WHO Gets To Say?
If we had to name the letters we would write before our death, would we know—
- The number of letters to write?—OR—
- The persons to whom we would write?
Yesterday, June 29th was a day set aside to honor those martyrs who have given their lives, who were martyred for their faith. This single day offers us the opportunity to reflect on those throughout history who willingly said, “Lord, dying today because of my faith, my belief, my walk with you, so that another can come to know you as Savior, makes my life & my death worth something.”
LIFE—What is LIFE Worth?
Some say that the number of days we walk the face of this earth is all that matters. You know: Get all that you can—while you can!
HOWEVER THE WORD of GOD STATES—
“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
(Psalm 90: 1-3 & 12 NASB)
Before the mountains were born
Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
You turn mortals back into dust
And say, “Return you sons of mankind.”
. . .
“So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”
- WHO Gets To Say—the number of days we are allotted to live?
- WHO Gets To Say—the genetics, the DNA we receive?
WHO Gets To Say?
Many people think they get to decide What, When, Where, How, & Why!
HOWEVER THE WORD of GOD STATES—
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
(Psalms 8: 3-4 NASB)
The moon and the stars, which
You [LORD] have set in place;
What is man that You think of him,
And a son of man that You are concerned about him?”
Knowing that the GOD who is the CREATOR is in charge, is in control of our lives, & that the LORD directs the passage of time—makes all the difference.
Each morning, one of my favorite decisions is to take a few minutes to read over the names of those missionaries currently serving the LORD who just happen to be celebrating a birthday on this day. In speaking with a student who is attending a university in a foreign country, she said, “I am not very loud about my faith, but quiet about it,” to which I asked her—“What if you began just praising God when you with your friends? What if (when talking with friends who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior) you spoke of the many mileposts of your life and the way Your Lord has walked you through those places?”
What If?
- WHO Gets To Say—where we are to go (in life)?
- WHO Gets To Say—who we will get to know as we go (through life)?
- WHO Gets To Say—who will come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior because of our testimony and witness?
WHO Gets To Say?
Many individuals think that they get to decide.
Many people think that they will just live their lives & when they die—That will be the end.
HOWEVER THE WORD of GOD STATES—
“When they had driven him out of the city,”
(Acts 7: 58-60 to Acts 8: 1-3 NASB)
[driven the witness Stephen out of the city for his proclamation of Jesus]
[driven out the missionary Stephen for seeing the glory of God & Jesus at the right hand of God]
[the martyr Stephen]
“they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”
Having said this, he fell asleep.
Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death.
And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned loudly for him.
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison.”
If we had to name the letters we would write before our death, would we know—
- The number of letters to write?—OR—
- The persons to whom we would write?—AND—
- The content & the most-important person we would write about within our letters?
Persecutor “Saul” tormented the early church who now followed Jesus!
- This same “Saul” became a believer, a Christian!
- This same “Saul” became the missionary we know today as Paul!
- This same “Paul” was led by the LORD to plant many new churches throughout the region!
- This same ”Paul” wrote many letters of encouragement & instruction to those early churches!
- This same “Paul” was arrested, tried, sent to Rome, persecuted, and executed for his faith!
- This same “Paul” was a missionary who brought so many people to come to know Jesus!
The Apostle Paul was a martyr for the Lord Jesus Christ!
Someday, if we know Jesus as Savior, we will see Stephen & Paul in heaven!
- WHO Gets To Say—how our lives will impact the world for our Lord?
- WHO Gets To Say—how our lives will touch the lives of others for Jesus?
- WHO Gets To Say—how many souls God will save because of the seeds of witness we plant?
- WHO Gets To Say—how many people will come to know Jesus as their Savior because of our testimony?
WHO Gets To Say?
THE WORD of GOD STATES—
“So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 1: 15-17 NASB)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written:
“BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.”
The Gospel—
- The Supreme answer to all the world’s chaos!
- Superior to everything!
- Such Simplicity that a child can understand & Such Utter Unfathomable Grace!
- Sufficiency of God’s Amazing Grace!
“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
(Psalm 90: 1-3 & 12 NASB)
Before the mountains were born
Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
You turn mortals back into dust
And say, “Return you sons of mankind.”
. . .
“So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”
WHO Gets To Say—how many days we have remaining?
ALMIGHTY GOD DOES!