| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Great thoughts from great Christians” Our Bible verse for today: “If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved – but only as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 (CSB) Our thought for today: “He made it, but just barely!” By any measure, Dwight L. Moody was a great Christian, and he certainly had lots of great thoughts to share. He was the Billy Graham of his day. He preached to large crowds, led many thousands to faith in Christ during his lifetime, and commonly met with Presidents, Kings and Queens, corporate CEOs, and celebrities. Moody was very successful at leading people to faith in Christ and encouraging them to then become committed disciples. But it especially bothered him if he witnessed someone settle for casual Christianity instead of becoming a passionate follower of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 the Apostle Paul was writing about the security of the believer and how it is that many true but unserious believers live lives that add up to little for the sake of the kingdom of God. In such cases they are still saved, but just barely. Here’s what D.L. Moody had to say about that: “We see clearly from this that we may be saved, yet all our works are burned up. I may have a wretched, miserable voyage through life, with no victory, and no reward at the end; saved, yet so as by fire, or as Job put it, “with the skin of my teeth.” I believe that a great many men will barely get to heaven as Lot got out of Sodom, burned out, nothing left, works and everything else destroyed.” I once heard another preacher say it like this, “That guy might make it into heaven, but his hair will be singed and his clothes will be smoking!” We might chuckle at that word picture, but the Bible writer Jude gave us instructions about this as well. Writing to committed Christians about how to deal with backslidden Christians and those who have yet to place their faith in Christ, Jude instructed in verses 20-23 (in the only chapter in his little book), “Have mercy on those who waver; save others by snatching them from the fire …” Do you know someone who needs to be encouraged to attend church this Sunday? Perhaps you can help to “snatch them from the fire.” There are many people who will make it to heaven – but just barely! Their hair may be singed and their clothes might be smoking, but they’re be there! God bless, Pastor Jim |
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