From the Preacher’s Pen…

RacineBuildingOne of the most difficult jobs that you will ever have will be on the Judgment Day trying to convince the Lord God that you should be in Heaven! Jesus on several occasions talked about that day when people would try to talk their way into His eternal kingdom (cf. Matthew 25).

One of the most difficult jobs that you will ever have will be on the Judgment Day trying to convince the Lord God that you should be in Heaven! Jesus on several occasions talked about that day when people would try to talk their way into His eternal kingdom (cf. Matthew 25).

Unfortunately, none of those efforts actually work. If we do not really DO God’s will and truly live like His people then we cannot talk our way into heaven.

That should lead us to remember God’s frequent lessons about missing out on His blessings. So let’s take a few moments to consider…

Are You Missing God’s Blessings?

There’s a story about a young man who was about to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in the dealer’s showroom. Knowing that his father could easily afford it, he told his father what he wanted.

As his graduation day approached, the young man waited for some sign that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the day of his graduation, his father called him into his private study and told him how proud he was to have such a fine son and how much he loved him. Then the father handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and discovered a lovely, leather-bound Bible with his name embossed in gold. Angrily he threw the Bible down and yelled at his father, “With all your money you gave me a Bible?” and stormed out of the house.

Years passed but the son never spoke to his father again. He married, had a family, a beautiful home and a successful business. But one day he finally realized that his father was getting very old and perhaps he should go and see him. Unfortunately, before he could make the trip, he received a call that his father had passed away.

When he finally arrived at his father’s house, sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father’s papers and found the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears filling his eyes he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matthew 7:11, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” As he read the words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had wanted so long ago. On the tag was the date of his graduation and the words, “PAID IN FULL.”

Do we, too, miss God’s rich blessings when they come in ways that we didn’t expect? Could we be disappointed with God, estranged from Him, only to discover the truth too late?

God’s most precious blessings are reserved for those who love Him enough to act like it. Think about the rich lessons in God’s word. Life, understanding, knowledge and ultimately wisdom are found in those lessons. The wrapping, the packaging may not be what we would like or expect so we miss what is most valuable when we fail to open our eyes.

Last Lord’s Day two of our brothers in Christ presented lessons from God’s word. They were words of life… if you cared enough to listen. Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings we take time to study the Bible together, time to listen and consider some of God’s lessons. If you miss out what do you gain? A nice movie or a ball game or countless other things you could be doing will not get you to heaven and they certainly won’t make a worthy excuse before the Judgment Seat of God. Are you really so foolish as to imagine that they will?

Jesus asked the question like this: “What will it profit a person if they gain the whole world and forfeit their soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

Don’t let it happen to you! Open your heart and eyes, be faithful to Him every day in every way this week and allow Him to truly bless you in being an active, living part of God’s family here in Casa Grande! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).

— Lester P. Bagley