Author: imikemedia

THE MORTALITY OF man isn’t pictured any clearer anywhere than it is in Genesis chapter five…

Pay attention to the historical chronicles of men’s lives, with the exception of Enoch:

• All the days of Adam were 930 years, and then he died vv. 3-5
• All the days of Seth were 912 years, and then he died.  vv. 6-8
• All the days of Enosh were 905 years, and then he died.  vv. 9-11
• All the days of Kenan were 910 years, and then he died.  vv. 12-14
• All the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and then he died.  vv. 15-17
• All the days of Jared were 962 years, and then he died.  vv. 18-20
• *Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years.  Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.  vv. 21-24
• All the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and then he died.  vv. 25-27
• All the days of Lamech were 777 years, and then he died.  vv. 28-30

One day friends and family will recall thing about your life, and no matter what else may be said, the stories about your life will conclude with, “and then he died…”

Have you considered where you will be then?

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27).

“God loves you and I love you and that’s the way it’s gonna be!” – Mike

“WE ARE SENT not to preach sociology but salvation;

not economics but evangelism;

not reform but redemption;

not culture but conversion;

not progress but pardon;

not a new social order but a new birth;

not revolution but regeneration;

not renovation but revival;

not resuscitation but resurrection;

not a new organization but a new creation;

not democracy but the gospel;

not civilization but Christ;

we are ambassadors not diplomats.”

(Hugh Thomson Kerr)

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”  2 Corinthians 5:20

“God loves you and I love you and that’s the way it’s gonna be!” – Mike

IN SEVERAL BUSINESS meetings, I have listened to varied suggestions on how the worship should be shortened – “use more trays,” “omit a song,” “cut the sermon…”

In all of this thinking, there seems to be the underlying premise that a shorter service is a better service – that efficiency means more efficacy.

Are we rushing through our worship so that we may hasten to feed the poor, to preach to our neighbors, or to lift up the heathen?

No.

We rush so that we may get a tasty, sumptuous meal or so that we can watch our favorite TV program or take a nap or read a secular newspaper, or play golf or go on an outing.

If none of these attracts us, we may rush because we are nervous and have the habit of doing everything in a hurry.

We sing, “Take Time To Be Holy,” but we don’t have time to meditate, to praise, or to listen to the word in a relaxed atmosphere.

There is pressure by more worldly members to “pay our respects” to God in the smallest capsule of time possible.

Movies and TV programs are getting longer, but periods of worship are being compressed.

Why?

Is it because we are so spiritual that we don’t need more time to be holy?

Or is it a lack of appetite for spiritual food?

Do we hunger and thirst after righteousness, or do we fret when the Lord’s Supper takes more time than a newscast?

Time is precious and we should “redeem the time.”

Our periods of worship should be planned so that our worship will be more effective.

Let us take time to be holy – time for more spiritual songs – time for sermons that are long enough to convince the sinner and edify the Christian.

Let us take time to promote activities of the church that will build us up in the most holy faith – time for meditation on the meaning of the Lord’s Supper.

Time for silence – to be still and know that God is with us.  M. Norvel Young

And all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.  1 Chron. 16:23-36 NKJV

“God loves you and I love you and that’s the way it’s gonna be!” – Mike