For a CLEAR Gospel Message click on THE GOOD NEWS link belowFirst Importance
1 Cor 15:3a "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance..."
The words "first importance" are actually translated from one word in the Greek; protos. It means foremost, but carries the idea of foremost in time, foremost in order of importance, foremost in place. It means "numero uno" all the time, everyday, and in everything. Paul is stressing the fact that the Gospel is foremost in time, order of importance, and place; a fact that we seem to all so often forget.
I watched, like so many millions of people all over the world, the devastation and suffering of the residents on the Gulf Coast over the past few weeks. Everyone is lending a hand, volunteering service, sending money, sending supplies, praying, and planning, in order to rebuild these areas, restore order, and stop the pain and suffering. I have been moved to help and I am sure that you have as well. We are moved to help because, we see the devastation; we see the suffering; we see the tears; we see the pain. This is REAL to us because we can see it and hear it.
How real is Hell to you? If you could hear the crying, if you could see the pain, if you could see the suffering, if you could see the devastation that lie waiting for those who don't know Christ, would you be moved to help? The lake of fire is just as real as the devastation in New Orleans and Biloxi, but worse and forever. New Orleans and Biloxi will be rebuilt, lives will be restored to some sort of order, and the pain will pass. Sure, it might take quite some time, but it will pass. On the other hand,THE LAKE OF FIRE is for an eternity. It will not pass.
We, Christians, have to make the gospel of Jesus Christ, FIRST IMPORTANCE. We may say, " Hell is real", but our witness doesn't back-up our statement. As I watched the suffering in the Gulf region, I was reminded of the eternal suffering in Hell where there is no FEMA, no help, no end. We want to rush off to the Gulf and help, but we won't walk next door to present the gospel. We need to ask ourselves, do we really walk by faith, or do we walk by sight? Make the Gospel "FIRST IMPORTANCE" in your life and help someone for eternity.
The words "first importance" are actually translated from one word in the Greek; protos. It means foremost, but carries the idea of foremost in time, foremost in order of importance, foremost in place. It means "numero uno" all the time, everyday, and in everything. Paul is stressing the fact that the Gospel is foremost in time, order of importance, and place; a fact that we seem to all so often forget.
I watched, like so many millions of people all over the world, the devastation and suffering of the residents on the Gulf Coast over the past few weeks. Everyone is lending a hand, volunteering service, sending money, sending supplies, praying, and planning, in order to rebuild these areas, restore order, and stop the pain and suffering. I have been moved to help and I am sure that you have as well. We are moved to help because, we see the devastation; we see the suffering; we see the tears; we see the pain. This is REAL to us because we can see it and hear it.
How real is Hell to you? If you could hear the crying, if you could see the pain, if you could see the suffering, if you could see the devastation that lie waiting for those who don't know Christ, would you be moved to help? The lake of fire is just as real as the devastation in New Orleans and Biloxi, but worse and forever. New Orleans and Biloxi will be rebuilt, lives will be restored to some sort of order, and the pain will pass. Sure, it might take quite some time, but it will pass. On the other hand,THE LAKE OF FIRE is for an eternity. It will not pass.
We, Christians, have to make the gospel of Jesus Christ, FIRST IMPORTANCE. We may say, " Hell is real", but our witness doesn't back-up our statement. As I watched the suffering in the Gulf region, I was reminded of the eternal suffering in Hell where there is no FEMA, no help, no end. We want to rush off to the Gulf and help, but we won't walk next door to present the gospel. We need to ask ourselves, do we really walk by faith, or do we walk by sight? Make the Gospel "FIRST IMPORTANCE" in your life and help someone for eternity.
Labels: BH
posted by Buck at 7:08 AM 
1 Comments:
"Where the heart is softened by the Word of God, the mind will be illuminated."
Well put, and very true indeed.
Post a Comment
<< Home