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Who shows the work of the law written in their hearts? "Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to My Gospel." Romans 2:15-16 In another issue I graphically portrayed a day in court, before the Judge, God. When readers read those thoughts, their reaction was "scary". What did you think about it? Did it give you a twinge of fear? How about a pause for thought? Did you forward it to someone who has been on the edge of making a decision for Jesus? Perhaps you sent it to a lost friend or neighbor. My point was to cause us all, myself included, to think about several things. First, where do I really stand if today should be the Day of Judgment? Would I have the Defense Attorney to stand beside me? Or, would I stand alone, defenseless, frightened, and guilty? Only through a faith-in-Jesus relationship with Him will we ever be good enough to enter the Kingdom of God. And, that faith is nothing we can "conger up," it is a gift from God. We were, and are, totally unworthy of God's grace. Second, do I appreciate what Jesus did for me? How often do I think about the sacrifice He made on my behalf? It is easy for those of us who are Christians to talk about Jesus' sacrificial death. But, do we really understand its significance in my life. If we have been believers for years, we can slip into a comfort zone thinking we have done such a wonderful job of being Christians. We begin to believe, though never speak, that we have earned our salvation by our being long-time believers. If we think this, to quote one of my students, "We would be wrong." All of our post-salvation good works will never get us into heaven any more than all our pre-salvation good works got us there. We did not, nor will we ever be good enough to "save ourselves". Third, what can I do to prevent my friends, my neighbors, my family from standing in that courtroom without the Defense Attorney? I know of one man who has cut off all relationships with child because of that child's wrong decisions. This man claims to be a Christian, and I have few doubts about that, but has he placed his child in a position to eventually deny Christ and stand before the Judgment Seat alone? I hope not. But we can tend to do that with family, friends, and acquaintances. We write them off without ever letting God do His work in their lives. What should this man do? He should love his child no matter what. He should keep the love-lines of communication open so that this child, when the realization of his/her lost condition hits home, can freely come to daddy and ask his help in finding the way back to the Savior. Have you thought about it? Hmmmmm. Amen What would it take to make you contented? "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" Phillipians 4:12 Ah, sweet contentment! What would it take to make you contented? A new house? A new car? A fully equipped bass boat? A new dress? In size 6? Happy children? The perfect job? The perfect Church? The perfect wife? The perfect husband? If we stop to think about it, we could probably come up with a lot of things. A winning lottery ticket might be at the top for some of us. Will these really make you contented? I can guarantee if you had one or all of the above, you wouldn't be contented very long. Why? Because contentment can not be found in physical things. All of these things will become less alluring with time. The house will age. The car will rust. The dress will "shrink." The children will be children. The job will grow old. The Church -- well if you join it, you will ruin its perfection. The wife, she will get fat after three kids. The husband won't do anything but sit in front of the TV watching football. The million dollars will soon be spent. These things only offer temporary contentment. Paul has learned a bit about contentment. He has found it in poverty and riches; in what ever situation in which he has found himself. He has found contentment in hunger and plenty; in ease and suffering. What is his secret? Paul has learned that contentment is found in Jesus. Paul had such a hunger for God that nothing else would do. He was so sold out to Jesus that whatever He wanted was fine with Paul. Would you sing if you were beaten, bleeding, and cast into a stinking, wet, rat infested prison cell? Paul did. Would you return to the city that beat you, stoned you and cast you out of the city gates thinking you were dead? Paul did. Would you witness to the men who held you captive, awaiting a trial that would likely deliver you to the executioner? Paul did -- and won the majority of Caesar's personal guard to Jesus! See the difference? Paul's contentment never changed, never rusted, never died, never argued, never faded away. His contentment was based upon the Jesus who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! We could learn a lot from Paul. The next time we look at our "want list" let's ask the question, "Will it bring real contentment? Or will it only provide temporary happiness?" Then decide if you really want or need it. Amen and Amen. Showers that water the earth "He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth" Psalms 72:6 Years ago living in Louisiana, I remember well those hot days when out of nowhere a cloud would form blocking the blistering sun. A cool burst of air would rush over the land. Then, with a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder, the rains would fall. There is nothing as wonderful as the scent of rain on the grass! What a refreshing feeling it provided -- not just for the land -- but for me as well. It seemed that the whole world was renewed in a few moments time! So it is with the Lord's presence. When He arrives, there is nothing like it in all the world. Weariness drops away like a garment. Heavy hearts are lifted. Burdens fall away. All our cares shrink at the majesty of God! I experienced the other week in San Jose working with the homeless. The air was aglow with a fresh scent and the Holy Spirit was surrounding each and every one of us. We could have stayed out there all day long. There was no doubt that God was there. Sins were washed away like dust in a rain shower. We found that we were clean. Our spirits were refreshed. Our souls washed in the Blood of Jesus. I pray that you will experience the presence of God this week as you worship Him with His people. May He dwell with you. May He find you ready and willing to be cleaned, refreshed, and made whole by His visitation. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
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