boy. Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned. The boy was walking slowly along the shore and occasionally reached down and tossed a beached starfish back into the ocean.

The businessman, hoping to teach the boy a little lesson in common sense, walked up to the boy and said, "I have been watching what you are doing, son. You have a good heart, and I know you mean well, but do you realize how many beaches there are around here and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day. Surely such an industrious and kind hearted boy such as yourself could find something better to do with your time. Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?"

 The boy looked up at the man, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, "It makes a difference to that one."

 It is easy to become discouraged at times when it seems that no one receives our message as we share the Gospel. When Peter first preached it more than three thousand people were saved. As Christians, we understand that we have found that precious Stone in Jesus and have passed from death to eternal life - and we just want everyone to have what we have - to experience the joy and peace we feel, and at the end of it all inherit eternal life in glory. As our text shows, some have been polluted by the flesh and we are trying to snatch them out of the fire.

 To make a real difference, it takes much more than setting an example in how we live a yielded life in Christ - we must be active in declaring the whole message of the Gospel. The Gospel is the power for salvation to everyone who believes. When we think of the Gospel, -"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, would not perish but have everlasting life" it must not escape our attention that those without Christ will perish. To believe means to adhere to and abide in - it means to submit to.

 The little boy in our story was motivated by understanding that every starfish which remained on the beach and out of the ocean would perish. The poor starfish could not save themselves but needed help from a willing and compassionate friend. Likewise, outside of Christ we are all perishing and cannot save ourselves. Fortunately, we have a willing and compassionate Friend and Savior in Jesus.

 The little boy knew that no starfish wants to roast on the beach, and we know that no person wants to perish in hell. But there is a difference between starfish and people - God has given every person a free will to choose salvation or refuse it. Our challenge is convincing sinners that they need saving and that they will perish in their present state. They must come to understand that they have sinned against a holy God and learn of the precious sacrifice He made to pay for their sins. Only then can a hardened heart be broken to receive the Precious Seed which is the Life of Jesus.

 God’s heart aches for the unsaved. The heavenly host stand ready to rejoice when one repents. Only when we succeed in snatching a sinner out of the fire have we made a lasting difference.