Not Anymore!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

I heard a man preaching in our church this past Sunday evening. He was talking about how he used to see me around town. He was sharing how I had seen him in the local grocery store. He was on the alcohol aisle and I was getting some milk. He took off running from me, but I made it a point to holler a hearty hello. His face turned red and he kinda ignored me. He took off toward the register and paid for his beer. He then took it out to the vehicle and came back inside. He found me down another aisle and shook my hand like he had not seen me before. 

It wasn't much after this that he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. Wow what a difference Jesus has made in his life. It excites me because I see what Christ did for me years ago through him. I was exactly like this man. I was good, a good friend, a good person, and a real good sinner. (This was the way I viewed myself) But just like our scripture this morning, I would not have entered Heaven on my good thoughts or deeds. I was a drunkard, reviler, just a sinner. But look closely at the scripture and you will see some of the greatest words ever written. "...and such WERE some of you..." 

I used to run from the Christians. I didn't want to hear them. I especially ran from God because I didn't want to hear Him either. I was so lost in sin!  I love that I WAS lost. I am no longer lost. 

Just like when I hear this man speak, or many of the others that were lost speak, I get excited. I hear them talk about what they used to be. I hear them tell of things that they used to do. Not bragging about it but humble about it. And I want to shout, "NOT ANYMORE, NOT ANYMORE!"  

And such WERE some of you: BUT ye are washed, BUT ye are sanctified, BUT ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. See it? Say this morning, "NOT ANYMORE!"

I'm A Jesus Fan

John 6:66-68

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

With football season underway everyone has washed the old flag of their favorite football team and hung them from the front porch. Friday after Friday they go to the local grocery store and stock up on the favorite tailgating foods. Some purchase tickets at a great expense, load up the RV and head out to the campus of their team. For weeks, some even months, have studied over the new recruits and who will be starting. To some I know, it's a passion and even sometimes a religion. 

The excitement begins to fill the air. People make preparations for the opening game parties. The band begins to play that old fight song. The cheerleaders are flipping across the field and yelling for their team. The team comes out on the field for warmup drills. People in the stands, and at home, point out to everyone who are the all-star players. They give statistics of the quarterbacks throwing arm, the running backs yardage per carry from their high school days and the defensive line and their bench press weight. People know it like the back of their hands. They passionately talk of how their team is going all the way this year. "We are gonna run-n-gun this year", they say. 

Then the kick is off...and the first play of scrimmage is about to take place. The huddle is broken and everyone is to the line. The quarterback snaps the ball and takes three steps back and fires one over the middle! The ball is perfect and tightly spiraled. The receiver comes across the center of the field...reaches for the ball...BOOM! He's hammered! The pass is incomplete. The crowd and fans everywhere begin to yell, "That's ok, that's ok, come on guys, you can do it!"  

Huddle is broken, line is set, ball is snapped and the quarterback hands it to the beast of a running back that we have this year...BOOM! He's dropped for a three yard loss. "What? Come on line...BLOCK SOMEBODY!" are the screams from the crowd now. After an hour or two of this the stadium begins to empty. On the way home from the campus the newly washed flag is now being torn to shreds or even burned. The team jerseys and team apparel that was pressed is by now hanging back in the closet. 

Some people love when the team is exciting and passing the ball and touchdown after touchdown is scored. But then when it gets tough in the trenches people want to walk away. Some want their team to always throw the ball and be fast paced, while others like the bulldozing of a running attack. If the team doesn't perform like they think they should, well they just walk away. If it gets too difficult, like it will sometimes, they just leave and hang the shirt back in the closet until the next season that rolls around. 

If Jesus were to ask you this morning, "Will you also go away?"  What would be your answer?  What would be your reason for staying?  Will you only serve and love Him while it's easy? Or will you stay with Him in the trenches?  My answer would be... Lord Jesus, I have nowhere else to go. You are my Savior! I'm on your team!