Many catch the fire.  They find the nearest stump, with a 🙂 and Grim eyes, they leap atop the stump and proclaim what they have heard.  For a little while there is interest.  But when they find themselves preaching to the squirrels, they quietly slink down from the stump.

With head hung low, they wait until nightfall to make their way home.  Having learned their lesson well, in their heart they whisper, “I don’t think I’ll do that again.”

The morning comes and as the Sun rises, they find a curious forgiveness among their friends.  “We understand buddy.  There’s a lot of folk who make that mistake.  But we can see you love us more than that.  Long as it don’t happen again, we’ll gladly forget.”

But he won’t.  He put his hand on the plow and looked back.  It will haunt his mind for the rest of his days.  And as his time grows short,  it will become more than a vague hunting.  It will turn to a palpable fear.

Where would we be if the Lord Jesus had done the same thing?  What if Moses had decided to slink off the stump?  What if Billy Graham thought,  “The love of friends is better.”  And with all this in mind, can you see why we dare not turn back?

By His Grace

1. A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevaling. 
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2. Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? 
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

3. And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us. 
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4. That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours,
thru him who with us sideth. 
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.

By His Grace

There was a man who was given a message of hope and strength.  He was told to go to a crossroad.  There he would speak the message without ceasing.  Between his hours of necessary sleep he faithfully spoke the message.

Throughout his days of Proclamation hundreds of thousands of people passed by.  At the end of each proclamation, he was told to tell the people to carry this message to those they knew.  In all the land there were only six who obeyed.

Within two weeks of his death, the message dwindled away.  Therefore another was called to take his place.  As it was for the first so it was for the succeeding hundreds.  As was the response at first so it was for the succeeding.

The Lords truth is like a river never ending.  It does not depend on the receiving.  His compassion and patience are endless in this day of proclamation and trial.

But this place will not last forever.  His patience does have an end.  It will appear at the moment of your death.  And it will appear all at once for all men.

How vital then to share what we have heard.  And what should we suspect will come of those who willingly remain mute?

With faithful boldness his servants have stood at the crossroads of humanity and spoken what they were commanded to speak.  They have not asked for reward from those who heard.  But who has heard?  Who has understood?  Who has obeyed?  Who was sent out?

By His Grace

He has had what is his.  And this is the only promise of substance to him.  He watches as others come to use what belongs to him.  And in the using, his house becomes more desolate.

Toys are taken.  What he thought was his is ransacked.  I have written the question, “Do you think he’s happy?”.  I tell you, he is not.

By rule of law he plays against the Lord’s people.  For the sake of righteousness he is allowed to stomp his feet.  Be wary of your response.  If we use what belongs to him to destroy his house we cannot expect to do so without retribution.

We have two promises in our hand.  One is of peace and eternal life.  The other is of trouble in this world.  Do not, then, be surprised at these things as they appear. There are tauntings, but of what value?   He will have what the Holy One has determined to allow.  And we must play by holy rules.

Holy Father in heaven.  Let my life be a message of what is good.  You alone are true and strength and promise.  May your will be done forever, through your Son and through  his bride.  Amen.

By His Grace

By His Grace