Written by Mark Driskill:
Wednesday May 4, 2011
Read Acts 12:4-12
“Will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?”
The only thing worse than rejecting salvation is standing in the way of others who would seek it. Elymas the sorcerer was struck blind because he sought to keep the proconsul from hearing Paul’s message. You know it grieves the heart when someone refuses to receive the good news of salvation in Christ. But how infuriating it is to see one who is not content to simply reject the gift of God’s grace but they must also make sure others stay away from the cross as well. I’ve been by the hospital bed of a man facing possibly the end of life, and as he pleaded with me to help him find peace with God his so-called friend kept trying to end the conversation and send me out of the room. I ended up sending him out of the room instead.
What’s worse is to see a child asking mom and dad, “Can I go to church and learn about Jesus?” only to hear them say, ”No you don’t need that.” Then I look on the movie cabinet and see hundreds of dollars invested in explicit movies. I see trophies on the wall from long forgotten sports events. I smell the stench of alcohol and nicotine and pot wafting through the air. Obviously that is what the parents believe their children need instead!
Why is it when a child wants to date at age ten and eleven, get a cell phone, and stay up all night watching movies we consider them mature enough, but when they want to come to Jesus, we protest; “Oh I’m not sure you’re old enough to do that!” But I digress.
You may say you are too open minded, tolerant, and self sufficient to believe in the Lord Jesus. That is your choice. But tell me this. If you are so open minded and tolerant why are you stopping your loved ones from making their own choice about it? Why must you impose your “open mindedness” such as it is, on them?
If you are so secure and self sufficient without Jesus, why do get so uncomfortable when your children want to know him? I’ll tell you why. Like Elymas, you are afraid of what it may cost you if they believe. If your children start bringing home Bibles and singing God’s praises around the house it just may upset your way of doing things. You’re afraid this Jesus may come into your house and mess up your plans for the weekend. He may start getting to you through your kids, or your friends. You may have to think twice about your life. But you have no idea the gift God is trying to bring to you through the people in your life.
Oh friend if you must throw away eternal life; If the idea of being forgiven and free is so disturbing to you; If the very thought of a life of peace and joy and meaning so repulses you. Then you are free to reject it. Maybe you just don’t want hope. Maybe you just don’t care where you spend eternity. Maybe you don’t believe there is anything to it. Okay, no one can force you to believe and be saved. If you don’t go to heaven it won’t be because you weren’t invited. But please don’t be so arrogant as to presume you have the right to stop others from believing something you don’t accept. Otherwise there may just come a day when, like Elymas you find out the hard way that there is a God out there. Oh and by the way, if you’re so sure there is nothing to this gospel, why are you reading this?
Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the Word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and www.facebook.com (to group “Begotten by the Word”)
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian resources-Evangelism Outreach www.hhcr05.org
(Feel free to copy in any way that will bring glory to God and further his kingdom.)
Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.
