The Reason Jesus Came.
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Salvation, Day of
The story is told of a time when Satan held a strategy session for subverting those who were close to salvation. “What shall we do?” asked Satan. A daring demon stood and shouted, “I have it! I know what we can do! We can tell men that there is no life after death, that they die like animals.” Satan’s face fell as he answered, “It will never work. Man is not ignorant; even atheists admit of times when they sense a tomorrow after death.”
Another demon spoke, “Here’s the solution! Let’s say there is no God or if there ever was, he is dead—because even if he started the universe, he has left it now.” Satan replied in dismay, “That won’t work either; most of them know there is a God, even though they don’t seek him.”
Other ideas were presented, but none brought hope to Satan and his underlings. Finally, as they were about to give up, one demon leaped in glee, “I have it! A sure solution!” The other demons crowded around to hear the plan. “Go tell them that God is real and the Bible is God’s Word.” A gasp came from the audience as the demon continued, “And tell them that Jesus is God’s Son and frees men from sin.” The other demons were horror-stricken, thinking that their associate had gone bananas, until, with a smile, he added, “Then tell them that this is not the best time to choose Christ. Help them make excuses for delaying their decision. Tell them there is no hurry!” The demons danced in delight, realizing a workable plan had been discovered.1165
Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (pp. 312–313). Baker Books.
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
God’s work of grace apparently moves downward through our physical body. The last part of us to experience full salvation seems to be our right foot! Actually, the way we act behind the wheel of a car is often more indicative of our walk with God than the way we act praying in a pew or smiling over a well-marked Bible. So, if we occasionally must speed, maybe it would help to sing loudly:
At 45 m.p.h.—“God Will Take Care of You”
At 55 m.p.h.—“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
At 65 m.p.h.—“Nearer, My God, to Thee”
At 75 m.p.h.—“Nearer, Still Nearer!”
At 85 m.p.h.—“This World Is Not My Home”
At 95 m.p.h.—“Lord, I’m Coming Home”
Over 100 m.p.h.—“Precious Memories
Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 321). Baker Books.
An article entitled “The Startling Beliefs of our Future Ministers,” included the results of a survey taken among several major denominational seminaries. These questions were asked and answered as follows:
“Do you believe in a physical resurrection?” Fifty-four percent said, “No.”
“Do you believe in the virgin birth of Christ?” Fifty-six percent answered, “No.”
“Do you believe in a literal heaven and hell?” Seventy-one percent said, “No.”
“Do you believe in the deity of Christ?” Eighty-nine percent said, “No.”
“Do you believe that man is separated from God by birth (the doctrine of depravity)?” Ninety-eight percent responded either “No” or they weren’t concerned about this.
“Do you believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?” Ninety-nine percent said, “No.”
—Redbook, August 1961
Swindoll, C. R. (2016). The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (p. 480). Thomas Nelson.
9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
One-half of our problems come from wanting our own way. The other half come from getting it!1213
Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 329). Baker Books.
True liberty is not found without confession of our sins and the experience of divine forgiveness.
—Paul Tournier, The Strong and the Weak
Swindoll, C. R. (2016). The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (p. 483). Thomas Nelson.
I’m Drowning
Lord, I’m drowning
In a sea of perplexity.
Waves of confusion
Crash over me.
I’m too weak
To shout for help.
Either quiet the waves
Or lift me above them—
It’s too late
To learn to swim.
—Ruth Harms Calkin, Tell Me Again Lord, I Forget
Swindoll, C. R. (2016). The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (p. 484). Thomas Nelson.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin
Sin is like a woodpecker. Each particular attack makes noise but doesn’t seem to do much damage. But, like a woodpecker, if you let it chip away at your life long enough, it will leave many an ugly hole that never fills in.1233
If you have to do wrong to stay on the team, you are on the wrong team.1234
He that falls into sin is man.
He that grieves at sin is a saint.
He that boasts of sin is a devil.
He that forgives our sin is God.1235
A flippant youth asked a preacher, “You say that unsaved people carry a weight of sin. I feel nothing. How heavy is sin? Is it ten pounds? Eighty pounds?”
The preacher replied by asking the youth, “If you laid a four-hundred-pound weight on a corpse, would it feel the load?”
The youth replied, “It would feel nothing, because it is dead.”
The preacher concluded, “That spirit, too, is indeed dead which feels no load of sin or is indifferent to its burden and flippant about its presence.”
The youth was silenced.1236
Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (pp. 334–335). Baker Books.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.