"Life Is Short and Death Is Real"

James 4:14, "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

The word "cancer" is a word which has touch the lives of many people in our society today. Both of my grandfathers died with cancer. I have ministered to hospice patients who has had cancer. I have had church members die from this dreaded disease. Cancer is a word when spoken causes us to cringe with fear and uncertainty. As believers in Christ we are reminded even when God allows cancer for our lot, we know He is working "all things together for good ( Rom.8:28)" As believers we know God is working for the good, but we also are reminded it is our sin which has placed us in our lot. Our sin has brought sickness, diseases, and death.
God's Word teaches us in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Because man has choose to sin against God, He has separated Himself from sinful man. God is holy, He is transcendent, "He's thoughts are above our thoughts and His ways are above our ways (Isa.55:9)." Because man has sinned, God's Word teaches us also we have earned a wage for our sin, Romans 6:23, "for the wages of sin is death..." Every man, woman, boy, and girl has earned a wage for their sin against God. It is DEATH.
We live in a society today which wants us to believe death is not real and death will not come. But I am here to tell you and promise you death is REAL. One preacher has said, "1 out of 1 will die." Every body will die physically because of their sin. When you trace back sin and evil in the world today, it has one source...SIN! Man has choose to freely sin against God and man will not (Rom.3:10-12)choose to do other wise unless God works in his heart to bring Him to repentance and faith. The only way for "fallen man" to be brought back to a Holy God is through a mediator, the Man Christ Jesus.
I am reminded as a pastor I too will face death soon because of the "wage" I have earned. But, I am also reminded through God's Word the is hope. Although I have earned the "wage of death" because of sin, I am reminded, "...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom.6:23b)." What a blessed assurance, my physical body might die and be placed back into the earth but my soul will live for eternity because of the free gift of eternal life which is found only in Christ Jesus.
So, I ask you do you have eternal life? Do you believe you too will face death? I want to speak the truth in love, "you will die?" It is sooner today than yesterday! Do you know what your wage is? It is death. Have you received the "free gift of God?" I pray for you today who will read this that God would use this blog post to bring you to place where you have no rest or comfort in your soul until you come to know His Son Christ Jesus. "Life is short and death is real."

"Time is Short and Tomorrow Is Not Promised"

James 4:14) "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

This past week has proved itself a great benefit to me as a pastor. Prior to our planned week off for a time of rest and family get away, our church family experienced the loss of a sweet saint. It was a difficult time, she was one of my deacons wives. In the midst of trying to minister to his family and also preparing to teach and preach for Sunday seemed to be almost more than I could bear. I was thankful for God's grace which sustains us when we are unable to help ourselves.
For the last week my family and I have been blessed with the opportunity of leaving from our mission field for a time of rest and prayer. In the past I have felt guilty for taking a day off or even getting away for a few days for time with my family. But as I read the New Testament, I found on several occasions which Jesus Himself left the multitudes to get away by Himself. In the gospel of Mark 6:45-52, Jesus after ministering to the people He leaves the multitude to go to the other side. If God in the flesh was wearied and tired from ministering to the people, how much more should we as pastors look for time to rest from our labors, as well!
I have learned a couple of things in the last few weeks, I believe as pastors we would do well to take heed:
1. I am only one man and not able to do everything. Often as pastors we get busy in the mundane things and forget what we have been called to. I know my calling is one of a pastor and teacher. I am to give myself wholeheartedly to the Word of God. I am to handle the word of God correctly and divide the truth accurately (2 Tim.2:15). I am also to find faithful men who I can teach and entrust the truth to where they would be able to teach others (2 Tim.2:2). This is one area I am praying God would give me grace to do this upcoming year.
2. Life is short and children grow up fast. The Lord opened my eyes to see how fast my children are growing. My oldest son will be 12 years old Wednesday. This trip, I believe helped us as a family grow closer together. Life is a mist, we are not promised tomorrow. Therefore, we ought to give all we have today for the glory of God and putting all we have into disciplining our family in the Word of God.
I believe all pastors should be given by their church time to get away and focus on their family. If a man loses his family, the Bible says, "he is unfit to "manage" the household of God." I am thankful the Lord's church at PHBC gave their pastor the time to get away and spend time with his family. If churches would give their pastors more time off to focus on their families, I believe this would be greatly benefit the Lord's churches. Because time is short and are not promised tomorrow.