Chapter – 42 ‘Pastor Caleb Preaches’
It was two Saturday’s prior to Christmas; the thermometer was near the freezing point as Valentines dad was preparing a message for his congregation. He had been working on this message with the youth pastor off and on for several weeks but was about to put the finishing touch to it before he put his head on the pillow later that evening.
He was thinking of the words of Peter when he had written 1 Peter 4:17-18 of his epistle. He was thinking of a few of the men of his church who attended the services on occasion but had never put their trust in the atoning blood of the Savior. They were good ole boys as the saying went but they were spiritually lost. He hoped what he had envisioned, to share, with the entire congregation would open a few eyes. His hope had always been that ALL those that he came in contact with; would one day hear the Lord speak from HIS throne; with similar words as the parable in Matthew 25:21 reads, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.” This scripture had been the story of ‘the Master’ speaking to the faithful servant.
He knew the scriptures; God our creator was both loving and forgiving. Hadn’t HE provided the answer to mankind’s fall into sin? Blood [Gods blood] was needed for the atonement of sin. His son, Jesus, took the sin upon himself by shedding his own blood in our place. Therefore we are called the Redeemed and the Justified because of Gods plan, aren’t we?
Pastor Valentine was thinking, “If the Angels along with the twenty-four elders and the four living beast who live in heaven’s Holy of Holies; those who have never sinned; give praise to the Lord so why don’t we mortals who have sinned often, worship the Lord just like they do?” Rev 19:4-6. “What if this were his last Sunday to share the Gospel of the Lord with his congregation. What bit of advice could he really share that would stick in their minds,” he had wondered this for several weeks and by accident he determined a plan. The high school youth group would present a drama from the alter area at the front of the church on the Sunday after Christmas.
For about half a second his mind told him to just forget it; maybe it was the wrong way to tell what he had been thinking. Then he thought about the faithful warriors of God who had endured the temptations just as Jesus had done for those forty days while in the wilderness.
***
The sanctuary doors were closed and locked until the worship hour; the youth had set up props at different areas of the platform and would be presenting the drama very soon. The podium had been removed along with the platform where normally about thirty of the choir stood for the worship portion of the morning service.
To the far left, toward the front was a large cross; ten feet further back was a twenty-five foot extension ladder going up toward the ceiling. In the center, all the way at the rear of the platform were two thrones side by side. Maybe representing the Father and Son’s seat.
Along the right side of the platform, from front to rear was a large prop representing Hades. It was orange and yellow with symbols like flames flaring up in spots. Just in front of the platform in front of the prop of Hades was a small podium.
The doors were opened and the people found their seats in the main auditorium; then as the youth pastor walked toward the podium, a sign was put outside the main entry and the doors were closed.
The young pastor exclaimed, “When God created mankind HE said it was very GOOD! That would be in Chapter 1, vs.31 of Genesis.” He told them that by chapter 4 Eve and Adam had sinned; then God evicted them from the Garden; that Cain because of jealousy had killed his brother. Adams life went from being ‘good’ to ‘not good’. In fact over the next couple of chapters of Genesis life continues to be more corrupt until God could only find one JUST-MAN. “Noah, who found favor in the eyes of the Lord Ch.6:8 and was commissioned to build an ARK; it took 100 years. At the end of the flood there were but eight people to repopulate the earth.”
“To make a long story short; it did not take to long for evil to set in again, did it?” Along the way he choose a very small Nation, Israel, by name to give His blessing to and even they were sinful; they had to be enslaved until God choose to send Moses to Egypt. God sent Israel several prophets to enlighten the people but it did not work; they continued in sin. The blood of many animal sacrifices were shed over the years; finally God the Son shed his blood on the cross. “You see, only the blood of God can save a sinful person from their sin.” He pointed toward the cross on the platform and then spoke, “God, the judge, provided a way for the sinful to be granted a pardon. The ladder to Heaven was provided as a way to escape the judgement of Hell and the fiery pit.”
He commented, “Once again God has provided GOOD; it is Christ Jesus. If you put your Trust in HIM then you will never be cast into the lake of fire.” Caleb paused a moment and walked over to the mock prop of ‘hell’ and then spoke, “The torture of burning forever is not what God wants for any of you; that is why Jesus is the alternative. God has made it easy but some of us have refused to put TRUST in the only one who can save your soul. What about you?”
***
Caleb, the youth pastor, took a deep breath; then concluded with a comment, “People, some of your teenaged boys and girls built these props. Most of the ones I know have put their TRUST in Jesus as their Lord and Savior; they have a reservation in heaven. What about some of you parents, aunts or uncles; have you with your own mouth repented and asked God for forgiveness?”
“Think about it,” he asked? “Where are you going once the last heartbeat or the final breath has been breathed? Isn’t it called eternity? By then it will be too late to make a choice. None of us are guaranteed a tomorrow morning, are we?” He turned and pointed toward the two thrones at the back of the platform. A single light from above lit up as the other lights in the sanctuary went dim. “The Father has given all authority to the Son. Scripture tells us that the Son sits to the right of the Father. He will Judge mankind based on scripture not on what mankind thinks or feels.” 1 Peter 3:22.
Then Pastor Valentine spoke from somewhere behind a curtain. “If God called your name and said come, would you answer the call? The lights are out in the auditorium so those of you who want to make a reservation for a heavenly mansion just need to walk up to the platform and make your decision for Jesus. Caleb will be there to meet you.”
*
If you were one of those in the darkened auditorium, would you take a step forward?
1 Peter 4:17-18, For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? [It is not a pleasant thought. FEW will enter heaven; MANY will end up in Hell. Hades is the place the UNSAVED abide at until the WHITETHROWN judgement by God.]
Matthew 25:21, His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave [servant]. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ [The invitation from GOD to the ones who put their ‘trust’ in Jesus]
Rev. 19:4-6, And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Genesis 1:31, 31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. [It was Good until sin entered the mind of man]
Genesis 6:7-8, 7 The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. [One man & family survived.]
1 Peter 3:22, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him. [The one who has been given authority sits at the right hand of HIS MAJESTY, it is Jesus.]
DG