When you consider the possibilities of that statement, it is a daunting idea. But in actual practice, it is either the easiest thing in the world, or else it is the hardest. In my spirit, I am forever singing and praying to my Lord, thanking him for who he is and what he has done in my life,and I am always mindful of having to be truthful to him, and about him, and to speak the truth to those around me. I have frustrated people because I won't lie for them. Nor, will I lie for myself. This is the second time I have tired to write this post, for the simple reason that it is so involved,and so much else keeps coming to mind that I want to include. There are some people who will understand what I am about to say, right away. Some will never understand it.
Being a Christian, It delights me greatly when I have a chance to talk to other Christians. But that pleasure I get from talking to other believers can turn to total frustration when I hear things like the lady who lives next door. She comes to visit on occasion, and when she does, she tells me about her church. She tells me how beautiful it is,and how proud she is to be a member.The word "Pride" jumps out at me every time she talks to me. I ask her if she has a good preacher there, and she always says, Oh yes, he's very nice. Did you get that? Not a word about what he preaches, just, he's very nice. Well, I would expect a minister of the Gospel to be nice, but that wasn't the question. I wanted to know if he was a good preacher,and she won't offer a word on what it is he preaches! This never fails to disturb me, and when I try to press her on it, she talks about how nice the organ is, and how wonderful the choir is,and how they (she and her sister) go there and have lunch regularly on certain Sundays....on and on. Frankly, I am worried for her soul. To me there can be only one reason why she can't give me a straight answer, which is, she has no idea what I am talking about when I ask about her church. It is the only possible reason why she never has anything to say about the preaching. The man stands up there and talks,and she waits until he is done,and sings the songs,and eats the food,and talks sweetly to those around her,and then she goes home.If they even give one, she's never answered an altar call. Which means she leaves in the same lost, burdened condition in which she came. And nothing I have ever said to her has penetrated her brain either. I have asked her if she is saved,and she looks at me like I have lost my mind,and says, I have been going to this church all my life...since I was a child! It's the oldest church in town, you know. And then she is off, telling me more about the building, and nothing about her soul, her salvation experience, or her relationship with the Lord. Which tells me, that to her mind, the act of going to the church every Sunday is all that is required of her to make it into heaven, and my heart just hurts for her. She is so lost, and so blind to her lostness,that I am in pain over it. And the idea that there are many others just like her haunts me. They go to church regularly, but they've never prayed the sinners prayer and repented of their sin, and would be mightily insulted if I suggested that they needed to. They've been in church all their lives! How dare I suggest that they are sinners! Well? If they never repented, then they are sinners, whether they have been in church for 50 years or not!
Oh, the pain. What hurts the most, is the realization that her "Pride" may be the very thing that keeps her out of heaven.
OUI?
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