Jesus Is Coming Soon

My friend, and friend to Bethel Baptist churches, said something at the 125^th Anniversary of Catherine Baptist Church that reminded me of something funny that happened when I pastored in Clanton.

Shannon reminded us that church is a place of worship and praise, not a place of mumbling and murmuring, and messes.  He mentioned particularly people complaining about the church is too hot or cold, the sermon too long or too short, and a whole list of other complaints.

Having an attention deficit problem, I immediately thought about a college football game the other day where the temperature on the field was 130 degrees.  There were roughly one hundred thousand in attendance.  Packed like sardines in the sun, they were screaming their lungs out for their team.  Many of them would not do that in church.

At the church I pastored in Clanton, every Sunday I had those that complained the church was too cold and members would place songbooks over the air-conditioner regulators.  Across the church, others complained that it was too hot.  Now if you know me very well, you know that I am game for most anything.

One beautiful Sunday morning I asked all those that were cold to stand.  When they did, I asked those that were hot to stand.  They did.  I asked both groups to look at one another and said, “Trade places.”  The complaints ended.

My dear departed friend, Rabbit, real name S.O. Easterling had a similar situation at a sister church.  Rabbit, a senior adult, was a newborn believer still learning about church folks.  Rabbit was in charge of church maintenance.  He was having the hardest time with the auditorium thermostats.  Little old ladies, too cold, and deacons too hot, and others of both hot and cold feelings, kept adjusting them.

Rabbit bought thermostat covers that locked, but members would use pocketknives, hair pens, and other objects to adjust them.

Rabbit did something diabolical.  He unhooked the auditorium thermostats, but left them on the wall, and placed two new thermostats in closet walls behind the auditorium and beside the choir loft.

Rabbit said that the complaints ceased.  Everyone set the thermostats where they wanted, not knowing they controlled nothing.  It is kinda like most folks who think that they are in control.

Diablo, that is Satan is having a heyday as of late.  He knows his days are numbered and he is using every means available to place fear into the hearts of man through deception.

May I remind us that the Devil is the prince of the air?  The reason evil abounds is that many are deceived.  Deceive means to make one believe something that is not true.

Lately, I think of an old song that reminds me that one day Jesus will return, and we need to awake as the Church.  The old Deceiver cannot fool true believers 

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24 KJV).

 

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist (II John 1:7 KJV).

 

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:9 KJV)

 

Until Jesus returns, share the Good News of Jesus, Truth in the flesh.  Attend church to worship and praise God.