© by Joyce C. Lock
Once upon a time there was a retarded young man who's heart's desire was to go out on visitation. One might wonder what good a retarded person could accomplish. But, it was decided to let him go.
He walked up to a strange door, in a strange neighborhood, and knocked. A man answered.
The man asked, "Are you going to Heaven?"
The man answered, "No."
He then responded, "Well, go to Hell then."
They tell me this was a true story and that the stark shock of that incident caused the man to realize his need for God. Thus, he became saved.
Though we might get our lights punched out for trying the same, it would be just as good were we to look at the "either or's" in our life with just as much boldest and honesty.
Either we're spreading our seed or, we're letting people die and go to hell.
Either we're forgiving or, we're holding a grudge.
Either we're standing for right or, we're standing with Satan.
Either we're loving, or we're hating.
Either we're patient or, we're impatient.
Either we're serving or, we're disobeying God.
Either we're living by faith or, we're living in sin.
In every "either or" situation, there are only two paths. One of them leads to destruction.
The purpose of this series is to encourage people to live as loving,
compassionate, and peacemaking children of God: Jesus tells us to pray, "Thy
kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) God
tells us through Micah (6:8), "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what
does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk
humbly with your God." And we know from Revelation 21:4 that there will be no
more mourning, or crying, or pain, or death. Thus, Christian living requires us
to set the standards of these conditions here on earth for our fellow human
beings, and for the other animals, as a witness to the rest of the world. To do
otherwise is not Christian.
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