This morning I went about doing my usual activities, paying bills, making coffee and one of those large mushroom, bacon and onion omelets that I love. I had just finished putting everything on the plate and quickly turned to take everything into the dining room, when I felt something pull at my waist. I looked down and the chain for my pocket watch had broken. The clip was still good, but one of the links was completely broken-- so no watch. But, seconds after I saw this horrible sight, I had an idea. Why not take one of the rings for keys that you see in the above picture and connect the clip and the remaining chain? I did it, but it was difficult and took about ten minutes or more because it is difficult to hold the ring open and attach the chain at the same time. Then, when I sat down to do today's blog, I saw this picture and realized how I could have made the process so much easier. A staple remover would have been the ideal way of doing it and this is one trick that I will remember---NEXT TIME!!! There are times when we mean to do right and try to do right, but somehow we fumble and fumble our way through the process of success. Getting right with God is like adding a key (or a watch chain) in that we try a lot of things on our own instead of just doing it simply as God intended. Consider for a moment, the following passage...
1 Peter, Chapter 3
13 Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear: 16 having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil. 18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
For quite a number of years prior to becoming a Christian, I tried to concentrate on being a good person. I gave up smoking, drinking, abusive horrible language and tried doing everything I could to become a "model" person. Nothing seemed to satisfy; the better I became, the more frustrated I was. Then a friend gave me a Bible and things started to change. Over the next three years, I read and read and read and began to really believe the truths that the Scriptures proclaimed. Eventually, I completely submitted to God's will and was baptized for the remission of my sins. In short, I became a Christian in the New Testament sense of the word. My conscience seemed right before I was baptized, but I needed to confirm my faith toward God by a true Biblical obedience. There are many ways that people think they can please God, but unless you obey from the heart with a way that God instructs, you are wasting your time. Think about this, pray about it and obey from a Biblical perspective. Want more information? Go to the book of conversions, the book of Acts and see how they responded to God. A good place to begin is in Chapter two. You won't be sorry!!! And I am quite sure that God will be very happy with you!!!