Word of the Week
Have You Met GOD?
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32
No doubt many times at a gathering someone introduced you to an individual asking 'do you know?' or 'Have you met?' this person?
I recall reading once that when Mark Twain was touring Europe with his wife and daughter Clara, they met a great many noted people. Mark Twain was invited to the Palace of the King of England, he dined with the President of France and he had been asked to visit the German Emperor.
Clara followed her parents 'taking all this in' day after day. Near the end of the tour Clara looked up at her Father and said, 'If this keeps up, there won't be anybody left for you to meet except GOD.'
I am not sure if Mark Twain ever met GOD or not, but this reminds me of a time in my own life while driving through Vail, Colorado. We had just moved to Colorado Springs and decided to visit this famous Ski Resort.
The year was mid 1970 and we were not in church at that time of our lives. My daughter who was seven was standing between our seats watching the people cross in front of me each time I stopped the car.
At one point a young bearded man wearing a 'Shepherds Shirt' passed and looked in our direction and waved. My daughter, asked, 'Daddy is that JESUS'? I told her no, I did not think so. She then asked me if I had ever met JESUS. At first I did not know how to respond, but told her 'No one living today has ever met JESUS personally.' She then asked, 'Is HE dead?' Again, I was not sure how to answer that question. This was a conversation that sadly I was not prepared to have with my seven year old daughter.
For the longest time my daughter watched the young man as he walked away into the crowd of people. GOD 'nudged' me that day laying a burden on my heart that I needed to get my family in church. I would like to tell you that because I knew that I was a Christian that I got out of the car and 'I led my daughter to CHRIST', but I guess I am a slow learner because it did not happen that quickly.
But it did happen! I did lead my daughter to CHRIST and we did go to church and both my children met JESUS as did my brother and sister who we were raising at the time. GOD was patient!
Have you met JESUS? Some people ask me, how? How, do you meet someone who died 2000 years ago. According to Scripture, while HE did die on the cross, HE 'rose again' on the third day and today sits at the right hand of GOD the Father.
This short message does not allow the space to write all that I would like to say about this truth, but we repeat it each time we meet at Garrett Baptist Church. CHRIST was born of a virgin, HE was crucified, HE was buried in a tomb, yet HE rose on the third day and 'because HE lives we shall live also'.
If you have never met CHRIST, read the 'Plan of Salvation' on this web site and trust HIM as your Savior today. Contact us and come visit us and we will introduce you to the most important person you will ever meet in your life.
Pastor Don Smith
Prayer...Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for those who read this simple message that may not know you as their Savior. Lead them to you, lead them to our church so that they may meet you personally.
Help those who do not know you to turn to you today. In the Name of CHRIST, Amen!