If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will He not repay man according to his work? (Pro. 24:10-12)
It is the unfaithful and condemned that "fatten their hearts for the day of slaughter" (Jas. 5:5; Jer. 25:34). We pass by people every day who have not obeyed the Gospel, stumbling toward their day of slaughter.
God's desire is to "hold them back"––much like His Word through Ezekiel: "As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me" (Ez. 33:7).
None of God's people can claim ignorance, the Lord weighs our hearts as with everyone. "The Lord knows those who are His" (2 Tim. 2:19), but His people must give an honest appraisal of themselves (2 Cor. 13:5) and of other men's fruits (Matt. 7:16). Then we must accordingly: "Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh" (Jd. 22-23).
Christians are created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). Those works include "rescuing those who are being taken away to death."
The power to rescue is in the Word of God (Rom. 1:16), and as we "hold forth the Word of life" (Phil. 2:16), we will be true to the One watching over our souls––who repays each man according to His work: "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10).
Do you know anyone headed for slaughter? Do everything to hold them back.
"With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation'" (Acts 2:40).