Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, May 27, 2017
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“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Real talk; play time is over! Do you realize that Jesus is coming soon? What many in former generations pointed to as signs of His soon coming were actually the beginnings of sorrows. As the songwriter penned, we are now living and dwelling in grand and awful times. God has allowed the devil his opportunity to try to prove that he’s the champion, but all in his wake has been destruction, degradation, and sin. Not one life has been improved. Not one family has been sustained. Not one mind has been awakened. Not one company has actually flourished. Not one real contribution has the devil made to the plight of humanity—only bloodshed, injustice, human woe, death, false sense of security, temporal gain, and worse.
God is great! God is good! Now we thank Him for His goodness. Our theme text gives you a way out. And let me tell you, it’s sweet. No matter what you have done or how many sins you have committed, God can recreate you. No matter how many families you’ve destroyed, people you’ve murdered, drugs you have sold, or worse, God can turn your life around. This is not a get out of jail free card by any means. It is likely that you will suffer consequences for the things you have done in the flesh, but let me ask you a question: Would you rather suffer by yourself and be lost in the end, or have a merciful God on your side to help you navigate the maze and be saved in His kingdom eternally? I’m not trying to use passion or fear to get through to you. I am asking a simple question. Would you rather have God, all of His holy angels, an army of praying people of God, and peace of mind as He renews your life and helps you right the wrongs you have committed or remain on an evil path and let the chips fall where they may?
My hope for you today is that you will let God change you. Let Him help you confess your sins. Let Him help you make restitution. Let Him help you improve the lives of people you may have hurt. Let Him make you a new creature whose life is in such stark contrast to your former that people are amazed at how able God is to do miracles in the lives of faulty people. And, ultimately, people will learn to give their lives to God too.
God is a miracle worker. This life will soon give way to eternity. Right now, you have a decision to make (we all do). Choose to serve God, because the road of serving the devil, self, and sin truly leads to nowhere. At the end of that road to nowhere will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. You know why? Because then, when it’s too late, many will realize how loving, kind, merciful, protective, beneficent, and just God is, and they will not be able to enjoy His company or the reward of the saints. Don’t be that person. Let God win in your life!—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)