HPCS

On Monday, December 11, 2017, I had just finished conducting the funeral of an elderly man who was extremely well thought of and very active in the community. He was a member of our Lord’s Church and had been preparing himself for the end of his life for some time. Many members of the community were in attendance on that day. It was obvious how the community felt for this man and how he was going to be greatly missed. Sometimes I fear the words that I may speak on behalf of someone at these times are not good enough to do justice for the life of the deceased. How this man had lived his life in preparation to meet Jesus would be far more important than anything I could possible say. Following my remarks, it was time for the community, friends, loved ones and family to come and pay their last respects at the casket.  I remained near the casket as the line progressed to offer condolences to those who were grieving so greatly.

One of the individuals that that I saw in line to pay his respect to the deceased was my old high school football coach. I always had excitement when I saw him because of the great respect I have for him.  I had heard that the old ball coach was struggling with his memory. Over the years, he had suffered some medical issues that had been successfully treated but, his recollection was not always the best. The old ball coach was a man that I had thought of often over the years, and I had kept some contact with him. He taught me a lot about life through the avenue of discipline, hard work, and determination. I loved playing the game of football and it was an honor to have been coached by him. I elevated myself during my time with him to an education and growth through the turmoil of football that I had barely been able to achieve in other areas of my life. I spent a lot of time working early in the morning and late at night to better my skills. I lifted weights and practiced year-round because I wanted to be successful as a football player, and not only because I wanted to be successful but also because I wanted to please the old ball coach. As Coach approached closer, as the line was passing, I put on a big grin and said, “Hi, Coach.” He looked at me somewhat confused and extended his hand to introduce himself. This was a day that I soon won’t forget. All the time and effort that I had spent in my life working toward excellence, and I was not even remembered by the man that I had worked so hard for. It was not as though it had been several years since we last spoke. I had to remind myself that the old ball coach was not himself and his memory was not a reflection on me. I spent a lot of time that day replaying that moment in time and what it means to be remembered.

Humans forget many of the times, places and people they were associated with as the years pass. For some, the memory loss is great. Then, eventually, after the passing of years, we will pass on from this world. For a moment on that day I was troubled. I was humbled realizing that times and people change. My time as a football player was so important to me and the man who was an influential part of that did not recognize me.  As I reflected on this idea of being forgotten, I could not help but think of the greater tragedy in life, which would be Christ not recognizing a faithful servant on that last day. Jesus said, “Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew10:32-33). When I meet that day of judgement, I want Christ to know who I am. I want Christ to see me washed in His blood that brought me forgiveness of my sins. I do not want the ugly scars of sin from my life to be seen. On that last day, because I am faithful to Christ, because I am a baptized believer, because I have been His servant, I desire to hear “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). In this life upon earth, there will be those that after time do not quickly recognize us or remember a relationship that once was. This, I suppose, is a part of life. The greater tragedy will be not being recognized by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on that great day of judgement.  Let us live to Him that we may be seen and remembered as a good and faithful servant.

Scott is the minister at the Elm Grove Church of Christ. Meeting times are Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class and 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. for worship. Mid-week Bible study is on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. All are invited.

A great sadness in my life is the memory of a man who, during his life and at the end of his life, refused to come to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He simply stated, as the gospel was presented to him one last time, “That is not the type of life that I have lived.” I suppose he was right. He was not a man that thought often of Christ and His sacrifice; this man’s life was certainly not lived putting Christ first in all things that he did. That being said, this man was not a bad man. He had a moral standard that he lived by in life. He loved his family and worked hard for them and always tried to do right by others. Yet, that life is not enough in the eyes of God to attain salvation and the promise of eternal life (cf. Acts 10). Jesus Christ is the only way possible for man to make the journey to God (John 14:6).

Jesus spoke a parable in Matthew 20:1-16, referred to as the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. Jesus likened this parable to the kingdom of heaven. It was about a landowner that went out early in the day to hire laborers to come into his vineyard to work. They agreed on a fair wage, a denarius, and so the laborers went to the vineyard. Again in the third hour of the day the landowner went to the streets, saw some standing idle and agreed with them to go work in the vineyard. The landowner said that whatever pay was right at the end of the day, he would pay. The landowner went out in the sixth, ninth and eleventh hours as well. He did according to what he had done in the third hour regarding work and pay, and more workers went to the vineyard.

As evening came, the land owner had the steward call the workers so that he could make their compensation right. Some of the workers had been in the vineyard since the very beginning of the day and some went into the field at different hours while some only put in an hour’s work. Those that worked for one hour received the same pay as those that began their work at the beginning of the day. Those that received the same wage for more work complained against the landowner, to which the land owner replied,

Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way, I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is you eye evil because I am good? So the last will be first, and the first last: For many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 20:13-16).

The gospel is presented to different people at different times in their lives. Some become Christians at very young ages; others wait until late in life before they accept Christ and put Him on in baptism. The truth of the matter is, to have hope of eternal life, we must go into the vineyard at whatever time we can go. Christ died for all (2 Corinthians 5:15). We should want to live a life for Christ. If, however, that desire—that commitment comes late in life, Jesus Christ is still our Savior and it is still His blood that cleanses our sins. It is my prayer that people don’t think, “That is not the life I have lived” in denying the hope that is in Christ Jesus.

It is true that many live most of their lives to enjoy the pleasures of this world. That does not change the fact that Christ died for them also. Please know that Jesus is the Savior of us all and in Him hope reigns eternal. I know that my grandfather will stand before Christ not living a life in Him. I pray, however, your heart will be touched and you will not make the same decision. Won’t you become a Christian? You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 15:15-16). You must confess your faith (Matthew 10:32-33). You must repent of you sins (Luke 13:3). You must be baptized (Acts 2:38).

Scott is the minister at the Elm Grove Church of Christ. Meeting times are Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for Bible class and 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. for worship. Mid-week Bible study is on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. All are invited.

I was recently asked to speak at Vacation Bible School in St. Clairsville Ohio. The theme for the week was “Exploring the Wonders of the God Who Loves Us”. My assigned topic for that particular night was “Wonderful Purpose”. The assigned reading was the conversion of Saul in Acts 9 and Ephesians 2:1-10. It is a challenging thought to consider, “What is my purpose in life?” When I was younger, I had my purpose figured out or so I thought. I was going to take the field every Sunday in the Astrodome in Houston, as I suited up for the Oilers.  I spent a lot of time and focus on that dream and for a while forgot the realities of what God’s purpose was for me. Chasing dreams is for every individual, but must be done with God’s commands in mind. Solomon summed up what man’s focus in life should be, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 11:13-14). Let us consider the purpose God had for Saul as well as the direction the Apostle Paul gave to the Ephesians.

Saul was a man who had brought great persecution upon the church, thinking that this was the will of God. He was a Pharisee who had excelled in education and training in the traditions of his fathers (Galatians 1:14).   Saul had the wrong understanding of God’s will, and before being confronted by Christ on the road to Damascus, had the wrong purpose. After this confrontation, Saul was directed to go on to Damascus where Ananias (who had a vision from God) was instructed to meet with Saul. Ananias, through great fear, questioned God about meeting with Saul because of Saul’s violent history against the Lord’s church.  It was then that God spoke to Ananias about the great purpose that Saul would fulfill.  But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, Kings and children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16). Indeed Saul served a wonderful purpose in his life by spreading the gospel of Christ and he suffered physically, emotionally and mentally for doing so. The man who once brought Christian men and women into prison as well as consented to the death of other Christians (Acts 8:1) would become a great servant of purpose for the Lord.

As Saul had focus and purpose in his life following his conversion, it allowed him to teach others of the great love of God and the hope of eternal life that comes through Christ. The apostle Paul, as he would later become known, made many missionary trips to spread the good news of the Gospel. One trip included a stop in Ephesus. Finding disciples, he began teaching and many were converted to Christ (Acts 19). Sometime after leaving this city and traveling to other cities, he communicated through letter with these disciples at Ephesus.  His goal was not only to help them understand their great riches but also to encourage them on their spiritual walk. They had been made alive through Christ (Ephesians 2:1). They were spiritually dead and without hope because of sin at one time, but God showed His great love and mercy so that through Christ they were made alive with Him (Ephesians 2:5). Because of this, they and subsequently, we, are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). We are created for good works so that we should walk in them. Our purpose then is not to live a life to fulfill the lusts of the flesh but rather one that is filled with Christ-like intentions. To do the will of the father who is in heaven. We should live by “GPS”, God’s Plan for the Sinner. This plan gives us the route that leads to heaven and directs us to walk humbly (Micah 6:8). It allows us to be fruitful (Colossians 1:10). Not only should we walk with Christ, but we should also be a witness of the greatness of Christ (1 Peter 2:9). Having a purpose for God will allow us to teach (Matthew 28:18-20) and be a light (Matthew 5:14-16). This life of purpose leads us to victory. Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33) and in Him we will also.

The apostle Paul is often looked at for his life of servitude and encouragement for others. Paul once lived a life with the wrong purpose but when directed by God, he became one of the greatest examples of purpose that we can study. Paul thought about his purpose often as he went about living a Christian life. He became a man of great love for the Lord’s church and suffered greatly because of it. The wonderful purpose for you and me is to live with the same mindset. I am a sinner and yet God loves me. I face a decision as to how to live my life and living for God will bring me His mercy. Living for God brings that mercy which gives me hope and God desires for me to have that hope of eternal life (2 Peter 3:9). I pray that God’s servants think often of what lies ahead of them and the purpose that they must fulfill.

Scott is the minister at the Elm Grove Church of Christ. Meeting times are Sunday at 9:30 am for bible class and 10:30 am and 6:30 pm for worship. Mid-week Bible study is on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. All are invited.