We as TRUE Christians are to be a LIGHT that ALWAYS shines bright in this very dark world. As a Christian when you only hold your hands UP to God and refuse to put your hands OUT FOR God then you are just like the picture above – A pillar of concrete that when in a storm, is confident in it’s strength, but isn’t doing what its designed for – HELPING OTHERS FIND THEIR WAY TO SAFETY -
A lighthouse keeper gained a reputation as being a very kind man. He would give free fuel to ships that miscalculated the amount of fuel needed to reach their destination port. Now, what does fuel do – it energizes, strengthens and provides energy – When we as Christians go and give an encouraging word – that’s what happens – it provides strength to any who receive those words – but is that enough??
One night during a storm, lightning struck his lighthouse and put out his light. (Trials come to today’s Christian and sometimes those trials extinguish the light within them).. He immediately turned on his generator but it soon ran out of fuel. (Instead of trusting in God to pull us through we run out of faith) – He had given all his reserves to passing ships. (Our knowledge and wisdom is limited because we refused to refill our spirits with the very fuel that we have given away) During the dark night, a ship struck the rocks and many lives were lost. (When we waiver, we fail God)
At his trial, the judge knew of the lighthouse keeper’s reputation as a kind man and wept as he gave sentence(people may say that our reputation may be good but we will not be judged by people in the end but by GOD and HE will weep as HE passes judgment to those who THOUGHT because of works they will escape punishment) He accused the lighthouse keeper of neglecting his primary responsibility: TO KEEP THE LIGHT SHINING -
The Church can so often get caught up in legitimate acts of kindness – standing for political righteousness, feeding the hungry, etc. – but our primary task is to warn sinners of danger — We ARE to keep the light of the gospel shining so sinners can avoid the jagged-edged rocks of wrath and escape being eternally damned — Matthew 28 commands us to go and preach the gospel to every living creature – EVERY ..not just some… when you sit in the lifeboat polishing the brass – singing hymns to God while sinners around you are drowning in the icy waters of death around you, my friend you are NO CHRISTIAN!
*Charles Spurgeon said this – “I am told that Christians do not love each other, I am very sorry if that be true, but I rather doubt it, for I suspect that those who do not love each other are not Christians!”
What better way to love someone than to warn them of the dangers of eternal damnation! What if this was spoken to you:
My friend, I stand in judgment now, and feel that you’re to blame somehow. On earth I walked with you by day, and never did you show the way. You knew the Savior in truth and glory, But never did you tell the story. My knowledge then was very dim. You could have led me safe to him. Though we lived together, here on earth, you never told me of the second birth. And now i stand before eternal hell, because of heaven’s glory you did not tell!
(anonymous)
Each person we meet on a daily basis who does not know Christ is hell-bound (even if you don’t believe it) That may make some folks bristle, but its a fact! When we refuse to warn people that their actions and lifestyles have eternal consequences, we’re not doing them any favors. If everybody feels good about his or her sin, why would anyone repent?
Mark Cahill – a wonderful soldier for Christ, once said - “IF THEY’RE BREATHIN….THEY NEED JESUS!”
Please, I pray this message spoke to your heart and you step out in faith to reach the lost.
