A Serious Question To Answer

Today is a day capitalized by people that do not want to take ownership for their own actions.  We have all heard the excuses, “The devil made me do it.” or “My parents spanked me  and that made me this way.”  I am sorry to say; but, these excuses will not fly in God’s economy.

We will all stand before God one day and we will give an account for everything we have done and for the things left undone that we should have done.

There is one very important thing that is not being done today by God’s people that needs to be done.  We are not reaching the people around us known as the world like we should.  I have heard all the excuses.  I am tired of hearing excuses spue forth from my mouth.  It is time for God’s people to wake up, get up, go out and share the gospel with people.  We are watching people go out into eternity each and every day; but, what are we doing about it.  Don’t be like Cain when the LORD questioned him about the death of his brother.  Look at Genesis 4:9, “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?”

The rhetorical answer to Cain’s question is a resounding “Yes!”.  We are our brother’s keeper.  We are responsible for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.  If we fail to share this with them we will stand before God one day and be ashamed and we will lose rewards for not doing what God has called every one of His children to do.  It is pretty simple if we will just push past our fear and go.

So, how are you doing?

Are You Ready?

On Wednesday evening while patiently waiting for the ladies Bible study to come to a close we heard a scream.  Our Pastor and I walked quickly to the roadside and saw taillights down the road.  I told him to tell my wife I would be back.  While I was waiting for the diesel truck I am borrowing to warm up to start Pastor jumped in with me.  We took off to the scene.

What an experience!  There was a small vehicle like a Plymouth Neon or something similar.  A man was walking around the vehicle and looking off the side of the road.  A female was doing the same thing.  When we pulled up the female walked to the front of the vehicle and began to look it over.  The male told us in poor English that they had hit a big buck.  By the looks of their vehicle they may have bumped into a big buck; but, they did not hit one.  The only damage was their front license place was bent at the bottom in the middle.  There was one casualty.  It appeared that the big buck stepped on a small frog in the roadway as he crossed in front of the car and was bumped.  We all had a good laugh over that.

The man nor the woman were hurt.  They were deeply shaken up; but, unharmed.  As they began to leave I reached into my shirt pocket and got a gospel tract that has a smiley face on the front and says, “Smile, God loves you!”.  I put it into his hand and clasped my hands around his and I told him, “When you calm down, read this.”  I don’t know if he ever will; but, one thing is for sure.  I did my part in giving him the gospel.  It is up to him to do with the gospel as he wants.

My point?  I Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”.  You never know what situation you will come upon and you had better be ready.  In the early years of my ministry I was exhorted many times to, “Be ready to preach, pray, sing or die.”  I assure I would rather preach or pray and I will die trying to sing.

So, how are you doing?

Your Heart

I enjoy watching the local minor league baseball team play.  Sometimes they are hot as fresh volcano lava.  Other times they are as cold as an Indiana winter day.  It is interesting to see the crowd’s reaction when they are winning and when they are losing.

When they are winning the people go wild.  Fans are on their feet and shouting accolades.  When things go the other way it is a different story.  I am sure that Chicago Cubs fans know what I am talking about.  Yes, I am a Cubs fan too.  My Grandpa was a Cubs fan and so am I.

That is an interesting thought.  Some people apply that same logic to salvation.  “My Grandpa was a Christian and my dad was a Christian and I am a Christian.  I was born in America so I am a Christian.”  I have heard this many times before.  How sad.

People seem to want to “do” many different things.  I mean some people will travel all over the country and even the world to go to seminars on how to do this or that.  Thinking all the while that they are Christians and a doing what God wants.  They are following the god of this world and not the only True God.  It is not what we do.  It is only what Jesus has done for us that ensures eternal life.

Look at Joel 2:12, “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:”  Everyone must turn to Jesus with their whole heart and trust Him for salvation.  He will save you if you will trust Him.

So, how are you doing?

Be Ye Glad

Yesterday’s post was an indictment against the Church as it is today.  Rightfully so, we need to get back to where we have come from.  We have moved so far from Biblical Christianity that I wonder if Jesus even recognizes His Church anymore.  Kind of like a spouse making an overnight change for the worse.

For those who have remained faithful we have many promises.  I love the words of the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 65:17-18, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.”

These words should bring us hope.  We will not always live in a sin cursed world where pain and suffering run rampant.  One day our Heavenly Father will “make all things new”.  The earth as we know it will melt with a fervent heat and there will be a new Heaven and a new earth.  I look forward to that day and I hope you do to.

Until then we have been given the awesome privilege of show others how to know Jesus as their Saviour so they too can enjoy eternity with Him.  What are you and I doing to help others to get to Heaven?  We give a little money in the offering plate.  At the dinner table we ask God to help some poor soul be saved.  If that is all then you and I are of all men most miserable.  We need to get out of our glass houses and share the gospel with others.

So, how are you doing?

Where Are The Kids?

On Friday evening I had the pleasure of going to the mission to preach chapel.  It was an unusual service.  The room was unusually hot, the men were unusually tired, the song service was unusually short and the sermon started unusually early and ended unusually early.

When I pulled up to the mission I noticed that the fenced play yard was empty.  This is unusual.  Then the thought came to me, “Where are the children?”  I thought to myself that this would preach and make a good blog topic.  So, here we go.

I can tell you where the children have gone.  We lost a generation of our young people because their hair was unacceptably too long and we let them know about it.  This piece of wisdom came from Pastor Bob Hooten.  The sad reality is that he is spot on correct.  As a result we have lost them and their children.  Why would you send your children to a Church where they are condemned for having long hair?  They have not and as a result we have lost them.

Go ahead and say I have compromised, I don’t care.  I know that I am right on this one.  The hair and clothing do not grow to the soul.  We need to be more concerned with the soul below the long hair and earrings.  No, I do not like long hair on boy and short hair on girls.  I do not like earrings on men and I do not like body piercing or body art of any kind.  Again, these don’t grow to the soul.  They are a testimony to the soul inside crying out for someone to love them to Jesus.  Will you?  I hope and pray that you and I will take the time and devote the resources to show this lost and dying world that there is more to Jesus than what we have shown them in the past.  Look at Jude vs. 22-23, “And of some have compassion, making a difference:  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

So, how are you doing?

 

Farming 7

When I was growing up I wanted to be a farmer.  I thought this is what I would be.  Life soon changed my mind on that one.  In school I began to pursue business.  This was a huge flop too.  In the third grade I preached my first sermon in Miss Allen’s class.  It was horrible from what I can remember.  Thank God for His grace!

I believe it was D. L. Moody that had a young man in his office once and they looked out the window down to the street.  Moody asked this young man what he saw.  The young man described the scene to Moody.  Mr. Moody told this young man that when he looked down there he saw souls.  D. L. Moody had vision from God along with passion.

Far too man of God’s people lack this vision and passion.  People are dying and going to hell on a daily basis as we sit by in our comfortable houses, driving our comfortable cars and eating our comfortable food.  Christian, what are you going to do about it?  I pose this question to me as well as each of you.  What am I truly doing to point men, women, boys and girls to Jesus Christ for salvation?  Truthfully?

Look at what Jesus said in Luke 10:2, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”  It is time to get out of the house and get into the harvest.  Jesus is counting on you.

So, how are you doing?

Do You Feel What I Feel?

My wife attended a ladies conference in the recent past.  I love it when she comes home from such gatherings.  She is fired up and I love that.  I also enjoy hearing her tell me about events of the meetings or conference.  This time was no different.  I hope you enjoy the following.

During the ladies’ conference a paper was given to the ladies to fill out.  The Church that sponsored this conference also has a college tied to it.  They have teams of people who take these forms that the attendees fill out and they make phone calls during the conference.  They call the person on your paper and they present the gospel to them.  I have been in conferences there and I have experienced this.  It is amazing!  They called out a name and requested this gal stand up.  Everyone was looking around and could not see her.  The person at the microphone asked that this gal raise her hand.  In the audience a small hand barely rose above the crowd.  They told her that her grandmother had trusted Jesus Christ as her Saviour.  Even now the tears roll down my cheeks.  Praise the LORD!  This five (5) year old little girl had turned in her grandmother’s name that she needed Jesus to saver her.  That day on the phone her grandmother called upon the name of the LORD and was gloriously saved.

Jesus looked on the multitudes as was “moved with compassion” (Matthew 9:36).  When we look at the multitudes, family or even friends are we moved?  I pray that you and I are moved with compassion.  Look at Jude 22-23, “And of some have compassion, making a difference:  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”  You can have compassion on someone and totally change their life.  You do not have to do monumental things.  Make a phone call.  Stop and visit with someone.  Send them a card.  All of these things are small to you and I; but, to someone that is hurting they are enormous.  I know for sure.  There have been days that I wished someone would call or stop by.  Some days that were so bad even a card would have been a lighthouse in a dark day.  Unfortunately, we just go about our day and live our lives with no thought of others, let alone think of Jesus.  If you will think about Jesus, He will bring others to your mind that you too can demonstrate compassion to.  I am sure of it.

So, how are you doing?

Christmas 9

I went with a friend on an excursion to take pictures at a nature preserve.  He and I both have a GPS.  We put coordinates into the GPS and it took us directly to the trail head that we wanted.  It was an amazing thing really.  Most of the time I find them to be not all that accurate.

When someone tells us something we need to check it out for ourselves.  I have received error filled information so many times over the years that I cannot count them all.

What about the journey of life?  Where do you get directions?  Look at Matthew 2:5, “And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,”  Herod the king received directions from the group he assembled.  The information he received was pretty accurate.

If someone was to ask you today how to get to Heaven, would you be able to tell them?  If you are going to Heaven, you need to be able to point others there also.  Will you make it a point to learn the plan of salvation so that you can share it with others?  It is your and my privilege to share this information with others.

So, how are you doing?

Facing the Unfinised Task (Sin)

In Genesis we find the fall of mankind in Adam.  The Word of God tells us that it was his sin that paved the way for you and I to be sinners.  Yet, I believe in original sin.  We are all sinners and because of this truth we need a Saviour.  His name is Jesus Christ.

All through the Old Testament we are told that a blood sacrifice had to be offered once per year to atone for the sin of the people.  These sacrifices were only good to cover man’s sin.  Then one day someone condescended to you and I.  Jesus took upon Himself humanity and went to the cross and paid our sin debt so that you and I would not have to pay for it.  Look at II Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  He took my place!  He took your place!

All you have to do is put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and you can have eternal life.  You will never face condemnation according to Romans 8:1.  We cannot do anything good enough to inherit eternal life.  It took the Spotless, Sinless Son of God to be the perfect Sacrifice for our sin.

Our problem is that we do not want to admit to anyone that we are a sinner.  We think we are better than that.  Part of the Unfinished Task is to show people their sinfulness so they see their need of the Saviour.  Will you trust Him today for your eternal salvation?  You will never be sorry that you did.

So, how are you doing?

 

Facing The Unfinished Task (Precious Souls)

Over the past few days I have tried to instill in you; my readers, a burden to win others to Christ.  Now, I am going back in my mind to the conference in September at Seedline International.  It was a fantastic conference.  Evangelist Randy Bane preached some very powerful messages each night on Mathew 28:18-20.  I was challenged deeply from these four evenings.

As I thought about Seedline’s mantra, “Facing the Unfinished Task”.  If you dwell on this you will be rocked to the core (I hope).  I challenge you to look at a world map and see where you are making an impact.  Are you even making an impact where you live, in your own home and town?  I pray that you do have some kind of positive Christian impact in your immediate surroundings.

We cannot let even more people be like King Agrippa of the day of the Apostle Paul.  Look at what he said in Acts 26:27-28, “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”  The casualties are perishing at a rate of two per second around the world; but, what are we doing about it?

So, how are you doing?