Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Love (04/27/06)
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TITLE: Jesus, The Preacher and Me | Previous Challenge Entry
By alan polacek
05/03/06 -
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The sermon was on salvation, being lost and being saved. My mind began to wonder. Does what happened years ago, still hold true today? Is the Bible all just stories? Did those that translate get it right? What makes me think one man’s crucifixion can give me eternal life.
The preacher looked right at me, as if he read my mind. His hand slapped on the podium and began to preach in rhyme.
“If He can cause a crippled man to walk, raise Lazarus from the dead. If He can take five loaves two fishes and get five thousand fed. If He can walk across the water, cause blinded eyes to see. If He can save the woman at the well. Then I know that He’ll save me ”
That got an Amen. A hallelujah here and there. Still looking straight at me with what I’d call a glare. He slowly raised his Bible. The cover worn, the pages frayed. “If you question God’s love and mercy.” He paused and then he said. “ You’ll find here all the answers written down in black and red.”
He now had my attention. I sat ashamed at my lack of faith. How could I question Jesus’ love and what the Bible has to say? The preacher stepped from the pulpit, resting his hand upon a pew. “I may be preaching to the choir but there may be one or two. Some think this Book is fiction. How can one man save us all? Bear with me a little longer before I give the altar call.”
“Imagine what Jesus felt while dying for the lost. Can you feel the lashes cutting? Hear them jeering as He struggles with His cross? Hear the ringing of the hammer as they’re driving in the nails? Feel His muscles pull and tear as the cross rises in the air? And from the crown of thorns pressed firmly into place, were there tears mixed with the blood that trickled down His face?”
He paused for just a moment to let the images sink in. The congregation silent, I sat dwelling on my sin. He again held out his Bible. “Folks, it’s really simple. No need to dwell and think. A child can understand it. Don’t lose sight or like Peter, you will sink. They’ve tried throughout the ages to prove the Bible wrong. Some that started out contesting are now saved, their faith is strong. Praise God I’m here to tell you that God’s promises are true. What Jesus did for everyone, He would have done for one or two.”
That got my feet to moving. At the altar I knelt to pray. “ Lord Jesus, please forgive me” was all I had to say. I felt His Holy presence, a tingling through my bones. A wave of comfort washed me. Jesus’ love has Saved my soul.
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