Are You Speaking To Me?

I Sam 3:10 “And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, speak for thy servant heareth.”

As I look back many years ago to the days when I taught in a Christian School, I think of the kids that were in my class and their lapses of attentiveness. Not that they were bored - what, bored in my class, I think not. But, there would be that occasional drifting into la la land. I can see some of them now as they stare straight ahead like a deer caught in the headlights. Their bodies are there but their minds are a million miles away. Sometimes I could just speak their names and presto they would awaken as if coming out of hypnosis. But then there were also the times when I would literally go over and give them a little nudge. Embarrassed, they would return from their journey to who knows where and rejoin us. Isn't that the way it is with us sometimes. Everyday God wants to reveal Himself to us and teach us new and exciting things. Most days, we may be very alert and quickly catch on to what He is telling us, but then there are those days when we, too, drift off to a far off place of our choosing. On occasion I would ask the student in question what he was thinking about - assuming he was actually thinking. He might reply with a smile that he was dreaming about his date that was coming up or the ball game that he was going to be playing that evening or it might even have been a real problem that had gotten his concentration. Regardless of the reason, the result was the same. He missed the lesson at hand. Satan would love to distract us with thoughts of grandeur and the wonder of what is ahead. Or he would be just as satisfied to swoop us off into the land of doubt and despair. Anything to take our minds off of what God wants to reveal to us today. Don't let God have to come over and give you that little nudge. Sit up straight in your chair and pay attention. I'm sorry, I thought I was back in the class room. You're dismissed.

Is The Grass Really Greener Over There?

Rom 14:7 "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself."

Our Church sits on approximately 5 acres of land with some pasture land adjacent to the back. One day last year, as I drove into the parking lot, I noticed a cow out grazing on our property. My first thought was "no big deal, it needs mowing anyway". Then I began to think about the situation. There was a prickly barbed wire fence that was supposed to keep the cows in. There was plenty of good green grass where they were. But, for some reason, this particular cow had the idea that the grass was greener over on our place. So, she endured the pain and tore down the fence. How much it hurt, I obviously have no idea. But, for a little while she was there enjoying the fruits of her labor. Days passed and I noticed there were more cows out and they were getting ever so close to the highway. Danger was lurking, but they had no idea. There heads were down and they were engrossed in the good green grass. Isn't that like some of us today. We realize that what we are doing is wrong but rationalize that it doesn't hurt anyone but me. But, because we did it, someone else who was watching, tries it as well. We may go on enjoying it without any harm to us whatsoever, but the other person gets ever so close to the oncoming traffic until, bang, they are hit and it is too late to warn them. Now, if that happened to one of the cows, I doubt very seriously if the first one to get out would be effected at all. No mourning, or weeping because she was the one that influenced the other and caused her death. But, what about you. How would you feel if someone followed you into sin and died? Is the grass green enough over there to take that kink of chance? By the way, it is bad for you to get out too!

Enjoy Your Vacation

Gen 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

Ah, it is Summer time and time to head out on vacation. Even though it may be much harder to do so these day, it is still a wonderful adventure. For some, it is just the idea of getting away from the work - a - day world in which they live. For others, it may be the adventure of having the opportunity to go places and see things that have never been seen before. This is a wonderful world in which we live. With the changing of the climates and the seasons, people have become migratory and those of us who aren't sometimes wish we could be. But, there is also the changing of the topography of the world that makes it so beautiful. There are places, that in just a matter of an hour or so, you can go from the lowlands of the desert to the mountain top. From that vantage point you can look for miles and miles and what do you see? God's creation! We often remind people that when they go on vacation to take God with them and find a good Church to attend while they are away. But, today, I want to remind you to find God on your vacation. Look around you and see the beauty of His handiwork. As you see the wonder and majesty of another location in this world, let it remind you that one day you will be traveling to another location called Heaven and oh what sights you will see. So, off you go and enjoy that vacation. I am sure you deserve it.

So, What Is Your Life, Really?

James 4:14 "Whereas, you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time then vanisheth away."

As I was driving along some time ago, I heard a couple of things on the radio that really got my attention. Mainly because, even though they were entirely different programs, they had a message that connected. The first program was about some ladies that had gotten into alcohol and drugs when they were very young and ended up in prison. Fortunately, they all were able to hear a clear Gospel message and are now saved and living a life that is pleasing to God. Not long after that some music came on and there was the song playing "Wasted Years". I thought to myself, how appropriate considering what I had just heard. These young ladies had, indeed, wasted a good portion of their lives that I am sure they wish they had back. Most of the time, when we hear a song like that, our minds immediately go to someone with a past like those ladies. But, let's think about our own lives for just a moment. Can we honestly say that there are no years that have been wasted? Most people are perfectly content to live a mediocre life just existing as a Christian rather than living as one. Most people have no idea what it is really like serving God and giving Him their all. Most Christians will live their entire life and never have the joy of leading someone to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. So, what defines wasted years? I think it is really very simple. If you could have done more with the time allotted you, then you have some wasted years, Is that true of you?

One Appointment We Will All Keep

Amos 4:12 "Therefore thus will I do unto you, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel."

Most people know I am an "on time" person. I am going to be very early and usually not a minute late, unless there is a problem. I don't like to have to wait on people who are not concerned with being on time. It's just one of my pet peeves, I guess. And, it really gets my goat, (if I had one) when they don't show up at all. Well, there is one appointment that no one will be late for, and the interesting thing about it is that we don't even know what time we are going to be there. Now, that I have you wondering, let me say that it is our appointment with death. Heb. 9:27 says that "It is appointed unto man once to die, after that the judgement". We have a pretty good idea when a baby is to be born and we make preparation for it. Then when that little child is laying there so innocent, we look on them with great expectation for their life. Never a thought do we consider about their death, because they have just been born. The truth of the matter is, that from that time on, each one of us is simply making his way toward that final appointment. No matter what you do, you cannot delay it. You can hasten its coming by your involvement in sin, but to prevent its coming is beyond your control. There is one thing you can do and that is to get ready for it. Death is coming and you won't be late.