In the movie City-slickers, a bunch of men were out trying to find themselves on a dude ranch. The man who will be with them for their adventure is an old grizzled veteran named Curly who would rather spit on them than like them. But over time, he and one of the men bond and have mutual respect. The other man at one point was talking about the seeming meaninglessness of life. Curly looked at him and held up one finger saying, “Do you know what the secret of life is? This is.” He held up one finger. The other man asked, “Your finger?” Curly replied, “One thing, just one thing matters.” The other man wanted to know what it was. Curly told him he didn’t know, he’d have to find it out for himself.
In the sequel, Curly has since died, but has a twin brother, Duke, who takes them out again. They are looking for gold that Curly had supposedly hidden. Duke quotes from Curly to the same man Curley had talked to before, but with a small addition of his own. He says, “Only two things matter in life, GOLD, and whatever this is.” He said this while again holding up one finger. With baited breath the other man wants to find out what the one thing was. Duke looked at him and said, “Heck if I know, Curley never said.”
Many of us have felt like that man, wandering in life seeking meaning. Many people think they know what some of the most important things are. They are different depending on the people: money, wealth, power, popularity, fun and entertainment, wisdom, and a host of other things fill people’s lives. Yet, the one most important thing constantly eludes them. What is the most important thing? According to the Ecclesiastes writer who had ALL of the things that many people seek after and came up empty, this is what matters.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
Jesus agreed with him. Matthew 22:37-39 (37) And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’
Both of those are actually the same. You cannot love God without fearing Him and keeping His commandments. You cannot love God without loving others.
We are among the most blessed of people, forgiven of our sins and able to help bring others into relationship with God if we’ll love God and them enough to take the time. Have you taken the time to share the love of God with others and what will happen if they don’t come to Him. If not, let’s let them know about the ONE thing that matters.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Today Is the Day of Salvation
Sometimes I wonder if I am the only person who struggles with what we commonly refer to as friendship evangelism. I have looked throughout scripture and don't recall finding any specific examples of people who drew out the Gospel while they were attempting to make it more comfortable or the situation more palatable for the people being reached out to.
Now in principle, you can find it via a Christian wife winning her non-believing husband through her faithful and loving lifestyle or in the world being able to know we are His disciples by our love. Our love certainly plants seeds in others that may blossom into salvation. I am also aware of the fact that in the parable of the sower that the seed is the word of God (the Gospel) and that we are to be seed sowers while God brings about the conversion. I also read there of the fact that the Devil is present EVERY time the Gospel is shared. He has one goal in mind, steal the seed so that it cannot bring about saving faith. The more time that goes by .... well you know.
My hope is that evangelism done over time is sincere and not a way to avoid the offense of the Gospel. Although I thoroughly believe there is a place for it, I also believe that it should not be done first. We know our birthday but what of our death? I had a woman die in between studies while engaged in friendship evangelism. I certainly did not feel I had been a very good friend. Needless to say it rather changed my perspective. I also know of a woman in a small town in Arkansas who had responded to the Gospel but put her baptism off until the following day. She was killed that night in a tornado.
In 2 Corinthians 6:2 it says that today is the day of salvation and that now is the time while in James 4:13-17 it points out the arrogance of saying we will do this or that but don't know AT ALL if that will be the case or not.
I personally think we should all become masters of the fine art of transition. We need to be looking at every opportunity that we feasibly can to bring up the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are lost by making the transition from the ordinary world to God's extraordinary spiritual world. Having done this move on and share the Gospel in one sitting.
When Paul had been beaten and was in prison after preaching the Gospel to the Jailer and his family they went in the middle of the night and baptized that whole family. Why? After a three day fast without food or water Saul was baptized and THEN ate and drank. Why? The eunuch from Ethiopia was baptized immediately in the middle of the desert when it certainly would have been advantageous for the still fledgling church to have had such a high ranking government official become a part of the movement publicly. Why? It is because they had a built in sense of urgency which we have largely lost due, at least in part, to our desire not to offend.
Though there will be times this won't be feasible, I definitely think it should be the rule rather than the exception.
Now in principle, you can find it via a Christian wife winning her non-believing husband through her faithful and loving lifestyle or in the world being able to know we are His disciples by our love. Our love certainly plants seeds in others that may blossom into salvation. I am also aware of the fact that in the parable of the sower that the seed is the word of God (the Gospel) and that we are to be seed sowers while God brings about the conversion. I also read there of the fact that the Devil is present EVERY time the Gospel is shared. He has one goal in mind, steal the seed so that it cannot bring about saving faith. The more time that goes by .... well you know.
My hope is that evangelism done over time is sincere and not a way to avoid the offense of the Gospel. Although I thoroughly believe there is a place for it, I also believe that it should not be done first. We know our birthday but what of our death? I had a woman die in between studies while engaged in friendship evangelism. I certainly did not feel I had been a very good friend. Needless to say it rather changed my perspective. I also know of a woman in a small town in Arkansas who had responded to the Gospel but put her baptism off until the following day. She was killed that night in a tornado.
In 2 Corinthians 6:2 it says that today is the day of salvation and that now is the time while in James 4:13-17 it points out the arrogance of saying we will do this or that but don't know AT ALL if that will be the case or not.
I personally think we should all become masters of the fine art of transition. We need to be looking at every opportunity that we feasibly can to bring up the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are lost by making the transition from the ordinary world to God's extraordinary spiritual world. Having done this move on and share the Gospel in one sitting.
When Paul had been beaten and was in prison after preaching the Gospel to the Jailer and his family they went in the middle of the night and baptized that whole family. Why? After a three day fast without food or water Saul was baptized and THEN ate and drank. Why? The eunuch from Ethiopia was baptized immediately in the middle of the desert when it certainly would have been advantageous for the still fledgling church to have had such a high ranking government official become a part of the movement publicly. Why? It is because they had a built in sense of urgency which we have largely lost due, at least in part, to our desire not to offend.
Though there will be times this won't be feasible, I definitely think it should be the rule rather than the exception.
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