I recently read the following from Mark Cahill's newsletter:
I happened to read an article recently about Shaquille O’Neal. As I read it, I ran across a very interesting statement.
“I know I will play in the NBA next season,” said O’Neal. “International? No. The good thing about me and my career is I came in, did it my way, did more than expected. For every athlete or every great person, there’s a time when it has to end. When and if it ever ends it will be very graciously.”
“We’re going to have a big party. We’re going to have a ceremony, and the next thing I’ll be waiting for is the entrance into the place where your name will never be forgotten.
Of course, Shaq was talking about the Basketball Hall of Fame. Oh, to get your name in there; then it will never be forgotten. The problem? As Mark points out, if you were to go to the basketball hall of fame, there would be plenty of names that you did not know. Yet, isn't interesting that there is a yearning in every person's heart for immortality? But, I'm sorry, Shaq, you are shooting far too low!
In the book of Revelation, we are told that there is a very special book. If your name is in this one, then you will not only be remembered forever, you will also live with Jesus in total, joyful bliss forever. This, as you know, is the LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE. I do hope your name is in that book. If it is, do you realize that your call is to go passionately into this world to relentlessly pursue the lost, so they may have their names in that book? Please, dear reader, go forth boldly preaching the Good News so the Shaq's of your world may have "entrance into the place where [their] name will never be forgotten."
I was blessed with an email from my pastor friend, Kevin Spence, this week. He had read an article by David Jeremiah. It ended with this quote:
Oh, how I wished that I had a tongue like thunder, that I might make all hear; or that I had a frame like iron, that I might visit every one, and say, "Escape for thy life!"
Robert Murray M'Cheyne
Then, Kevin ended his email with this: "It's really that urgent, isn't it...?"
Amen and amen and amen, Kevin! It's really that urgent. The day of judgment is coming quickly, folks. Do we believe it, really believe it? Let them mock us and call us crazy; that will not stop us. Though their ears are stopped and their eyes blinded, we see the freight train coming around the bend. It's the freight train of the holy wrath of God. It's not stopping! Oh, people, we beg you, we plead with you, run to the safety of the cross of our wonderful Savior, Jesus. He longs to save you if you will flee the wrath to come and fling yourself on His mercy.
Pray, therefore, the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest...
Once a friend suddenly buried his fist in my stomach. As I stood there, gasping for air, he smiled and said, "You've got to live ready, brother; live ready."
I wonder, today, if you are living ready--ready to breath your last breath and meet your Maker. Ponder this quote from long ago:
"My religious beliefs teach me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time of my death. I do not concern myself with that, but to be always ready whenever it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and all men would be equally brave."
~ General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
God has determined the number of days you and I will have here on the earth. Jim Elliot said that he didn't want to live a long life, but a full one. How about you? Are you living ready? Are you living a full life, making sure the lost around you are hearing the gospel?
I urge you to consider the words of 1 Peter 4:7--"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." Please, also pray for us that we would, day-by-day, boldy make the gospel known to as many as we can.
Please capture the sheer joy of participating in the Great Commission as you read this testimony from Ken, a dear friend who joined our team at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Ask yourself, "Am I missing something substantial in my walk with God?" I do believe, for all of us, we are indeed, when we are not going with Jesus into the harvest fields.
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Last Friday night two of our ministry team that open air preaches and ministers the Gospel on the streets of Washington DC joined Chris Peeler and his team at the inner Harbor in Baltimore, Md. As we arrived in Baltimore under an off and on rain, we noticed that the open air preaching opportunity would be slim due to the lack of a big crowd, as there were only pockets of people out for the night. This turned out to be God's sovereign plan for us this night as it became apparent to us that the one on one opportunity's were tremendous.
As the night went on almost every member of both teams were involved with one on one witnessing and tract distribution. The one on ones we were involved with, I cant explain in words,The power of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit were so evident as we spoke to men about the reality of hell and the mercy of God in Jesus Christ, I watched men broken down by the power of the Gospel. We saw Godly sorrow over sin in a few of the young men we talked to.
It was evident this night was appointed by God, each member of the team had generally the same types of encounters.
As the evening was ending Chris was able to do an open air session to about 5 men on a bench who listened intently, as he finished we were able to witness to a middle age man name Warren, who we prayed for after we were done. I am not one to walk by sight, but I can tell you after seeing his expression and his eyes wet with tears and the joy he showed I believe there was rejoicing in heaven over a sinner that repented that night. To God be the glory for all the seeds sown this night It was a night I will not soon forget. As we walked back to the cars rejoicing we all huddled in prayer and abundantly rejoiced and gave God all the praise.
To labor for Christ is not a burden but a joyful privilege.
Chris may God bless you and thank you for allowing us to join you in this labor.
Ken Toczylowski