10 out of 10 - You Can Know

A man can slip into hell with his hand on the doorknob of heaven.

Billy Sunday (1862-1935)
American Evangelist

A few years ago Ray Comfort was one of the keynote speakers at a convention that I was required to attend in California. The keynote speakers in previous years were not good, so I immediately crossed my arms in resistance when he stepped up to speak. I’m not exactly sure when my arms uncrossed, but I do know that from the very beginning he had my attention. What he said made too much sense not to listen. Afterward, I bought his tapes to learn more.

About a month later, a young visitor named Cleo came forward in our small church. The pastor asked me to deal with him. Cleo just wanted to go to heaven. He had been to mass twice in his life and knew nothing about the scriptures. For the first time in my life I gave the Gospel with confidence and without hesitation: going from the natural to the spiritual. I’ll spare you many of the details, but I started by reading Psalm 19:7a. “The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.” We chatted about the purpose of human law/rules and the punishments for breaking those rules. “What if God had law?” I asked. He had never thought about it or had even heard of the Ten Commandments.

Bits and Pieces of our conversation

Me    “Ever told a lie?

Cleo    “Of course.”

Me    “What does that make you?”

Cleo    “A liar.”

Me     “That’s 0 for 1, Cleo.  Ever taken something that didn‘t belong to you?”

Cleo    “Yes, most people have.”

Me     “What does that make you?”

Cleo    “A stealer.”

Me    “Yes, a thief. You’re 0 for 2.”

As I asked Cleo about each of the commandments, his eyes would drop as he answered.  At about #7 he didn’t look up at all.  Cleo’s countenance changed as he began to experience the weight of his sin.  It’s an unmistakable and amazing thing to behold.  We finished all ten.

Me    “Cleo, you’re 0 for 10.”

Cleo    “Yeah.”

Me    “If you stood before God today, would be stand innocent or guilty?”

Cleo    “Guilty, I guess”

Me    “I think you’re in trouble; don’t you?”

Cleo    “Yeah, I didn’t even know that God had laws. I guess I have to go to hell.”

          ( That was his own conclusion. I had not talked about heaven or hell.)

I told him about heaven, about hell, and about the sacrifice that Christ made. We read verses together (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:16, etc). Cleo got it. I didn’t have to tell Cleo what to pray. He knew what to pray. It was the simplest, sweetest prayer I’d ever heard.  It went something like this. “Dear God I didn’t even know you had laws. I’m so sorry for breaking them. I don’t want to do that anymore. My life is going in the wrong direction, and I need you to change it. I deserve to be punished in hell. Jesus, please pardon me and forgive me for what I've done, and let me go to heaven. I guess that's all I got to say.” What a simple way to say amen. You see, Cleo wasn't saying or praying words. He was actually talking to God.

There was an immediate change in his countenance . He was so excited. He explained everything back to me. He truly understood. When we left the room the senior pastor was heading in our direction. I said, “Pastor this is Cleo. Cleo this is the pastor. Cleo, tell him what just happened.” Cleo put his finger in the pastor's face, looked him straight in the eye, and asked, “Did you know that God has laws?” I laughed and said, “It's okay, Cleo. He‘s already a Christian.” Cleo’s response, “I just wanted to make sure.” A few minutes later we had the same conversation with the music pastor. When Cleo went home, he shared the Gospel with his mom. There was immediate fruit. Spiritual change (real conversion) is a wonderful thing to behold. Salvation isn't eternal fire insurance; it’s life transforming. Thankfully, I’ve seen the Lord do this many times since that day.

I John 5:13 tells us that you can know that you have eternal life. Do you know that you have eternal life? Do you REALLY know? Let me ask it this way. On a scale of 1-10, how sure are you that you are on your way to heaven. If your answer is anything but a 10, then you’ve probably never been converted; you’ve never become a Christian; and you’re not on you’re way to heaven. God says that you can know.

If you want to know more about using the Ten Commandments in witnessing contact me or listen to “Hell’s Best Kept Secret” at www.livingwaters.com. If you have further questions about your own salvation, contact me through the comments section; email me at pastormax12345@cox.net, or join the facebook group called Ask Pastor Max. I want to help and will get someone on it right away. It's time to know. PM

Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield, is dead.  

Don't you believe a word of it! 

At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now; 

I shall have gone up higher, that is all, 

out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal

- a body that death cannot touch, 

that sin cannot taint; 

a body fashioned like unto His glorious body.    

Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

           

Honest Abe Takes a Hit

I laugh every time I see that commercial. 

It's a fake Honest Abe giving an honest answer and getting into honest trouble.

At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some Trans-Atlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined could not, by force, take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years. At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we be author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.                  

The above speech was given on January 27, 1838 by the real  Abraham Lincoln (28 years old)- more than 20 years before the start of the Civil War. Even in his early years, Lincoln understood that the destruction of our country could only come from within. What is the key to the downfall of a nation such as ours? When will we lose our strength, our privilege, and our freedom? We will lose these things when we forget our Christian heritage and forsake the Christian principles upon which this nation was founded.

When I say we, I don’t mean we as a country, I mean we as Christians. Churches across this country have forsaken the teaching of sound doctrine and have forsaken the simplicity of the Gospel. In many places they teach a man-made gospel: a gospel of health and wealth – a gospel motivated by nickels and noses – a gospel not found in scripture. We are challenged to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). Light illuminates and salt flavors, purifies, and preserves. Many churches are weak and have ceased to be salt and light. Many are no more than places for social gatherings.

Could a country like ours crumble – a country with 1000’s of churches – a country known for its missionary efforts throughout the world? Many years ago England was the center of evangelistic outreach for the world. According to the 2005 Church Census, only 6.3% of all those who live in that nation attended any church on Sunday… any church at all. A nation that was once a beacon of light to the world is now growing dark within.

A 7th grader came to see me three days ago. She was concerned about her salvation. I asked her, “On a scale of 1-10, how sure are you that you are on your way to heaven?” She said, “7.” I John 5:13 says that we can know that we have eternal life. But she didn’t know. As I explained the Gospel to her, I drew a picture of the cross. I asked her what it meant. She had been diligently searching for the truth and had attended services at other churches in the area. I expected to hear her say something about Jesus dying on the cross, but she could only tell me what she had been taught at other places. Her only response was, “I don’t really know. It’s something about God.” She knew little because she was taught little. Thankfully, that evening she heard the simple truth of the Gospel. She humbled herself before God and became a “10” Christian. The change away from scripture is often a subtle, slow drift, but the effect is devastating. 

Some of the warning signs of a self-centered church or life.

Great theology is replaced with great psychology.

Obedience is replaced with expedience.

Supplication is replaced with manipulation.

Holiness is replaced with busyness

Principle is replaced with passion.

Commitment is replaced with convenience.

Knowing God is replaced with knowing about God.

When does this happen?

When individual Christians cease to be salt & light. 

They become light-less and salt-less.

The focus is on self.

It happened to Sampson – the strongest man (physically strong).

It happened to Solomon – the wisest man (mentally strong).

It happened to David – a man after God’s own heart (spiritually strong).

How does this happen?  

When we become full and satisfied 

(just like Sampson, Solomon, David, and the children of Israel), 

and we forgot God. (Deuteronomy 6:11-12)

How is this prevented?

Don’t forget God.   

How healthy is your church?

How healthy are the Christians in your church?

How healthy are you? Really?

PM

Matthew 5:13-16

Ye are the salt of the earth: 

but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? 

it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world. 

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; 

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, 

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Deuteronomy 6:10-12

And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land 

which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob,

to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

and houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not,

and wells digged, which thou diggedst not,

vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not;

when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

then beware lest thou forget the LORD,

which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt,

from the house of bondage.