Bomb threats are NOT funny at all; in fact they are quite serious. Unfortunately, many live in countries in which the threat of bombing is very real. When such bombings occur, many lives are either hurt or destroyed in their wake – despite warnings which may have been given. These are tragic events, yet all too frequent.
From these tragedies, however, there are some vital lessons for each and every one of us to learn about another KILLER that can potentially destroy ALL of our lives.
Consider the following imagined scenario…
A telephone call shattered the daily business routine of a local office. The caller announced that a crazed individual had planted a “time bomb” within the office complex and that all occupants MUST evacuate immediately in order to avoid the impending devastation.
"Oh, it’s just a prank call!" John loudly announced. Ignoring the warning, he calmly returned to his work, while discouraging many others from taking the ALERT seriously.
Sam and Jim, who worked together, both SAID "THEY BELIEVED" the caller had spoken the truth. Sam quickly BEGAN going through each office on every floor in an effort to locate and take with him ALL who would listen to his warning. Although Jim readily AGREED with those who were making their way to the exit, he just SAT there. Jim acknowledged the truthfulness of the warning to each passerby, BUT- he continued his work routine together with John and others. Some responded by conducting a SEARCH for “evidence” of a bomb, while others HID themselves in closets and under desks.
A short time later, a “saved” group emerged a safe distance away and watched as the entire office complex perished in smoke and flames with the horrendous blast.
Question: Why were some saved & others lost? What made the difference?
The Answer: “GENUINE” FAITH!
Those who were saved not only BELIEVED the truthfulness of the message, but they also ACTED upon the instructions contained within the message.
In other words, they were saved BY GRACE (the telephone call) THROUGH FAITH (the acceptance of the message) WHEN THEY RESPONDED to the message (by moving out of harm’s way into a place of safety). They were SAVED when their faith RESPONDED with the APPROPRIATE actions – NOT just ANY action hiding in the closet, etc.) but the RIGHT actions!
Each and every one of us has to deal with a deadly time bomb called SIN (Romans 6:23). The GOOD NEWS is that because of Jesus Christ we can be saved from sin and live eternally. The Bible teaches us that we are saved BY GRACE (the giving of God’s Son for the payment for our sin) THROUGH FAITH (our acceptance of the message) WHEN WE RESPOND in the appropriate manner: repenting of our sins (Acts 17:31), confessing Christ (Romans 10:9-10) and being baptized for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).
The WARNING has been sounded: Sin destroys! The way of salvation has ALSO been proclaimed!
Will YOU heed the Savior’s instructions?
God bless you!
David A. Sargent / M. Eddlemon
The year was 444 B.C. The city of Jerusalem lay unprotected because its walls had been broken down and its gates had been burned with fire by Nebuchednezzar, King of Babylon, and his army. However, a man by the name of Nehemiah, who had been serving as cupbearer to the King of Persia (the dominant world power at that time), was given permission to go to Jerusalem, his homeland, to rebuild the walls around the city.
After Nehemiah inspected the damaged walls for himself, he exhorted the people of Israel to help him to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. The Israelites rallied to the cause. With Nehemiah’s leadership, they rebuilt the walls in just 52 days!
Now that the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt, her inhabitants felt safe again.
Yet, they felt “something” was missing...
Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate of Jerusalem, and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law which the LORD had given to them through Moses. Ezra read from the Book from morning until midday while the people stood. When he finished reading, the people wept. Why? Because they had disobeyed the Lord’s instructions. However, from that day on, they renewed their commitment to reading and heeding the Lord’s commands (Read Nehemiah 8 in the Bible).
Reflect upon the context of this event again. The wall reconstruction project had been completed and the people had moved into their own homes. Yet, there was “something” missing. There was a spiritual vacuum in the city which could ONLY be corrected by - wiping the dust off of God’s Word, reading it, accepting it, and obeying it.
I’m afraid many today feel secure in the “walls” of their own homes and in the routine of their every day lives. Many of them have all of the “creature comforts” that money can buy. But, I also believe that many of them STILL feel empty and dissatisfied.
Why? Because there is a spiritual vacuum in their lives. As someone has well said, “There is a God-shaped hole in their hearts that ONLY God can fill.”
The remedy is the same as it was in Nehemiah’s day. WE need to dust off our Bibles, read them, accept the teachings therein, and obey them!
Outside the walls of our comfortable yet unsettled lives, God is calling each and every one of us, inviting us into a relationship with Him. This relationship has been made possible through the GIFT of His Son whom He sent to die for our sins -- the very things that put a wall up between us and the God of heaven. Whoever hears His word, believes it and believes in the One (Jesus) who is God’s answer for sin, and obeys the instructions of repenting of our sins, confessing Christ before men, being baptized for the forgiveness of sins, and THEN following Him for the rest of his/her life, is welcomed into the only relationship that can give us what we are missing.
Is something -- or Someone -- missing in your life? There IS if you don’t have God!
Won’t you believe and obey?
God bless you!
David A. Sargent, Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
Please visit our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org and subscribe a friend !!
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