Something's Missing

My wife and I recently attended a special Grandparent's celebration at our grandson's school. It was wonderful!

Our grandson came and sat with us in the bleachers and we listened to a pastor present the Gospel. That too was wonderful.

We heard about how we are all sinners.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23

Then we heard that Jesus died for our sins, once for all.

"He (Jesus) sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself." - Hebrews 7:27

More wonderfulness. But it seemed as though something was missing.

I went back over what we taught children at VBS this past summer - Repent, Believe, Forever Receive. Again, that's all good, but there's still something missing. What is it?

Jesus summed it up in one single question. It's a question we ALL must answer.

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I say?" - Luke 6:46

We can believe in God (even the demons believe) but if we are not changed by that belief, our faith is useless, as James says:

"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." - James 2:24

Works do not save us. Works are EVIDENCE that we have been saved. If the Good News of Jesus' death, resurrection, and life does not change us, our faith is meaningless. We are still dead in our sins.

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

And there it is. That's what was missing. Not only must we 'believe,' we must be changed! Jesus MUST be our Lord! He must be in our heart.

What all of that means is, we must do what He says. We must love our neighbor. We must love God. We must not lie. We must not covet. The list goes on. But here's the thing . . .

Example: Why do so many Christians celebrate Halloween? The holiday started out with good intentions (remembering the dead), but it has been perverted by "the world" into something totally different.

Example: Why do those who profess faith in Christ support those who want to kill their own babies? This is an abomination to The Lord!

Jesus MUST be Lord of our lives or we simply will not be saved. We must DO what God commands us to do. Study the Bible. What are God's commands? Are we doing them?

We've got an election coming up. Do any of the candidates profess faith? Do they back what they say with their actions? Or is their faith dead?

Our remaining time here on earth is short. Make the change. Serve the Lord.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God." - 1 Corinthians 6:19:20

Jesus Is Lord - Voddie Baucham