Same Ol’, Same Ol’

Dwight L. Moody 1837-1899

Mentioned earlier that I downloaded a copy of his “Moody’s Stories Incidents and Illustrations” – and that I’m enjoying it very much.  You’ll be reading bits and pieces from it for the foreseeable future.  Such as:

“A great many people seem to think that the Bible is out of date, that it is an old book, that it has passed its day.  They say it was very good for the dark ages, and that there is some very good history in it, but it was not intended for the present time; we are living in a very enlightened age and men can get on very well without it; we have outgrown it.”

Hard to believe that didn’t come from today’s articles regarding how inappropriate the Bible is in today’s world. Hard to believe it was written in the 19th century, but the outdatedness carried through the 20th and into the 21st century. Of course, it goes back millennia, too.

Jeremiah had a similar problem when he took God’s word to the people of Judah and heard their response:

As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. (Jeremiah 44:16 KJV)

When church members go door knocking to invite people to church, witness to the lost, speak directly to the unsaved – they hear that same response – we will not listen to you. Some do it in quite an unfriendly manner, too.

There will come a time when the word of God is not available. There are limits shown in that very word:

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. (Amos 8:11-12 KJV)

There are limits on our time in this world, too. Our lives are finite, measurable and some are much shorter than others. We can’t tell. That’s why Paul’s witness to Felix was important:

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25 KJV)

What if his life had been lost that very day?  Well, it didn’t matter, did it? There never was a convenient time for Felix and two years later Paul is giving his witness before Festus and Agrippa, who said:

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26:28 KJV)

I love Paul’s response!!

And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. (Acts 26:29 KJV)

I do pray we can be persuaded to be active Christians, not in name only.