THE GREATER HONOR

The story is told of Dean Stanley, who offered to take two soldiers around Westminster Abbey, seeing they had come too late for the official guide to conduct them through the historic shrine.

Dean Stanley explained all he knew about the noble people whose names were inscribed on the walls & tablets & in brass letters on the floor.

As the soldiers were about to pass out of the gates, the saintly Dean said, "Now, lads, you may never do anything great enough for your country to keep your names in remembrance carved here in Westminster, but I can tell you of a greater honor than that of having your name in this old Abbey, that is, of having it written in the Lamb's Book of Life."

- (moreillustrations.com)

Rev 20:15 (ISV): “Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

“It is very remarkable, that in the book of life, we find some almost of all kinds of occupations, who notwithstanding served God in their respective generations, and shone as so many lights in the world.” - George Whitefield.

TOO ‘GOOD’ FOR SOUL WINNING

A man in one of D.L. Moody’s meetings once testified that he had lived ‘on the Mount of Transfiguration’ for five years.

“How many souls did you lead to Christ last year?” Moody bluntly asked him.

“Well,” the man hesitated, “I don’t know.”

“Have you saved any?” Moody persisted.

“I don’t know that I have,” the man admitted.

“Well,” said Moody, “We don’t want that kind of mountain-top experience. When a man gets up so high that he cannot reach down & save poor sinners, there is something wrong.”

- (ministry127.com)         

Mk 13:10 (NCV): “But before these things happen, the Good News must be told to all people.”

“Let us return to the basic things of the Word of God and prayer and soul winning and revival. Let us pray, "O God, send a revival. Let it begin in me." - Lee Roberson. 

THINGS UNCHANGED, BUT…

A young girl who was dissatisfied with her home life & was always talking of her grievances & showing her discontent in voice, look & manner surprised a friend one day by her quick step, bright smile & happy voice.

"How are things at home?" asked the friend, thinking that some good news had made the change.

"Oh, everything is just the same, but I am different," was the reply.

The grace of God will make us new creatures in Christ Jesus.

- Christian Witness (moreillustrations.com)          

2 Cor 5:17 (GW): “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.”

Ps 119:165 (NLV): “Those who love Your Law have great peace, and nothing will cause them to be hurt in their spirit.”

BEAUTY

A missionary teacher of Tokyo tells of a Japanese woman who asked her if only beautiful girls were received into her school to be educated.

"No," was the reply, "we take all the girls who come to us."

"But," continued the woman, "all your girls seem to be very beautiful."

"We teach them the value of their souls in God's sight," explained the teacher, "and this makes their faces lovely."

"Well," said the woman, "I don't want my daughter to become a Christian, but I would like to send her to your school to get that look in her face."

- Christian Herald (moreillustrations.com) 

             

1 Pet 3:3-4 (ERV): “It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful.  No, your beauty should come from inside you - the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear. It is worth very much to God.”

Pro 15:13 (JUB): “A joyful heart makes a beautiful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is abated.”

SAVED? FROM WHAT?

"The inner question of men's hearts for centuries has been, 'What must I do to be saved?'

Some think by attainment; God says by atonement.

Some declare by character; God says by the Cross.

Some maintain by courage; God says by Christ.

Some assert by trying; God says by trusting.

Christ's answer is crystal clear: 'You must be born again’ (John 3:3).”

- (moreillustrations.com)              

“If I was to ask you tonight if you were saved.  Do you say 'Yes, I am saved'. When? 'Oh so and so preached, I got baptized and...' Are you saved? What are you saved from, hell? Are you saved from bitterness? Are you saved from lust? Are you saved from cheating? Are you saved from lying? Are you saved from bad manners? Are you saved from rebellion against your parents? Come on, what are you saved from?” - Leonard Ravenhill.

DISHONESTY ALWAYS CATCHES UP WITH YOU

Just 5 days after accepting the position as head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team in December of 2001, George O’Leary resigned in disgrace.

An investigation had revealed that more than 20 yrs before he had included false claims on his resume, including saying that he had lettered in football when he was not even on the team & that he had a master’s degree which he had not earned.

The lies had not been discovered at any of his previous coaching jobs, but the high profile accorded the position of coach at Notre Dame led to his exposure.

In a statement O’Leary said: “Due to a selfish & thoughtless act many years ago, I have personally embarrassed Notre Dame, its alumni & fans. With that in mind, I will resign my position as head football coach.”

Though a considerable amount of time passed between O’Leary’s deception & its discovery, it did come to light with devastating results. He had seemingly reached the heights of his profession, only to wake up & find it all taken away.

- (ministry127.com)

Bible says: “Sin and shame go together…” (Pro 18:3 GNT)

Pro 28:13 (KJV): “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

PREACHING THE TRUTH

There is a tale told of the great English actor, Macready.

An eminent preacher once said to him: “I wish you would explain to me something.”

“Well, what is it? I don’t know that I can explain anything to a preacher.”

“What is the difference between you & me? You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction & the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential & unchangeable truth & I am not getting any crowd at all.”

Macready replied: “This is quite simple. I can tell you the difference between us. I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction.”

From ‘Preaching’ - G. Campbell Morgan (ministry127.com)

 “The sermon which does not lead to Christ, or of which Jesus Christ is not the top and the bottom, is a sort of sermon that will make the devils in hell laugh, but make the angels of God weep.” - Charles Spurgeon.

2 Tim 4:2 (NCV): “Preach the Good News. Be ready at all times, and tell people what they need to do. Tell them when they are wrong. Encourage them with great patience and careful teaching.”

“Lord, help me to preach today as if it were the last sermon I would ever preach.” - Jack Hyles.