1/22/14

From Gary... What is next?


Eyes WIDE OPEN, FUNNY EXPRESSION AND WRINGING HANDS tell you something.  What is Next? That is what it says to me.  Anxiety, apprehension, uncertainty, along with the expectation of "BAD NEWS" seems to be just around the corner.  All of us have experienced this feeling one time or another.  We just KNEW something BAD was next, something we just KNEW we were not going to like.  This happens occasionally, but what if it happens when we read the Scriptures???? Read on to see what I mean...

Acts, Chapter 22
 1 “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.” 

  2  When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,  3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.  4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.  5 As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.  6 As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.  7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’   8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’ 

  9  “Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of him who spoke to me.  10 I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’   11 When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.  12 One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,  13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him.  14 He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.  15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.  16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ 

  17  “When I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,  18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’   19 I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.  20 When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’ 

  21  “He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’  

  22  They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!”
It is easy to criticize the Jews for reacting so violently at Paul's mention of the Gentiles, but even though they were wrong, The Jews can still teach us something about the Scriptures.  Their lesson to us is simple: Do not approach the WORD OF GOD with preconceived ideas.  Before you begin to say "I don't do that", think about this...  Today, millions of people have been "converted" to Christ by a simple recitation of the "sinner's prayer".  This occurs nowhere in the Scriptures; it is a man-made idea.  One that many religious people cling dearly to.  Before you become too upset, re-read verse 16 above.  God says that one washes away sins at the time of BAPTISM; THAT IS HOW ITS DONE!!!  "What is next" for you? Will you react as the Jews did (verse 22) or investigate what the Bible says about baptism for yourself.  Right now, I feel like the kid in the picture because frankly, I too, WONDER WHAT IS NEXT????!!!!!