A Useless Mousetrap?

I really enjoy listening to Christian Radio as a regular, if not daily practice.  I find the sermons and teaching to be uplifting and helpful in maintaining my walk with the Lord.  Not all of it is inclusive of the gospel teachings, but careful study of the Word generally weeds out the good from the 'distracted.'

One of my favorite programs is 'Revive Our Hearts' with author and teacher Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  I really enjoy her teaching and have gained much insight regarding Godly womanhood.  I find her style to be thoughtful and to reflect a meditative style that inspires me.

On today's program (December 27th, 2011),  she provided some thoughts about the importance of the Christmas season and its relation to our Salvation - the true meaning (for celebration) during this season.

Many embrace the traditions of Christmas:  the exchange of gifts, feasting with family and friends, celebration of our family traditions amidst caroling, sending cards and well wishes to all we know.  So, it is not surprising to me that many of us have lost the meaning behind these traditions.  If Christmas either holds little spiritual meaning or impact, if any, for you today, you have lost on what used to be a commonly understood truth:  that our human condition is fallen and is in need of a savior.  With the arrival of the Christ child, all humanity had reason to celebrate!  Here was the Messiah born to save us from our sins!

With that, we traditionally celebrate 12 days of Christmas up to the King's Day or the day believed to mark the discovery of the child by the Magi, who, following a star, presented the Holy Child with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Many considered this meeting highly significant because a group of Gentile men recognized God in the flesh as our Lord.  As a side note, however, if you study the lineage of Jesus, Gentile blood was already part of his earthly heritage - but God is gracious to make sure without a doubt that His message is for the World and not any one particular group of people.

Yes, salvation through Him is a freely given gift to all humanity!  But as I posted in my last blog entry, salvation is for many an unopened gift.  In today's message by Nancy, she quotes another writer who spoke of a 'useless mousetrap.'  There were several illustrations of gifts given to serve a particular purpose for which the recipient had no use - a ride to the emergency room, safety from thieves in a police car and a mousetrap.  If you have no threatening illness, you don't need a ride to the emergency room, however, if you are writhing with pain, such an offer would be a Godsend!  If you are unaware that around the corner from you awaits a gang of thugs looking to mug someone, refuge in a police car seems unnecessary.  Likewise, if you have no mice in your house, a mousetrap is completely useless to you.

As a Christian, this illustration reminds me (and humbles me) that as well-intentioned as my witnessing may be, if the hearer's life is going fine, they may view a relationship with God as a 'useless mousetrap.'  Thus, without a visible need (aka brokenness) and without that person's awareness of his true human condition; salvation, the gospel message and even the Bible are all useless mousetraps.  It is prudent, therefore, to prayerfully ask the Lord to put people on my path who understand their fallen state so that I might use the right words in providing comfort and truth into the lives of those who are ripe to know Him.

Friend, if you are one who thinks the gospel is a 'useless mousetrap' then what I have to offer here may seem just as useless.  But nevertheless, I encourage you to consider times when you may have ever admitted 'I am not perfect' either in jest or in justification of your behavior.  If you have, start there.

You are not perfect, and the reality is that even if you know Christ, you are not perfect either!  The difference between these two individuals, however, is that the one who has a full relationship with Christ, as His child, has the only perfect one standing in his place so that they are not judged for all their imperfect ways!  In this way, His perfect life can be substituted for yours and make right all your wrongs and shortcomings.

And while I do not encourage any 'formulaic' method for coming to Christ, an understanding of why you need a savior and how you may become a Child of the risen Lord is in order.  Knowing your lineage, your family history is important.  Knowing your spiritual heritage and spiritual lineage is as well.

If you are willing to trust in Him and wish to become one of His children, please read Jesus' own words in John, Chapter 3, particularly versus 3-5 and then Acts 2, particularly verses 37-39 which you can find at http://www.biblegateway.com/ to know how the Apostles' answered the crowd when they, too, wanted to know - what must we do!

May God draw upon your heart, dear reader!

It Depends on What you Believe

As I face the eminent loss of someone close to me, many have inserted their own beliefs with regard to salvation.  As I explained my concern for this person who stands now in need of salvation, one person replied 'Well, it depends on what you believe.'

I have to say that my initial reaction was shock.  How can a Christian  claim that based on my own beliefs, this person may enjoy the afterlife or at worst forever be in a nonexistent state?  I have to say that people perish due to ignorance.

Friend, the Lord has made various provisions throughout the ages for salvation.  We now live in a  period of Grace and although Grace is freely given and freely available, it is not inclusive of all humanity.  What do I mean?  I mean that unless we become like Christ, apply his sacrifice to our lives in complete obedience to the Scriptures and the Apostles' teachings, we miss out on this freely given gift.  It is a gift unopened!

The Scriptures provide a synoptic view of all that we are to embrace as Christians.  When Jesus asked Peter who people were saying he was, Peter got it right.  You are the Christ!  In other words, you are my God and you have come to once and for all pay our sin debt.  Beyond that, we have the hope of resurrection and eternal life because he rose and conquered death and is now preparing a place for His followers to join him in Heaven.

Don't let Grace be your unopened gift, especially now as we enter the Christmas season.  Jesus paid it all and he instructed his Apostles to share this good news with all humanity!  I will post more later on the Scriptures regarding what we are to do to be saved from complete separation from God and how a synoptic approach can help you embrace all that God has for you!

May God's Grace bring you revelation by your asking today!

Peace to you