Thy Will Be Done
With so many ignoramuses running the Christian churches today, guiding their flocks into complete heresies, there’s no wonder true Christian evangelism has declined. Here’s what the Lutherans have recently come up with to be a light to the lost world. They're now allowing homosexuals to take over of the administration of the Church. Thus, they’ve now allowed the fox into the hen house and they’ve closed and locked the door behind them. We will see much more of this nonsense in the near future as we grow ever so much closer to the biblically prophesized last days. In the meantime theGreat Apostasy is here.
Why do so many Christians simply ignore scriptures? Once we’re “in” ourselves, that’s it. That’s good enough. “Well I’m okay. I’m headed in the right direction. The rest of those folks out there have had the same opportunity as me.” Have they? I wonder. With all the false teaching being promoted as truth these days, many churches seemingly going along with it like sheep being led to the slaughter, are all the walking dead among us actually being given the same opportunity to hear the Gospel?
Have you ever talked to a Mormon about salvation? They do feel, through a burning in their bosoms, that they know Jesus Christ, but if you really delve into their church doctrine you will find that they teach that Satan and Christ are spiritual brothers. Wow. They don’t know my Messiah at all. My Messiah is God Almighty; He’s not brothers with Satan. Jesus Christ created Lucifer as the cherub that covers but he later fell into rebellion against Him. True believers know Mormonsand Jehovah’s Witnesses are condemned but how many of my brethren ever attempt to explain the truth to these foolish people?
Isn’t it possible that many in these cults have never heard the true Gospel? It is God’s will that His Gospel, His truth be preached to the entire world, not false gospels. God’s command to spread the good news includes witnessing to all those individuals who are stuck in false religions. They may even live right next door to you. Your next door neighbor, who, in your mind may be past the point of no return, may only be a few yards and words away from hearing the truth and becoming born again. My fellow brethren, it’s time to burden our hearts with a desire to spread the truth to all the walking dead.
Let me tell you a story about a man who previously filled the ranks of the walking dead. He wasn't in a cult, but he was just as dead as someone in one. He was a man who would not allow the subject of God to be brought up in his presence. This man had no desire to know God or to include Him in his life. Oh yes, he had heard about God in his past. He had an aunt who would take him to Sunday school now and then, a dad who liked watching Billy Graham on TV, and a mom who would cry whenever her son would claim he didn’t believe in Jesus. This man had at least heard something of what people said about Jesus Christ. He had seen the signs on storefronts indicating “Jesus Saves” but he really hadn’t a clue as to what any of it meant. He thought being born again was for those fringe religious freaks, hippies and other weirdos. For the first forty-four years of this man’s life no one even made an attempt at specifically explaining the Gospel to him. There were the occasional Christian cults that would show up at the front door of his home, but they would not endeavor to return once they encountered this man’s hostility.
This heathen man was an alcoholic, a blasphemer, a liar, a cheat, and what’s worse he would browbeat his fellow man to submit to his will. At six feet four inches tall and weighing in at 250 lbs he was a formative foe to any who would dare challenge him or stand in his way. Some of his neighbors attended church each and every Sunday, but never once witnessed to him. Were they afraid of him? Possibly. But where in the Bible are we told, by Jesus or any of the biblical writers, that if we are afraid we shouldn't witness? Where are we told that God will get someone else, that it's okay for anyone, for any reason, to take it easy? God placed no such qualifying words in His command to go and preach the Gospel to all nations.
America has been very diligent, even impressive, in past accomplishments at spreading the Gospel of Christ to foreign shores. Such has been the case for many years, yet, in the meantime, America itself suffers. We have now become a country where believers from other nations come to evangelize us. America ’s spiritual heart is out of order. Certainly something has fallen through the cracks. That something is God’s word. Oh sure, the cults are still out there actively seeking converts and doing quite well I might add. But where’s the Church, the true body of Christ, the front line if you will?
The religion of Islam is making huge strides here in the US . Many people are becoming Muslims, even many who were brought up in the Church are turning to Islam for their answers. Why? What could Islam possibly offer people who were brought up in the Christian Church and in Christian homes? What would be so appealing that these folks would turn their backs on Jesus Christ? It’s my opinion that no truly born again believer “in Christ” would ever turn their backs on Him and attempt to join the ranks of the condemned. But for those who are only going through the motions, not really believing the word of God, I can see how they could be led away. Having no roots, no commitment, no real faith, these are totally lost.
What does all of this have to do with the man I was talking about? The man who, for forty-four years lived as a walking dead personbecause no one with any intestinal fortitude ever took the time to witness to him? Some of you might have figured out by now that the man was me. Although I was and am married to a wonderful Christian woman, she was going through a lapse of faith when I met her and so her witnessing was at a standstill even before she met me. Finally, one day after some years of marriage she came to me and told me she needed to get back to Church. I thought to myself “That’s no big deal. I can tag along every now and then” and so I did.
In the church we attended was a man, 20 years my senior, who was a fishing guide on the famous Rouge River in Oregon. One day this man decided I needed a fishing lesson. If he was scared of me he never showed a sign of it. Sitting in his boat for almost 8 hours gave him ample opportunity to explain Jesus Christ to this heathen. After that full day of fishing spent with my new friend in his boat in the middle of a freezing cold raging river in the middle of March, after landing two of the biggest Salmon in mankind’s history (okay, that’s a fish story), I asked Christ into my life and became born again. This older gentleman never worried about what my response would be or the possibility I’d lose my temper and lash out at him with a volley of foul language, which I was quite proficient at by the way.
Elvin was his name and what he did was he simply shared the Gospel with me that day and it was as though the proverbial light bulb had just come on. Suddenly the whole world changed before my eyes. TheHoly Spirit, through His constant prodding, finally chipped away at the last remaining vestige of my prideful self-reliance, self-will, and doubt. The seeds that had been planted years before finally bore fruit and my eyes were opened to the truth of the Gospel.
Elvin went home to be with the Lord a few years ago, but through his diligence the Gospel continues to be preached. Not only by me but by numerous others he touched as he guided them in a fishing journey of a lifetime.
Every believer has the same responsibility lying at their doorstep, to preach the Gospel to the world. Remember most of the lost world is outside the church building's doors. Believers who actually do witness and evangelize are in no way waging a losing battle. God opens doors, opportunities if you will, and His word will never come back void. It may only be one person you witness to who becomes a part of thebody of Christ, but that one person may affect the lives of thousands, even millions. You have no idea of your potential and you may never know the flood gate you opened. But God knows and He never forgets. “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building,” 1 Corinthians 3:8, 9. We are to be about our Fathers business as He directs, and his directions never include simply standing by as others perish. We are God’s husbandry, teachers, preachers, ministers and laborers. We are commissioned with spreading the truth to a lost world.
Many of you will recall the conversion story of D.L. Moody. For those who have never heard or read this story, here’s a quick synopsis. Ayouth pastor by the name of Mr. Edward D. Kimball pursued the young Moody, even going as far as reaching out to him at his place of employment, Holton’s Shoe Store. Kimball shared the truth of the Gospel with D.L. and there, in the back of that shoe store in Boston, the future great evangelist gave himself and his life to Christ. If that youth pastor (E.D. Kimball) hadn’t bothered taking a few extra moments with Moody, how many others worldwide might never have had the opportunity to hear and receive the Gospel of Christ?
Believers cannot surrender or retire; there are no qualifying words in Mark 16, or Matthew 28 for that matter, that gives rise to the idea that there is ever to be an end to our witnessing and spreading the Gospel while we are alive. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.Matthews Gospel is just as clear we find no reference to a time when we are to cease evangelizing the lost. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19.
I’ve heard from some who complain that the lost have so thoroughly hardened their hearts toward God that it’s a futile waste of time trying to evangelize them. I know when it comes to a hardened heart and the subject of God many have been so deeply influenced by the lie of evolution, or by the seductive programming of the secular media, and even the many lies of most of those who run our federal, state, and local governments, that they seem to have no mind or heart of their own. Some of you have responded to me in the past with “they belong to Satan and he’s not letting go, why should I continue in what is certainly a futile effort?” If that’s your attitude toward evangelizing go back up the page and read again about my life as a 'dead man walking' and then think about your attitude and what God is able to accomplish through our perseverance.
All humans while living and breathing can be converted from dead to alive. There’s a story in our Bibles of a woman who had a problem and she went to a judge for help. This judge had no fear of God or man. He told this woman to scram. He couldn’t be bothered with her problems. The woman wouldn’t give up; she persisted in her attempts to find relief for her problems and continued to petition this judge to intervene. She confronted him over and over with her problem. Finally he relented. He had had enough. He told the woman he would help her so he could finally be rid of her.
This story is of course a paraphrase of Luke 18. Although Jesus is speaking about our persistence concerning our prayer life and petitioning God, we learn that persistence is the key to opening many doors. Will we meet with brick walls? I say “most assuredly”. Here’s the reality. As we spread the Gospel to an individual or even a group, we then move on to our next challenge. What we left behind is the word of God planted as a seed in the minds and hearts of those folks. Some will believe and become born again, and yes there will be those who won’t accept the truth and they will continue in their rebellion to God. Even though we may never know which of the folks we encounter will become believers, we can be assured that the word of God will take hold in some hearts. How do I know? (So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11.) Again, how do I know? Because God says so.
“Thy will be done” is a prayer most of us have committed to memory. Many have prayed this prayer from the time they were children. We pray that God’s will is accomplished here on earth and it will be. We also know that His will is for us to continue in His service until He brings us home, as it should be. When you pray that prayer, stand by it! It’s the right thing to do.
God bless you all,
Ron Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com
