Of all the great preachers I have met I consider it one of

my greatest blessing to have met Henry M. Morris who wrote the following:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble,TX

”A GREAT WAY OFF”
“-But when he was yet a great way off-“ Luke 15;20

Everyday I pray for people I love who are far from God, and Satan does all he can to make me think they will never turn to God. All of us can think of someone in need of being reconciled to God–someone who is yet a great way off. It might be that they have realized their need and resolved to come to God, but are “yet a great way off”. And, although closer than they were they are no better off. All is not well until reconciliation has been secured. Whether on the road to the “far country”, in the pig pen, or on the way home there is no embrace by the father, no robe for his back, no ring on his finger, no shoes on his feet, and no banquet celebrating his return.

Of his own volition he broke fellowship with his father and left. He could have stayed or returned at any moment. Now he is headed in the right direction, but “a great way off” and could turn on his heels at anytime. It was not until he and the father were reconciled that you could say all was well. Until then anything could happen.

Even so, it might be that some of you have given up hope of your loved one ever coming to God — after all, they seem such “a great way off”. Their situation doesn’t appear possible–it is against all odds. In your mind all hope is gone. You’ve written them off as a “hopeless case”. But why? The story of the prodigal should give you a window of hope. Do not despair! God is at work. He is actively involved in each life and willing to accept all who receive Him.

We too often focus on what the person is or isn’t doing, rather than reminding ourselves that God is doing something. That’s why we get discouraged so easily. As long as your loved one is alive the last chapter of their life hasn’t been written. Why should you believe the worst will happen? Is it not much more likely that God will intervene, bless your efforts, and answer your prayers? Although they are blinded to the truth He can open the eyes of their understanding (Ephesians 1:18) and bring them to repentance. Your loved one might yet be a “great way off”, but they might be much closer than you think to that glorious encounter with God that will change their life forever –maybe just a step away! Don’t give up!-HDS, 3-25-12

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

Sent by David Stone on Friday, October 17 at 7:09AM

You’ve probably heard it said, “This is the first day of the rest of your life”. That then begs the question, “How shall I spend it?” Interesting! If you knew this was the last day you might call your family and friends together to say,”Good-bye”, or you might make your funeral arrangements ASAP, or you might want to just get alone with the love of your life without any interruptions. But we don’t know how much time we have left. It might be a day or a decade. So what shall we do? Here’s an idea—

Maybe we ought to just simply move on to the next thing on our list. What do you normally do? What does your duty demand of you? What’s next on your list? If our priorities are right the right thing to do is business as usual. Since we cannot see the future there is no reason to throw everything in a state of panic just because we might die. Surely it would be foolish to live every day like that. Just because you might die it doesn’t mean you will, so why should you ignore your duties and make yourself more miserable by imagining the worst.

It is for good reason that God doesn’t allow us to know the future. Instead of worrying about what you would do if this was your last day on earth, it would be better to make sure you spend this day and everyday doing the will of God. What that looks like for you is between you and God. It isn’t exactly the same for everybody. However, as Christians there are some things that ought to be a part of our daily activities–things commonly called “the spiritual disciplines”, such as Bible study, prayer, etc. Make room for them and do whatever else needs to be done. That’s a day well spent. Repeat it everyday and the result is a life well lived.

If you’re a child of God in the will of God, don’t let anyone throw you into a state of panic concerning the fact that you could die today. I love the story about the zealous preacher who was trying to impose guilt on an old farmer by asking, “What would you do if you knew Jesus was coming today?”. Without any hesitation the old gentleman replied–“Plow”. Instead of fretting so much about what might happen maybe you ought to just go ahead and get dressed and go to work today. A hard days work or even a few hours fishing is just as honorable as any thing else if done at the right time and in the right way. Too often the upright are too uptight. Relax! Take a few deep breaths and enjoy the day. Remember what Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:17— God “giveth us richly all things to enjoy”.- HDS, 4-18-12

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

Psalm 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God!”

In a world bursting with beauty, order, and complexity–the denial of God is not merely an intellectual error–it is a moral rebellion. The above verse does not say that the atheist is unintelligent, but that he is a fool. Why? Because he suppresses the most obvious truth in the universe: that there is a Creator who made all things, and to whom all must give account (Romans 1:18-20).

Lee Strobel, once an atheist himself, rightly observed the absurdity of unbelief: “To continue in atheism, I would need to believe that nothing produces everything, non-life produces life, randomness produces fine-tuning, chaos produces information, unconsciousness produces consciousness, and non-reason produces reason.” This is not science–it is blind faith in the impossible. It is the worship of chance, the deification of disorder, and the exaltation of man’s autonomy over God’s authority.