THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’S STUDY
FOUR THINGS YOU CANNOT RECOVER
There are things that we say or do, or things that we don’t say or do that cannot be recovered, opportunity only passes our way one time, and then it is gone, forever lost.
The first thing you cannot recover is the stone after the throw. Have you ever had one of those moments as a child when you reach down and pick up a stone and give it a throw and as soon as you threw it you wished that you could reach out and grab it, but alas in a moment, it happens you hear the sound of breaking glass, and your first thought is, who put that house there? And your second is run? But you won’t always get by with running from responsibility for your actions. There comes a time when you have to answer for the stones that you throw.
The second thing you cannot recover is the word after it is said. Everyone reading this can relate to a time when we wish we could have reached out and grabbed that word or could have somehow erased it before it got to the intended person. James 3:6-10 “The tongue is a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought so to be.” There is an old saying sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me. Well, we all know that sounds good but it is not true. Some of our deepest, long lasting hurts has been a word spoken by a person close to us. Churches, homes, families, friends, and marriages have been forever split by that small member of our body, called the tongue. Psalm 141 is a prayer psalm of David. As he was praying to God to keep him from sin, he said in verse 3 “ Set a guard, O Lord over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” My goodness, what if we would all ask the Lord daily to do that for us? How many hurts would be saved? Let me ask you this, what about the word that should have been spoken in due season but was not and now it is eternally too late?
This brings me to the third one, the occasion after the loss. We have all experienced this one also. Something we should have done or said. We waited and kept putting it off. Then in a moment, it became forever too late. That moment in time can never be recovered and is now only a sad memory. I had one of those moments in time in my life. It took me some time to be able to talk of this. A man I knew very well was in the hospital. I knew in my heart he was dyeing and as far as I knew he was not ready to meet God. I put off going for a week and as I was eating breakfast I said, “when I get through eating I am going to the hospital.” In a moment the occasion was lost never to be recovered. I got a call while I was eating he had died. Don’t let this occasion get away from you if there is someone you are to talk to don’t wait another minute and most important, DON’T PUT OFF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT JESUS.
Which takes me to the last one, time after it is gone. I have never heard anyone say, “I wish I had spent more time at work instead of so much with my family.” Spend time with family and friends and especially your spouse.
I heard an interesting testimony. This man when he got home from work as he was walking up the sidewalk to his house. He would pause, reach up and touch a tree limb. One day there was someone with him and this person ask him, why he done that? The man explained I hang my job, the problems of the day and the many things I have to do tomorrow up here I don’t take them in the house to my family, when I come out the next morning they don’t look so bad.
It is not my intention to throw stones at you, or hurt you, but I do have a word for you, This may be the last occasion you have to accept Jesus. Time for you may be running out, none of us knows the day or hour but we do know no body cheats death, it is not a respecter of persons. If you know Jesus you have nothing to fear if you don’t know Jesus. You have the time and the occasion today that may never come again, won’t you accept Him today.
First Corinthians 2:9 “ Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” If you need to talk to someone about your salvation please e-mail me. I will call you and talk with you. Remember you have today. Do you have tomorrow?
Have a great week and remember Jesus Is Lord. You are welcome to email me your thoughts, comments, or send me emails of someone who would like to receive these devotions. Pastor Duane, Labor Of Love Church lolminis@frontier.com
