Have you ever thought about that? - the saddest words in all of the Bible?
One of my favorite preachers, Don Wilton of First Baptist Spartanburg, SC, was preaching recently about “The Roaring Lion”. It was a message that has really resonated in my heart. Don talked about how Cain devised evil in his heart and tried to please God with vegetables (literally AND figuratively). God wasn’t having it. He was not interested in Cain’s vegetables (again, in his literal vegetables OR in Cain’s desperate attempts to live by the Law). God was interested in a blood sacrifice - but really he wanted Cain’s heart.
What’s most amazing about that section of Genesis dealing with Cain is this: when questioned by the most High God himself, Cain lied in the face of God. Isn’t that amazing? After all, doesn’t anyone who knows anything about God’s nature know that God is omniscient? - that he can see easily through ANY lie?
Dr. Wilton reckoned that the “saddest verse” in all of the Bible is Genesis 4:16(a) -
“And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.”
Understand that and let it sink in: he went out from the presence of the Lord.
That got me to thinking about some of the other very sad passages of the Bible - and I want to share a few with you - and then share the commonality in these instances.
Shortly after Pentecost and the coming of God’s Holy Spirit, Paul was imprisoned by Antonius Felix (commonly known as “Felix”), Roman procurator - much like a secretary of the treasury. He was in charge of financial affairs and answered to the Emperor (presumably to both Emperors Claudius and Nero). Felix called for Paul on more than one occasion “and heard him concerning the faith in Christ” (Acts 25:24b)
Felix hadn’t any genuine interest in the Gospel, but rather he asked to hear him thinking that Paul might pay for his own release (Acts 25:26). Furthermore, it is commonly held that Felix thought he would glean some entertainment from Paul’s testimony (as if a circus clown were performing). What Felix didn’t know is that God can use anything and anyone to prick a person’s heart concerning the Gospel. And it’s clear the Holy Spirit was working on Felix. The scripture says:
“And as he (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” (Acts 24:25)
When I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.. In today’s parlance, “Go for now, let me get back to you on that..” And the Bible says he trembled.
Friends, he trembled. That’s what happens when people hear the Gospel and understand that they are sinners. He heard the truth and he trembled in fear. And then he made a fatal mistake. He said “no”. And you might be thinking “no, he didn’t.. he just said ‘not now’!”
Incorrect. As I have written before, a vote of neutrality is the same as saying “no” in God's economy.
And his intentions may well have been pure - that he would deal with it (just not now).. Don’t we put things off? How many people have heard this gospel in their teen years and said to themselves “I’m having fun. I don’t feel like being bothered with stuff that serious. I’ll deal with it when I get older.”
And then they get into their early adult years and get married and reason that life is just too busy for “church stuff”. And then along comes mid-life. Kids are growing up and life is still too busy! By the time one becomes a senior citizen, wouldn’t it be easy to say “well, I’ve gotten by this long without such childish things as religion, why do I need it now!?”
Go for now, I’ll think about it again when it’s convenient for me..
What a sad, sad statement.
And then lastly, I want to share with you from just two chapters later. Paul, once again under constant ridicule and persecution for evangelizing to people, was imprisoned. This time, he was summoned to answer to King Agrippa (this encounter is documented in Acts 26, and I encourage you to read it). At the end of Paul’s testimony, Agrippa uttered these sad words: “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:28)
One of my favorite preachers, Don Wilton of First Baptist Spartanburg, SC, was preaching recently about “The Roaring Lion”. It was a message that has really resonated in my heart. Don talked about how Cain devised evil in his heart and tried to please God with vegetables (literally AND figuratively). God wasn’t having it. He was not interested in Cain’s vegetables (again, in his literal vegetables OR in Cain’s desperate attempts to live by the Law). God was interested in a blood sacrifice - but really he wanted Cain’s heart.
What’s most amazing about that section of Genesis dealing with Cain is this: when questioned by the most High God himself, Cain lied in the face of God. Isn’t that amazing? After all, doesn’t anyone who knows anything about God’s nature know that God is omniscient? - that he can see easily through ANY lie?
Dr. Wilton reckoned that the “saddest verse” in all of the Bible is Genesis 4:16(a) -
“And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.”
Understand that and let it sink in: he went out from the presence of the Lord.
That got me to thinking about some of the other very sad passages of the Bible - and I want to share a few with you - and then share the commonality in these instances.
Shortly after Pentecost and the coming of God’s Holy Spirit, Paul was imprisoned by Antonius Felix (commonly known as “Felix”), Roman procurator - much like a secretary of the treasury. He was in charge of financial affairs and answered to the Emperor (presumably to both Emperors Claudius and Nero). Felix called for Paul on more than one occasion “and heard him concerning the faith in Christ” (Acts 25:24b)
Felix hadn’t any genuine interest in the Gospel, but rather he asked to hear him thinking that Paul might pay for his own release (Acts 25:26). Furthermore, it is commonly held that Felix thought he would glean some entertainment from Paul’s testimony (as if a circus clown were performing). What Felix didn’t know is that God can use anything and anyone to prick a person’s heart concerning the Gospel. And it’s clear the Holy Spirit was working on Felix. The scripture says:
“And as he (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” (Acts 24:25)
When I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.. In today’s parlance, “Go for now, let me get back to you on that..” And the Bible says he trembled.
Friends, he trembled. That’s what happens when people hear the Gospel and understand that they are sinners. He heard the truth and he trembled in fear. And then he made a fatal mistake. He said “no”. And you might be thinking “no, he didn’t.. he just said ‘not now’!”
Incorrect. As I have written before, a vote of neutrality is the same as saying “no” in God's economy.
And his intentions may well have been pure - that he would deal with it (just not now).. Don’t we put things off? How many people have heard this gospel in their teen years and said to themselves “I’m having fun. I don’t feel like being bothered with stuff that serious. I’ll deal with it when I get older.”
And then they get into their early adult years and get married and reason that life is just too busy for “church stuff”. And then along comes mid-life. Kids are growing up and life is still too busy! By the time one becomes a senior citizen, wouldn’t it be easy to say “well, I’ve gotten by this long without such childish things as religion, why do I need it now!?”
Go for now, I’ll think about it again when it’s convenient for me..
What a sad, sad statement.
And then lastly, I want to share with you from just two chapters later. Paul, once again under constant ridicule and persecution for evangelizing to people, was imprisoned. This time, he was summoned to answer to King Agrippa (this encounter is documented in Acts 26, and I encourage you to read it). At the end of Paul’s testimony, Agrippa uttered these sad words: “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:28)
Almost...
To be "almost persuaded" is to be totally lost.
The country music artist Josh Turner popularized a song written in 1890 by Philip Bliss. I hope you’ll take two minutes to listen to “Almost Persuaded”, performed by Turner, who played the role of George Beverly Shea in the recent movie “Billy: The Early Years”. Here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frKneDcUVtU
My friends, you might be able to think of other sad, sad verses in the Bible. I wonder if the ones that come to your mind would match the theme of the three I’ve shared. All three of these verses have one thing in common: they all deal with people who rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus preached and ministered to crowds and individuals, he always exhorted them to repent NOW. That’s in the present continuing tense. The hour of salvation is now. No man can come to Christ of his own choosing in his own time, because the Lord Jesus chooses such times as his grace dictates. Say “Yes” to Christ today.
To be "almost persuaded" is to be totally lost.
The country music artist Josh Turner popularized a song written in 1890 by Philip Bliss. I hope you’ll take two minutes to listen to “Almost Persuaded”, performed by Turner, who played the role of George Beverly Shea in the recent movie “Billy: The Early Years”. Here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frKneDcUVtU
My friends, you might be able to think of other sad, sad verses in the Bible. I wonder if the ones that come to your mind would match the theme of the three I’ve shared. All three of these verses have one thing in common: they all deal with people who rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus preached and ministered to crowds and individuals, he always exhorted them to repent NOW. That’s in the present continuing tense. The hour of salvation is now. No man can come to Christ of his own choosing in his own time, because the Lord Jesus chooses such times as his grace dictates. Say “Yes” to Christ today.
As always, I welcome your questions and comments. May God bless you richly.
- Rudy
1 comment:
This one is fully persuaded ... completely surrendered!!!
Good word, brother Rudy ... Bill
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