The Wake-Up Call

Yesterday my 17 year old son’s life flashed in front of him. He was in an accident which could have taken his life. While changing lanes on the highway he encountered a roadblock. He swerved to keep from hitting this unknown object at 65 mph when he lost control of his car. He crossed 3 lanes of traffic and drove into a deep ravine when his air bags deployed. He stopped only feet from the other side of the highway into oncoming traffic. The object he avoided hitting was cushions for a sofa that must have fallen off of a truck. Needless to say our entire family was shook up and only after we were safe at home did we release all of our emotions.

My son realized that he had his very own “wake-up” call. We can gratefully praise God that he was not hurt, nor were any other vehicles involved. He was truly protected from a potential hazardous accident. Yes, his vehicle was totaled, but it was a small price to pay for his life. He forgot to fasten his seatbelt and only moments before the accident did he hear a voice whisper to his heart to fasten his seatbelt. That voice was the sweet Holy Spirit who guides and comforts us.

This morning I stopped to think of how many times God diverts danger on our behalf. We cannot even comprehend how much He loves us and what He does to protect and woo us to Himself. Unfortunately far too often we are guilty of becoming so consumed with our own lives and our own agendas that we give little thought or attention to our mighty God. Until tragedy or disaster strikes, that is. Then our eyes momentarily look upward. May we regard them as serious “wake-up” calls. May we wake up to what is really important in life. May we wake up to loving our families and those He places in our paths. May we wake up to the importance of having a vibrant relationship with the God who created us and loves us more than we can ever imagine. May we wake up and stop giving him the scraps of our day. May we wake up to stop the complaining, arguing, and materialism that we are so wrapped up in. Life is so precious. Jesus tells us that we are but a mist that is here for a short while and then we are gone. Why do we squander our life away pursuing useless things that we think will make us happy? Haven’t we realized yet that these “things” are only temporary? Only a relationship with Jesus can bring us true fulfillment and a joy that surpasses all understanding. We must stop our busyness to make time for God. That is the only way will grow in knowledge and love.

This morning I was led to Isaiah 55, an Invitation to the Thirsty. How very appropriate! Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

God is saying that food and other things cost money, last only a short while and meet only our physical needs. But He offers free nourishment that feeds our souls. To nourish our souls we must come to Him and eagerly receive it. We will starve spiritually without this food just as we would starve physically without daily bread.

The time is here. The time is now. Hear the call. The Father of creation is beckoning you. If you seek Him you will find Him. Don’t wait for a wake-up call. Turn to Him now. Don’t wait for tragedy, sickness, or financial ruin before you come. I urge you to not wait. Today may be all you have. God loves you too much to leave you where you are and if necessary He will allow these little “wake-up” calls to remind you to turn to Him while He may be found. Don’t put it off one more second.

Remember, every decision becomes a destination. Today you face a choice. Your eternal life depends on it.

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. Deut 30:19

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

Let your Light Shine!

I once heard a story about a man who was a source of encouragement and inspiration to others. His face radiated with love and it was obvious he spent much time with Jesus. One day a bold friend approached him to inform him that he missed seeing the light shine in him as he was always greatly encouraged by his strong faith. Deeply troubled the man contacted an elder in the church to ask how he can get his “light to shine again.” Unable to give him a good answer, the elder went to the library to do some research and thereafter was able to give him a good response.

In order for a light to shine and work properly it needs 3 things:

• First, it needs to be connected to a power source. Without the power source, it will not shine or produce any light whatsoever.


• The light itself needs to be in working order. In other words, no filaments within the light can be broken. It can be connected to a power source, but if the light itself is broken, then the light will not shine.


• The light can be connected to a power source, and the light itself can be in good working order, but if it is covered by a blanket or covering of some kind, then the light will be substantially dimmed and not shine brightly.
  
  The analogy of this light is as follows:


• We can be morally upright persons, do acts of service throughout our church and community, and sin infrequently, yet our light will not shine because we are not connected to God, the ultimate power source. We may be a Christian yet are not “walking” with Him. We may feel rushed, busy, preoccupied, and have made no time for him. When we try to skip the relationship to start “doing” things for God or we live our lives as Sunday Christians, we are not connected to the power source. We rob God of the glory he deserves and our lives cannot shine as brightly as if God were living intimately in us.


• We can be connected to God and love Him with all of our hearts, yet if we have “broken parts” or unconfessed sin in our lives, our light will not shine. Unconfessed sin stands between us and a holy God and breaks close fellowship with Him. Only a humble and repentant heart will shine brightly.


• We can be Christians walking faithfully with God, have no “broken parts” or unconfessed sin in our lives, yet our light still doesn’t shine brightly because we are walking around with a heavy covering. We may be plugged in to the power source, yet this covering is keeping our light from shining the way it is intended to. It is as if we are walking around in darkness. This heavy covering could be a burden that we are unnecessarily carrying around because we have not released it to God. It could be a broken relationship or a problem or some other issue we have not handed over to God. So, we are trying to “shine” in our own strength. God wants to be intimately involved in every aspect of our lives and doesn’t want us to walk around with heavy burdens.
  
  Take some time today to evaluate how brightly you are shining for the Lord. Has your light dimmed? Do you feel disconnected to God? Remember, in order for a light to shine brightly, it needs these three things. Without any one of them, a light will not shine brightly, and may only be a dim flicker.
  
  I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. John 12:44
  
  I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Acts 13:47
  
  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Cor 4:6
  
  Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Isaiah 2:5
  
  Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105