One Last Chance!
ONE LAST CHANCE… by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
God’s last command is our first priority.—Dr. Don Sisk
Roger Simms was hitch hiking his way home after serving overseas in the war. Flashing the hitchhiking sign to the oncoming car, he hopped in when the car stopped. “Going home for keeps?” “Sure am,” Roger responded. “Well, you’re in luck if you’re going to Chicago.” “Not quite that far. Do you live in Chicago?” “I have a business there. My name is Hanover.” After talking about many things, Roger, a Christian, felt a compulsion to witness about Christ to this fifty-ish, apparently successful businessman. But he kept putting it off, until he realized he was just thirty minutes from his home. It was now or never. So, Roger cleared his throat and proceeded to explain the way of salvation, ultimately asking Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his Saviour. To Roger’s astonishment the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road and Mr. Hanover bowed his head and received Christ.
Five years went by, Roger told how her husband had given him a ride when hitchhiking home after the war. “Can you tell me when that was?” asked Mrs. Hanover. “It was May 7, five years ago, the day I was discharged from the army.” Mrs. Hanover asked, “Was there anything special about that day?” A bit hesitant he replied, “That day I explained the Gospel to him and He received Christ.” Explosive sobs shook her body. Getting a grip on herself, she sobbed, “I had prayed for my husband’s salvation for years. I believed God would save him.” “And,” said Roger, “Where is your husband, Mrs. Hanover?” She replied, “He was in a car crash after he let you out of the car. He never got home.”and in Chicago one day Roger decided to look up Hanover Enterprises. A receptionist told him it was impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but he could see Mrs. Hanover. A little confused as to what was going on, he was ushered into a lovely office and found himself facing a keen-eyed woman in her fifties. She extended her hand. “You knew my husband?”
Roger never knew May 7 would be Mr. Hanover’s last day on earth. Had he ignored the Spirit’s leading, Mr. Hanover would be spending eternity without Christ. But because he listened to God and allowed God to work through him, he was able to lead Mr. Hanover to Christ!
From Mike:
Many times we as Christians fail to obey God’s call to witness because of pride. “What will someone think?” “What if they reject me?” “I’m not a good speaker.” “There will be other people to tell them.” But Christ made Himself of no reputation and took on the form of man to endure the Cross for us. If He left Heaven’s throne for us, can we not simply talk to someone else about Him?
Do you ever find yourself ignoring God’s leading to witness? We are all guilty of not obeying God’s every impulse. Rather than thinking of what others will think of you, think of what Christ will think if you fail to witness to them. Commit right now to being sensitive to God’s leading in the area of witnessing and let Him use you to tell others of His love.
We MUST reach all COLORS – “Nations”
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,”
John 11: 52-52 – And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
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Nations (defined) – Nation (defined) – Greek: ethnos, gentile, heathen, nation, people. Race of people.
Mark goes ahead and says: “every creature” – Mark 16: 15
We must KEEP the CIRCUMCISION – Baptism
“baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Circumcision (defined) – to cut around, a medical term, change the condition of. It was the mark of obedience to the Abrahamic Covenant from the human side.
“The distinctive feature in Jewish practice, based on the Abrahamic Covenant, is its link with baby-hood (8 days old, v 12). Thus a Jewish child is virtually born into the covenant, as he is into the Jewish community. Circumcision became especially during and after the Babylonian exile. It is interesting to observe that this covenant was already open to others besides Abraham’s descendants (v 12), and conversely, that his descendants by failing to practice circumcision could be cut off from the covenant people (v 14). Circumcision thus symbolized not a social kinship but an… Obedience to God’s commands.
Jesus said: “IF you love me, you will keep my _________________________ ? (Commandments)
Ephesians 2: 11-13 – Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Colossians 2: 9-15 – For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
The Challenge: As you are reading this article today, decide where you are going to be in God’s plan. If we fail to follow the Lord’s instructions, we fail to reap the abundant life the He has for us. The bottom line is your either fishing or not following. Are you a fisherman?
So reader, may I ask you to get honest with God? Do you want to see people saved? In your home maybe?, in your neighborhood?, in your school? Ok so now that you answered the first key question let me ask you this: “Are you willing to commit to learning how to lead a lost person to faith in Christ?” I promise you if you will decide, take action, and begin to prepare yourself, you will find that Jesus will do exactly what He said He would do and that is to ‘make you a fisher of men! We are dependent on God’s word to do the work, not on our own abilities. God does reward our efforts. He wants us to do the sowing. Isaiah, Chapter 55 says: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
So friend, it’s not on us to do the saving, it’s on us to do the fishing! All I’m challenging you to do today is decide to fish. The sky is the limit to the potential you and I have if we will ONLY TRUST HIM! amen?
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