I had four siblings and a boxer dog named Butch. Our house was usually a hive of activity and noise, especially with four boys and a tomboy sister! When I was about eight years old I came home one day after playing with my friends in the neighborhood. The house was silent. I called out to let everyone know I was home but there was no reply. I went through every room in the house and no-one was there. Even more strange was that there were pots and pans on the stovetop. They were warm and food was still in them but no-one was in the kitchen. I walked through to the bathroom, still calling out for anyone who might be home. The bath had been run and the water in the tub was hot. But no-one was here.
At that moment, I knew exactly what had happened and was gripped with fear. The rapture had come and I had been left behind! Raised in a Christian family that attended church every Sunday, and well as any other time the church was open, meant I had heard the gospel literally hundreds of times in my short eight years. I knew that I was a sinner, I knew that God loved me but condemned sin. I knew that I needed to repent and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. I also knew that there was a day coming when the Lord Jesus Christ would return to take those that were His to heaven. I frantically began to consider my options: what would I do, where would I go, knowing that those who came to church with us were now also gone. Fortunately at that moment I heard the front door burst open and my brothers came noisily through it. A sense of relief rushed through me at their return. The next door neighbor had asked my mom to come over as she was preparing dinner. My Mom turned off the stovetop and the water to the bathtub and, grabbing my siblings, headed out the door.
Remarkably, even though I knew the truth and had an eye-opening revelation of what it would look to be left behind, my heart stayed hard against the gospel. I would memorize verses for Sunday school and listen to the many gifted missionaries and preachers that passed through our home. I continued to hear the messages and the testimonies of those who had been saved. I faithfully listened to the teaching of the love of God and the great plan of salvation, yet I never responded to the call. It wasn’t until three years later during a week of gospel meetings that I finally surrendered to the Lord.
There may be some of you who have heard the gospel many times. In fact, you might now be so familiar with the Word of God that it just washes over you. We pray that the Lord would convict you today of your sin and the joyful news that you have a Savior. The assurance of salvation is a wonderful joy to have but it is only the beginning of what God has planned for you. Peter, speaking to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem says, Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19. Those are both wonderful promises for us. First that our sins would be wiped away and second, that God would bring us times of refreshing. The battle against sin and this world is a frustrating one, but God offers us the amazing gift of salvation, if we just respond in faith. Do it today – the truth should not terrify you but bring you great joy!
Pattern Of Sound Words 