“Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” – Acts 20:31
I introduced my message last Sunday morning by saying, “When you have 8 children, 37 grandkids, several great grandchildren, and a church full of people you care about, someone you love is always in a storm of some sort”. Then I added, “It hurts to see them hurt”. In light of that I want to say, I am deeply concerned about the direction some folks are headed. They might not admit it, they might not even be aware of it, but I see it well.
I can remember when they joined the church and I recall their excitement and commitment. You knew you could count on them to support the church in every way. But then things began to deteriorate. They began to miss services, ignore special activities, lose their zeal, and change their countenance. You can tell things aren’t right but you don’t know exactly what’s wrong. You wonder if you have offended them, or if they are at odds with other members, or going through some difficulty, or if some sin has taken control of their life. You just don’t know and they won’t talk. Slowly, like a slow leak in a tire, you watch their spiritual life deflate. You wonder, pray, and keep hoping things will change, but they don’t.
As a pastor I’ve seen it before and I know it’s not going to end well unless something changes. It literally breaks your heart (although they might think you don’t know or don’t care). Every pastor knows exactly what I’m talking about. And they are overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness as they watch people headed for disaster, seemingly without a care in the world. You might think you can stray away from God and just go so far, but there is more to it than that. Once you leave you can end up in a place you never thought you would be. As you’ve heard, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay”.
Could it be that someone reading this article today is headed in that direction right now? Is it you? You know what I said is true of, yet you keep resisting, ignoring the warnings, and refusing to get things right. I just want you to know that your situation doesn’t go unnoticed and that others care about you. Whatever is wrong can be made right and that could save you a world of heartache. Don’t wait until you’ve done something you can’t undo. It’s time for action. There will never be a better time than now to get back on track. As I’ve quoted George Truett so many times, “God’s will is always right, best, and safest”. That’s true. Do whatever you must and get there. Please! – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
