April 14
Josh 9:3-10:43 | PS 83:1-18 | Prov 13:4 | Luke 16:19-17:10
A number of years ago, like many, I was confronted with taking the experimental vaccine or potentially lose my ability to practice my profession. Though much was uncertain about it, the push to take it was very aggressive, with unanimous consensus from the medical experts and medical organizations. I prayed about it, had no peace about taking it, and refused it. By the grace of God, I was approved for my religious exemption and was able to continue to work at the hospital. One Christian physician that I know challenged me, stating that he was also a Christian, and he chose to take it. I asked if he prayed, if he sought guidance from the Holy Spirit, to which he admitted that he didn't. Being a Christian does not make us impervious to life's challenges. Our walk with God is day to day, and minute to minute. The question is not only whether or not we choose to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, which will grant us salvation and eternity with Him, but on a daily basis will we go it alone or with Him which will determine what our earthly walk looks like. Joshua had just successfully completed two military campaigns when he is approached by a group of apparent worn-torn travelers from a distant land, but in reality, were from Canaan. We read in Joshua 9:14-15, "So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath." Joshua was still God's leader, though he failed, and God did not abandon him because of this error, as we read in 10:8, before his next battle, "Do not be afraid of them,” the Lord said to Joshua, “for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.”"
More important than taking or not taking a vaccine personally, is the reality of being confronted on a daily and constant basis with so many who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior, who are on the wide path to hell unless they are warned and accept His free offer of salvation before it's too late. When we read Luke 16:19-31, please understand this is not a parable. This is a real account with real individuals, one being in Paradise or Abraham's bosom, the other being in Hades or the place of eternal torment. Take seriously the reality of the finality of their destinations in Luke 16:25-26, “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’" At the time of this account from Jesus, eternity or Sheol was separated into Abraham's Bosom and the hell-like portion. Once Jesus, our Firstfruits, ascended to heaven, He emptied the paradise portion of Sheol and those individuals now are in heaven. The other individuals will eventually be thrown into hell or the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). I was asked to give the eulogy at one of my brother's funerals, who was not a believer in Jesus Christ, and I used this as the basis of my talk. I didn't make any statements as to where my brother might or might not reside, as only God knows this, but I emphasized with this reality in mind, the plea of the rich man who was now residing in his hell-like reality in 16:27-28, "Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’" Any of our departed loved ones, no matter which destination they are in would desperately want us to reach out to those who do not accept Jesus Christ with a sense of urgency.
May we never elevate ourselves, as we read soberly in Luke 17:10, "In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’” That is the reality of who we are, "unworthy servants" of the Most High God. We have all been given a commission, the Great Commission, from Jesus Himself to reach the unsaved world in Matthew 28:18-20. Keith Green wrote a very convicting song many years ago, called "Asleep in the Light", which is how most of us walk. We are children of the Light and pretend the reality of walking among people destined to eternal separation from God is not a reality, despite Jesus' warning in Matthew 7:13-14 to the contrary. Like Joshua mistakenly did with the Gibeonites in Joshua 9, we also erroneously walk around often without seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit, going it alone. But like Joshua, we are not abandoned, and the Holy Spirit will not leave us as believers. Today is a new day and the mission field is huge. May we each take our calling seriously.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: