Clichés Full and Running Over
Mark 4:29
But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Life is short. Opportunity knocks only once. The early bird gets the worm. Empty clichés? Not to a soldier in the Lord’s army. He has a task to carry out, a need to be about the Father’s business. Who did you pass by today that might pass on tonight? The next time you feel the Holy Spirit prompt you to witness—do it. A man’s soul is his most precious possession. Don’t let him die without Christ. Its just too important! Life is short indeed. Opportunity may only knock once. The early bird usually gets the worm. Share Christ’s love with someone today.
My Testimony or What the Cross Means To Me
Blood was dripping on the ground. It wasn’t the usual single drops but more like a steady stream. The sun was getting higher in the sky and the heat was starting to take it’s toll. There was a strange quietness in nature, only the sounds of men shouting, women crying, and agony.
The Bible shares seven phrases that Jesus whispered while He was being tortured to death on the cross. Beyond what He said, it’s what He did that matters the most to me.
Fast forward a couple of thousand years to 1985. I was driving home on a dark lonely highway after attending a revival meeting in Duncan, Oklahoma. I had listened closely to the message, one that God had aimed directly at my heart. The title, “Being Too Familiar With the Things of God,” had gripped me and the Holy Spirit was at work. You see, I had grown up in church since I was born – literally. I went to Sunday School and Children’s Church every week. I’d heard the story of how Jesus had suffered and died for my sins but I never made Him my personal Savior, just one I knew everything about.
It was on that cold January night that I bowed my head and asked Jesus Christ to forgive my sins and save me. I knew (all too well) that He was the only way. Well my friend, He did save me and I’m humbled that these many years later He chooses to use me to share His story with others. But let’s go back to the cross and what Jesus did there for me.
First of all I know I was known by Him as well as all the sins I was going to commit. He paid the price for them when I was only a thought in God’s mind. The Bible tells me that even though I was a sinner and I didn’t deserve to have my sins paid for by another, that Christ died for me. Having the power to forgive sins is incredible. Only God can do that.
Mark 2:4-5
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Because of those drops of Jesus’ blood that were shed at the cross, my sins were forgiven. Sin has to be paid for in blood. Only the blood of Christ was good enough to pay the debt in full forever.
Now because I am saved and my sins have been forgiven, the Lord has promised me a home in heaven with Him for eternity. Many times over the New Testament tells us about this place (a real place) called heaven. Of all the wonderful descriptions, the greatest is this: I will dwell in the presence of the Lord forever. He will be my God, and I will be one of His people.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.John 14:2-3
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.Revelation 21:3
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
I’m looking forward to the time when I will be with God and all the saints who have loved and worshipped Him here on earth. It will be a great homecoming, but that time is in my future. Right now, I still live and breathe and work and love on the earth. I have a Savior to serve (out of love and not duty) because I’m a citizen of another country as well. Now I live each moment working for the kingdom of God and His rightesousness. My goals and ambitions are different. I understand the time is short and there are many people on this globe who don’t know about Jesus Christ, God’s love for them, or the cruel cross where He suffered and died paying their sin debt too.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.Acts 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Yes, the “uttermost part of the earth,” that’s my mission! All the torture, all the suffering, and eventually His death, burial, and triumphant resurrection were part of God’s plan of redemption – restoring fellowship between fallen mankind and his Creator. God loves us that musch. The blood has been shed, sins have been forgiven, victory over the grave has been won. All this was accomplished so that I could be with Him forever. I’m so humbled at the thought… before the foundation of the world was laid He loved me and chose me to be His very own.
He loves you too. Everything He did for me He did for you. He wants to be in heaven with you forever – won’t you accept Jesus Christ as YOUR personal Savior today?
I hope that this meditation encourages you in a special way today. May God richly bless you!
Birth Certificates
2 Corinthians 5:6-8
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body , we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body , and to be present with the Lord.
So the other day I realized it was necessary to take care of one of those “to-do list” items I’d been putting off. For several years I have been meaning to get a copy of each one of my children’s birth certificates. In my city that entails setting aside an entire afternoon to take a trip across town to the Oklahoma City Health Department which is nothing short of a large ominous destination tucked away in the hospital district.
I arrived and quickly located and filled out the proper forms. I remember thinking that this was a breeze and I would be on my way to fight greater battles in no time. How naive could a person be? I stood in a short line to have my applications examined and my identification validated – I told the lady behind the desk, “I really am who I say I am.” I could tell by the look on her face that my drivers license picture was not convincing (who’s is?).
After closer scrutinizing, she finally directed me to another line where I waited to pay the fifteen dollar fee for each application. I wasn’t sure whether to be thankful for only having three children or to regret that I had any at all. Forty-five dollars . . . how nice.
I wrote the check and with receipt in hand was ushered into a mammoth waiting room which was so full of busy looking people that I thought for a moment I was in a bus terminal during rush hour. The number on my receipt, which I was informed they would call when it was my turn, was 1753.
“Not so bad,” I thought, until a raspy female voice announced over the loud speaker that they were interviewing number 1659. The quick calculation I did in my head told me I was going to have plenty of time to make myself comfortable and I should expect to be there for a while. Even the basketball game playing (generously) on the big screen television didn’t help the time to pass any quicker.
As I sat there with plenty of time to think (of course I didn’t bring a book or anything to read), I began to imagine what it would be like when I die and arrive in heaven. I’m sure that on my appointed day there will be at least 100-200 other Christians who will be in line to go through the gates of pearl. The Bible tells us that to be absent from our bodies is to be in the presence of God, but is there a verification process? (i.e. “open the books…”)
I quickly mused, “At least there won’t be any cashiers to pay!”
My Lord has already paid my entrance fee into heaven with His own precious blood. So we get to skip the cash line. Then what?
Maybe after my name is read from the book I will be given a number and asked to sit in the waiting room and wait for my number to be called. In any case, I’m sure it will smell better than the one I was sitting in. So too will the conversation be a little cleaner and maybe even the ballgame on the big screen will be one that I actually care about.
My first taste of heaven. What will it really be like? I don’t know. I know we had a little fun here today speculating about the waiting lines and so on. The truth is it will far surpass any imagination I might have now. I can hardly wait.
My friend, I hope to see you there. I hope that you too will have your name read from the Book of Life. Please make sure that you will be ready when they call your number.
I hope that this meditation encourages you in a special way today. May God richly bless you!
