THE PARABLE OF THE AQUARIUM

“Behold, a certain family vacationing in California visited world famous Marine land, and saw the famous exhibition of beautiful fish by the thousands, darting through the waters in a rainbow of color.  And upon their return home they determined to install an aquarium of their own.

Straightway they sought out a large and lovely tank.  It had a thermostat to keep an even, comfortable temperature. It had soft lights to give a restful, dignified atmosphere.  It had a filter system to keep the environment pure.  Rocks and shells in coordinated  colors, and attractive plants placed here and there added to the beauty. And over the top a pleasing plastic dome.

And lo, they were exceeding glad.  Each Saturday they cleaned the aquarium. And every Sunday they emptied a portion of fortified fish food into the water.  They even painted a neat sign and mounted it on the front which read: “The Fish Bowl.”  But the weeks passed and behold there were no fish in the aquarium.

And it came to pass that the members of that family came to themselves and said to one another, “the fish are not going to fill this aquarium by themselves.  We must go where they are and get them and bring them in.  And they did,”

The moral of the story is:  we have been called to be fishers of men, not keepers of the aquarium.                                              Selected

THE CONGREGATION BUILDS THE CONGREGATION.

 

THAT MAN DIED FOR YOU…

On April 15, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was shot to death in Ford’s theater in Washington, D.C. As his body was brought to Illinois for burial services, the train passed through the town of Albany, New York. The people there were given the opportunity of getting one last look at “Honest Abe.” Thousands filled the streets and as the casket passed by, standing in the crowd was an old black ‘mama’. She had a little child in her arms and as the body of Abraham Lincoln passed by, she lifted him high above her head and with great big tears rolling down her checks, she spoke these words to him, “Take a long look, honey, ’cause that man died for you. Take a long look, honey, ’cause that man died for you.”

Once Abraham Lincoln was asked, how he was going to treat the rebellious southerners when they had finally been defeated and had returned to the Union of the United States. The questioner expected that Lincoln would level vengeance on the southerners. However, Lincoln answered, “I will treat them as if they had never been away.”

I think what an amazing man, that Lincoln could be so forgiving. But, even more amazing to me is the grace of God that could forgive a sinner like me. I am not worthy, I don’t deserve it, yet God in His infinite love paid the price for my sins in Jesus, His Son, on the cross. That man died for me. Just think about that. Be drawn to God by His love. All that He wants is a response of your love to Him.
How could we not be draw to Him by such love?

Isaiah said it this way, in the 53rd chapter of his book, verse 6: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” NIV     In the New Testament, the Apostle Peter pens in his first letter chapter 1:18-19, these words: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” NIV

How could He love me so?  But, HE DID.  I love Him who first loved me and gave His life on Calvary to save me.  That man, Jesus, died for you.

 

 

SEE HIM FACE TO FACE

We are commanded, implored to fix our eyes on Jesus, lest we grow weary and lose heart. We must see Jesus. Philip, the disciple of Jesus, expressed the longing of our hearts, when He asked Jesus, “Show us the Father and we will be satisfied.” This is our eternal longing. To see God. Jesus answers this ageless request by saying, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet you do not know me, He that has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14: 8-9    We must look through Jesus to see the Father. No one goes to the Father except through the Son. Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

The hymnwriter Fanny Crosby gave us more than 6,000 gospel songs.
Although blinded by an illness at the age of 6 weeks, she never became bitter. One time a preacher sympathetically remarked, I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when God showered so many other gifts upon you. She quickly replied, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind.” “Why?” asked the surprised preacher. She said, “Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.” One day at a Bible conference, D.L. Moody asked Miss Crosby to give a personal testimony. She hesitated and then said, ”There is one hymn I have written which has never been published. I call it my soul’s poem. Sometimes when I m troubled, I repeat it to myself, for it brings comfort to my heart.” She then recited while many wept, “Someday the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing; but oh, the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King. And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story – saved by grace.” At the age of 95, Fanny Crosby passed into glory and saw the face of Jesus.

This is the sure hope of every chlld of God. Because of fixing our eyes on Jesus, we shall see Him face to face.

Christian’s View of Death

The Christian views death with hope. We echo the Apostle Paul’s sentiments, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.”
Paul told Timothy; “For I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” II Timothy 4:5-8 Paul said, “he was ready to depart.”

What a beautiful picture of leaving this world.
It is the word for loosening the ropes of a tent in order to begin a new journey. This road leads to God, to home.
It can be the word for loosening the mooring ropes of a ship, letting It sail to cross the waters of death to arrive in the haven of eternity.
It is taking the yoke off the neck of oxen to rest after a heavy days work.
Death is casting off the ropes which bind us to this world to set sail on the voyage which ends in the presence of God.
Eternal life is the continuation of a lasting fellowship with God which began when a person made the commitment of love to Jesus Christ. This commitment to Jesus begins a relationship that cannot be broken by physical death. Eternity has begun and the issue is where will you spend the rest of it, with God or without God. The real question is not, “shall we rise from the dead? Rather it is, have we risen from the dead. Here and now, have we been obedient to the teaching of Christ in His word so that we have the promise of the forgiveness of our sins?

I am making preparations to go to Heaven and when I get there, this poem says it well…
“IF YOU COULD SEE ME NOW”  By Kim Noblett
“Our prayers have all been answered, I finally arrived.
The healing that has been delayed has now been realized.
No one’s in a hurry. There’s no schedule to keep.
We’re all enjoying Jesus, just sitting at His feet.
My light and temporary trials have worked out for my good.
To know it brought Him glory, when I misunderstood
Though we’ve had our sorrows, they can never compare.
What Jesus has in store for us, no language can share.

If you could see me now, I’m walking streets of gold.
If you could see me now, I’m standing tall and bold.
If you could see me now. You’d know I’ve see His face.
If you could see me now, you’d know the pain’s erased.
You wouldn’t want me to ever leave this perfect place.
If you could only see me now.