Deciding to Follow Jesus

Deciding to Follow Jesus

--By Keith Bellamy

Do you remember the day you dedicated your life to the Lord?

April 24, 1960 was the day I decided to do that very thing. That Sunday evening, Cecil Haffelfinger baptized me into Christ (Galatians 3:27). It was then that I received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

I wish I could say that I have lived my life in Christ perfectly since that day. However, I must be honest. I have not always walked the straight and narrow.

I am glad God hasn’t given up on me. And I am glad he has patience for all of us (2 Peter 3:9).

Over the years I have seen so many put off a decision that has eternal consequences. While I am certainly not the Judge, I do know that the clock of life keeps on ticking. One of these days that clock will stop.

So, what holds you back? What keeps you from being all that God wants you to be?

“The clock of life is wound but once,

And no man has the power

To tell just when the hands will stop

At late or early hour.

To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,

To lose one's health is more,

To lose one's soul is such a loss

That no man can restore.

The present only is our own,

So live, love, toil with a will,

Place no faith in "Tomorrow,"

For the Clock may then be still.”

― Winston Atkinson

When Lightning Strikes

When Lightning Strikes

--By Keith Bellamy

I remember when I was a little boy in West Virginia, when our house was hit by lightning. My brother and I had been ordered to take a nap. However, when the lightning struck there was no nap.

On another occasion we were at a girls’ state softball game in which our youngest daughter was playing. I could see lightning from where we were seated, and I made the comment to my wife, that the game needed to be canceled. No sooner had I made the comment when lightning struck a tree back behind left field and the tree blew up. Of course, we were afraid for our daughter and the game was not concluded until that evening. To this day our daughter is afraid lightning.

What do you do when lightning strikes?

I am thinking of what the writer of Hebrews 9:27 says. “Just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment” (NLT).

In Luke 12:15 Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions (NIV).” Then Jesus went on to tell about a certain rich man who was building bigger barns and patting himself on the back about his accomplishments. However, in Luke 12:20,

Now lightening may have not struck but…maybe it did.

If we wait until the lightning strikes will we have time to get things right with the LORD?

Bitterness

Bitterness

--By Keith Bellamy

Bitterness is defined as anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly; resentment.

I have known people who are extremely bitter. Maybe something tragic has affected their lives. Or maybe something has happened that was brought on by that person’s own disobedience.

Such was the case with King Saul. He brought everything that happened to him on himself. When Samuel confronted him about his disobedience Saul didn’t at first think he had done anything wrong.

Many years ago, while in school one of the instructors suggested we look at 1 Samuel 15. When Agag thought things were going to get better, things got worse.

However, the statement in 1 Samuel 15:32 indicates that Agag didn’t have the slightest knowledge of what was going to happen to him. Then Samuel said, “Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past” (1 Sam. 15:32 ESV).

Death is bitter. Especially for unbelievers. If a person doesn’t have the faith they need to endure hard times death is bitter.

But what about one who has strong faith?

Bill Gaither’s song, “Because He Lives”, speaks to the hope to face tomorrow. And it is all about Jesus Christ defeating death, so you and I can defeat death.

However, if I refuse to forgive…if I continue to harbor bitterness in my heart, death may indeed be bitter.

Would you really want to face God with a bitter heart?

My prayer is that anyone who may be dealing with bitterness will hand it over to God.

Think about what Paul said. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:31, 32 ESV).