Preacher Boys

Early in my blogging, I mentioned our church’s "preacher boys." We’ve had several young men leave our church and go on to Bible college. We have a couple home for the holidays and one of them preached Sunday night. I regret that you did not get to hear him.

He spoke of Abraham and the errors he made by not listening to God. He spoke of David and the sinful scandals of his life. He spoke of Noah, and of others who have specific instances in the Bible of their open sinfulness.

Yet, centuries later, the summary of their lives include:

Abraham is called righteous: … for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. (Romans 4:9)

David is described as being after God’s own heart: … the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, (1 Samuel 13:14)

The list was long – much longer than I had thought. We moved through many verses in our Bibles. Bible character after Bible character – failures along the way but listed among the righteous and the faithful who served God.

It reminds me of the poem “The Dash” by Linda Ellis. There is a beautiful pictorial presentation of this illustration on the internet: http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/

How God summarizes our dash is up to us and is based on how we respond to His will. We’ve made errors along the way but we are not alone. We have been told how to escape them:

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. (Ezekiel 18:30)

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:1-2)

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:1-5)

What is your own summary of your life? Do you think your summary is similar to His?