Dear First Christian Church Family & Friends,
What could you do with 116 million dollars?
Today Ed Nabors, a Georgia truck driver stepped out of his cab of obscurity and into the limelight to claim half of the largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history - $390 million. Though I’m not promoting gambling, cussin, tobacco chewin or dating girls that do, let’s admit it – 116 million could help keep a lot of meat in the back freezer! According to the country’s newest millionaire, “I’m still numb.”
Winning the jackpot goes back to Bible days. One great rags-to-riches story is found in 2 Kings 7. Four men with leprosy were between a rock and a hard place. During a time of siege and famine, they found themselves in a true quandary. If they went inside their city, famine was devastating everybody and everything. If they did nothing they’d die right where they stood. Knowing that no good options were available, they chose a third avenue – surrender to the enemy and pray their lives would somehow be spared.
Been there? Done that? No good options available? Like the 2008 Election so far?!
Anywhoo, with death an almost certainty, our four leprous friends drag their feet into the enemy camp (no pun intended). However, when they arrive, the Arameans are gone! God had already emptied out the camp. So instead of finding a fatal sword’s edge, the four found a JACKPOT! As the enemy fled their camp they left behind a lottery of gold, silver, clothes, and food. The lepers were expecting death and instead found life!
Isn’t that how it is for us Christians? We deserved nothing from God. In fact, we deserved death! But by His amazing grace we got Jesus! We got forgiveness. We got life eternal. We got everything we didn’t deserve.
Immediately and predictably, the four begin hoarding and hiding. Finally they said to each other, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we’re keeping it to ourselves” – 7:9.
Reader, this is a day not of good news - but GREAT NEWS! I’ve read the end of the Book and we win! Salvation is available and free to every person today. Hope is ours for eternity today. Our Savior is alive today! What are we doing today?
This is not the time to hoard the gospel to ourselves. If we do, “we’re not doing right” by “keeping it to ourselves.” Christian, YOU’VE WON THE JACKPOT! Today is a day of good news!
This Sunday I’m sharing a message entitled “What Happens When You Die?” Mildly curious? What does the Bible say about death and your eternity? Does your soul just sleep? Will you play a harp forever? The answers from the book of Revelation will change your life! See you Sunday morning at 9:00 or 11:00 A.M.
Check-out the new church website for all current church news at www.1stchristianchurch.org.
Have you RSVPd for INVISION 3:31?
IMPORTANT! This weekend is DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME. Remember to SPRING AHEAD ONE HOUR.
In the Fight,
Steve Kiefer
Lead Pastor
1 comment:
Huh....116 million. After I paid off my house and my mom and sisters house and took care of all of sharon's family....I think I'd drop a big check in the offering plate....can you imagine the treasurer's face when they were counting? $39,000,000! Buy a new building....buy our beach house in Aptos and start my soup restaurant? Good thoughts...
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