Last week I shared that the way to be of service to God is not by being a non-believer, by good acts, kind words, being good looking or a certain skin tone and height. The way to be of service to God is not by gender, money, where you live, what you drive or your status. The way of service is not easy. For the only way to be of service, a servant of God, is to commit your heart and soul in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, by asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins and inviting Jesus into your heart and soul.

But as I look at people, they remind me of the story Billy Graham tells of the day Dr. Albert Einstein was going on a train to an out of town engagement. The conductor stopped by to punch Dr. Einstein’s ticket but the scientist, being preoccupied with his work, with great embarrassment rummaged through his coat and briefcase and could not find his ticket. The conductor said, “That’s alright Dr. Einstein, we all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it, everything is okay.” The conductor walked on down the aisle and when the conductor turned around there was Dr. Albert Einstein crawling around on the floor of the train. The conductor went back and said, “Dr. Einstein, don’t worry about finding your ticket. I know who you are and that you bought a ticket. Calmly Dr. Albert Einstein looked the conductor in the eyes and replied, “I too know who I am. What I don’t know is where I am going.” 

Life is a journey and you can’t change the past, whatever has happened, But you can make the choice to enjoy the gift for today that is why it is called the “present,” and live for a better tomorrow. With God’s help, we can change the future, which does not need to be a carbon copy of the past.

An architect draws the blueprint for a new building, but it still has to be built. A musician composes a tune for a new song, but it still has to be played. A Chef devises a new recipe, but it still has to be cooked. A pastor prays for the words for a sermon that will feed their flock, but the sermon still has to be preached. In the same way, God gives each and everyone of us a blueprint for living, but it still has to be lived not for this world but in glory and honor to God the Father.

How many in the year 2007, know who they are but they do not know where they are going? They know that they are a good person but they have no idea of where they are going in their life for they are along for the ride. For the questions have been asked, what is salvation and how do you know when you have it? But to get to salvation what path do we walk? 

If we pick up the wrong brochure and take the wrong turn where does that lead us? Which direction do we go so that we know what it is and how to get salvation? Are you ready for the train it’s about to leave the station. Do you know where you are going or are you just going along for the ride? For The train of life is a train that all are welcomed on and our choice to board or not to board which train is the path of life we chose. The way of the wicked will perish if they are not fed and nourished by healthy believers. 

In the Book of Acts 9:17-19, 

Saul was not alone for Ananias was with him laying his hands on him and speaking with Saul. So Anani’as departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on Saul Anani’as said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 

No one is beyond God’s help and when one makes the choice to help another, as Ananias learned, something that is still true in the year 2007. When we, as Ananias, reach out to another and share the Good News, God not only uses us to help others, he also strengthens our own faith.

You see Jesus didn’t come to earth to judge and damn us. Jesus came to earth to bring heaven to us irrelevant of who one maybe. 

Luke 6:12-19,

In these days Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and all nights he continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, Jesus called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles; Simon whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and Tyre and Sidon who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch Jesus, for power came forth from him and healed them all. 

There is a lesson in this sermon text for the church. From the Tremont City United Methodist Church and Teens For Christ mission statement: “Our mission is to Grow, Show and Share: Grow and mature in our life with Christ. Show with our life that we love the Lord. Share Jesus’ love with others. We pledge to live our lives as servants of God.”

Our primary mission, as outlined in the Great Commission, is to go, too make disciples, to baptize and teach, Matthew 28:19-20. To lead others to salvation from a God who welcomes all irrelevant of who they are or what they have done. And on the journey God calls for His believers to walk beside the lost and guide them as they come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. God who calls us for the big issues and also the everyday issues of life, food, clothing, shelter, money, disaster, education and just being there. And sometimes on the journey we know as life we might meet Jesus in some of the most unusual places.

This past week a grandparent took their grandchild to Tim Horton’s and as they prepared to enter, a young person came walking towards them. The grandparent couldn’t help but to notice that the one walking towards them wore clothes that were baggy and hanging low, their shoes were untied and they had some awful looking necklace dangling around their neck. AND OH THEIR HAIR! OH IT WAS PITIFUL AS IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE AND COMBED!! It was all the grandparent could do for they felt disgusted. The grandparent’s grandchild without flinching a muscle pushed the door open for this thing that wanted in a public place where there was food. With a smile on their face the individual thanked the young one who opened the door for them. And the grandparent smiled while hugging their grandchild and committed, “That was awful nice of you honey, I don’t know if I could have done what you did. You’re awful brave.” From the mouth of a babe the grandchild replied, Grandma what would Jesus do? You see the child acted out of love for a fellow human being, not of what this world may have expected for someone different.

As Jesus sat in the Upper Room with His disciples on the night of His betrayal Jesus took the bread that was before Him, broke it and said, take, eat, this is my body broken for you. Eat this often in remembrance of me. And after supper Jesus took the cup, blessed it and said, take drink; this is my blood of the New Covenant shed for the forgiveness of the sins of many. Drink this often in remembrance of me. 

For to know Jesus Christ is to be formed by him, as Jesus Christ is our mentor. To know Jesus Christ is to apprentice with him and for him so that we may not take and may not lead others to not take the wrong brochure and take the wrong turn in this life for the end of the tracks may be HELL: Havoc in a Eternal Living Longing… for peace. 

You see there are many who state they are going to ask Jesus for forgiveness of their sins and invite Jesus into their heart and soul on the 11th hour. God knows who they are, they know who they are but they do not know where they are going as they die at 10:59. Will you today become a disciple of Christ and lead others so that they will not take the wrong brochure and take the wrong turn from to salvation to burning in hell? 

From the wisdom of the Psalmist, Psalm 1:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yield its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment; not congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Let us pray,

Father God, I AM NOT WORTHY, YET YOU LOVE ME UNCONDITIONALLY. THANK YOU FATHER GOD, THANK YOU.  AMEN