Time to Wave the White Flag

[Bill]

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This Week's Verse

Romans 12:1-2 -- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Bill's Weekly Thought

Editor's Note - This is a shortened version of a feature called "Time to Wave the White Flag" in "The Reading File", and for some reason it spoke to me that it should be included in the newsletter. Read the full version at the Reading File!

Here is an image of what it is to be committed to a cause: Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. Stick with me on this one...it relates. In the cartoons, we see that Wile E Coyote has a goal in mind: to have Road Runner Stew for dinner. We see in each cartoon that the Road Runner usually gets away. Now, Wile E knows it will be difficult, but he

[Catsmeow]

The thing that stands out to me about commitment is that people want to find a million reasons why they can't share the gospel with others. Then to ease the conscience, they create a new belief system that smoothes over the unpleasant facts of eternal damnation.

There we see the wonderful, storybook ending that says nice people who do nice things will get in because Jesus will look at their good deeds and give em' a break and let them in (to heaven).

I wish this were true. I wish like crazy that people who never heard the gospel would be issued a get out of hades card and never have to pay the penalty for their sins.

I'd rather believe they could simply commit to Jesus after they die - and blissfully wander off into eternity to strum their harps.

That's a real nice thought. I wish it were true.

Truth is God made a way out for humanity then passed us the torch to spread the gospel into all the world.

People don't like that part because it means commitment and hard work.

No one wants to do that - it involves personal sacrifice and risk.

So, when folks invent warm and cozy belief systems that make salvation a little more attainable,- we have to wonder why?

Why are we in such utter denial? Why do we struggle with the very hard truths God tells us in His Word?

We don't like what He has to say. It disturbs our peace and maybe causes some sense of personal responsibility.

It's so much easier to avoid commitment and personal sacrifice for the sake of the lost and to invent philosophies that ease one's conscience.

God's Word is never politically correct - nor is it popular. It takes us way out of our comfort zones.