November 8
Ezek 18:1-19:14 | PS 106:32-48 | Prov 27:10 | Heb 9:1-10
Everyone has their own way of initiating a conversation to present the gospel message. The question that I most frequently ask is, "If you were to die tomorrow, where will you go, heaven or hell, and why?" The other day I saw a long term patient of mine. I have known her for over 25 years. She is pleasant, from all that I could see, her life seems fairly neat and in order. That is why her answer surprised me. Her answer to my question, was that she thought she deserved hell, stating to me, that I had no idea of some of the things that she had done. Her level of honesty initiated a beautiful conversation surrounding the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. I explained that "Son of Sam", the serial murder, David Berkowitz, had repented and given his life to Christ. Past sins, no matter how bad they might have been, do not prevent heaven for anyone. It is what you do about it now. God is all merciful, all forgiving, all graceful, but also just. Payment must be made. But He made it so simple for us. Simply repent, or change your mind. This is different from simply confessing, or saying, "I'm sorry". Once done, accept Jesus' perfect payment on the cross, receiving the Holy Spirit, we are freed, and reborn. What was in the past, is just that, in the past. We now get to live the Spirit filled life. After a nice discussion, we prayed, and I showed her a few ways to get into a steady diet of God's Word, so that she could learn how to communicate with Him.
When we read through the various items in the earthly sanctuary in Hebrews 9:1-5: the lampstand, the table of showbread, the ark, etc., one item you will notice which is missing is a chair. We read in Hebrews 9:6,9, "Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services...It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—". The priest never rested. His work was never completed. The sins never ceased, and the payment was only a covering. The sins were not actually removed. This system was a foreshadowing of something much better. We read in 9:11-12, "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." We, are now His priests (1 Peter 2:9), and since His work is done, we can find rest.
The beauty of this reality should never be missed. Like my patient above, we are all sinners. Some realize it, as she did, others stand in their own self-righteousness. Understand that none of our present goodness will ever be good enough to earn heaven. It is not based on works, but on the finished work of Jesus Christ. We need to repent and accept. We need to shed pride and learn to submit to His Lordship. We read in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Though we save no one, a simple conversation can initiate salvation for another, as we point their eyes onto Jesus, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." All praise to our Savior, Jesus Christ!!
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: