REASONS 4 BELIEVING

“He who says he abides in Him (God) ought himself also to walk just as He (Jesus) walked.” – 1 John 2:6

Little Ricky was in about the third grade when he started to walk home from school. After a few weeks his mother noticed that each day it took him longer and longer to arrive home. This concerned her so she said something to Ricky’s father.

Ricky’s father asked him, “Why is it taking you so long to come home from school?” Little Ricky replied, “Oh, I’m just piddlin’!”   “You’re just pidllin?” his father asked. “Yeah, I’m just piddlin’.”

The next night Ricky’s father woke him up and said, “Get your clothes on.” “But daddy, it’s the middle of the night.” Ricky replied.   “I know – get your clothes on,” said his father.

Next Ricky’s father told him, “Since you like to piddle, go outside and walk up and down the sidewalk – and piddle!” Little Ricky, walked up and down the sidewalk as his father watched from the window. Shortly, Ricky came up to the door and asked if he could come in. His father replied, “No, you’re not done piddlin’.” Needless to say little Ricky walked straight home from school then on.

How often does God our heavenly Father catch His children piddlin’ around in this life?   So many times we have God upon our lips, but our hearts often drift away with the desire for more money, a higher position, or greater prestige and we miss thanking God for what we already have.   Other times we get caught up piddlin around in religion. We go through the motions of religious rites and church activities, and miss worshipping God with a heart of love and thankfulness for the life here and the eternal life to come.

When we piddle around we are far from home, far from the Father’s love, far from the Father’s provision and protection. Therefore, in love, the Father gets our attention. Even though He is close by watching us, He may give us a little time to piddle in this world so that we may see the emptiness and vanity of it all.

Seeing that our earthly fathers corrected us, we had some kind of respect for them although the discipline was unpleasant. Nevertheless, in the end it formed our character and it demonstrated care and concern. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 12 explains that we should all the more gladly submit to God’s training.   When our heavenly Father catches us piddlin’ around, with a loving and tender hand He corrects us so that we would immediately come straight home to Him.

How far have you piddled away from God’s presence? As our opening verse teaches us, we ought to walk as Jesus walked. Jesus walked in constant communion with the Father. His whole life was a deep love relationship with His Father – and so it should be with all of God’s children.

(Published in the Marshall County Tribune)

David C. Hale, pastor

New Life Community Church

1001 Easy Street

Lewisburg, TN 37091

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man (Jesus) is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” – Acts 13:38,39

 

Companies and corporations spend billions of dollars advertising on television, the radio, the web, or on social media.   They look to get the attention of the masses in order to sell their product or service. All that is fine. It’s the capitalist way – right? However, take a step back and observe how they advertise. For example, in commercials they present a scenario so as to present a need. It is the advertiser’s job to make sure that the customer will have an “I gotta have it” moment.   When that occurs the customer has been persuaded into thinking that they have a great need. All the while they may have lived without that product, as a need, up until they saw the commercial.

That leads us to this question. What is mankind’s greatest need?

I suppose there would be a lot of suggestions such as peace, happiness, joy, or fulfillment. By no means would I disagree, but what sticks out to me is that these suggestions are only by-products of mankind’s greatest need.

Not knowing mankind’s greatest need is the reason for all the different addictions that our society is so entrenched in. Peace, happiness, fulfillment, and acceptance are sought after through drugs, alcohol, gambling, money, and a host of other addictions.   Yet, men and women sadly continue to search out ways of filling that true need in their lives by abusive substances or regretful relationships.

We all could debate about our greatest need, but the bible makes it clear that mankind’s greatest need is the forgiveness of sins. Once a person has their sins forgiven the burdens of life are removed. In fact one could make an argument that peace, happiness, joy, and fulfillment are actually benefits that come from having all our sins forgiven.

Having one’s sins forgiven means to escape the wrath of God, as a result one has peace with God, one rests in God, one’s joy is in God, and so fulfillment in God naturally follows.

When we try to obtain the benefits of forgiveness without first seeking forgiveness from God it is like trying to walk through a closed door without turning the doorknob. Obviously one must turn the doorknob to enter into the next room. So it is with forgiveness. One must turn to Christ by faith for the forgiveness of sins so that they can enter into peace, happiness, joy, rest, and fulfillment. Therefore forgiveness of sins transcends all other needs.

The forgiveness of sins through the blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross is for everyone who believes. This is the message of the New Covenant. This is mankind’s greatest need!

(Published in the Marshall County Tribune)

David C. Hale, pastor

New Life Community Church

1001 Easy Street

Lewisburg, TN 37091