Monday, 11/4/19 – Pressing on…

A Melting World

“Seek God or die!” This was the great ultimatum King Asa a gave to those assembled at Jerusalem. Seven thousand animals were sacrificed and, scripture tells, “They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.” (2 Chron. 15:12, 13)

That’s quite an incentive, yet for many it is still not sufficient…

A PARABLE

A man lived on an ice flow. It was a fairly large ice flow when he first moved there. He thought, what a wonderful place to build a home. So he did. In time he had amassed many structures. His home had grown larger. Many fanciful and exotic things had been brought to his ice floe. He had cars, snow machines, sleds and toboggans. He enjoyed all these things and lived a life of ease.

All this while however the ice flow had slowly but steadily been shrinking. Bit by bit, drop by drop it was melting. The man knew this from the beginning, but had no immanent danger. This flow will last a long, long time, he reasoned. No need go worry now. And so his days passed.

He had heard there was a helicopter hovering in the east. A helicopter that dangled a rope ladder within reach at all times. But amid all his pleasures the man had no desire to seek it out. Life was good here. Why abandon it.

Years passed, and now the ice flow was noticeably smaller. Many of the man’s possessions had now fallen into the icy sea. Some corners of his lovely home had now lost foundation. Most concerning of all was the man himself had become old, frail… less able to journey… less able to grip. He saw the helicopter not far away but his ways were now set. In very short time the man’s home a d all within it toppled into the deep. The man himself, having gripped nothing above, and having nothing left under his feet, sank into destruction.

×-×-×-×

Peter asks this probing question, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?” (1 Pet. 3:11) “Seek God or die!” is not a radical threat, but a loving warning. It is repeated all though the scriptures…

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

“Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.‘” (John 7:37)

“…as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20)

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Rev. 3:20)

This world is melting away. Only what you have in the next is yours.

More tomorrow…

This week at Lincoln Baptist Church you have a wonderful opportunity to do just this, to seek the Lord. Join us for the Sermonindex Revival Conference — in person, or online. Go to the Lincoln Baptist Church website for details.