How brave are you? I heard that when Rodney arrived in Heaven, he was met by an angel who began to process his entry data. Rodney was asked for some purely unselfish deed that he had done on earth. Well, Rodney thought about it for a moment and then he said, “Oh , yes. I think that I have something you might be interested in. One day I was walking along and I came upon a little old lady who was being mercilessly beaten by a motorcycle gang type fellow. Well, I just stepped right up and pushed over his motorcyle to distract him. Then I kicked him real hard in the shins and told the old lady to run. And then I hauled off and I gave the guy a great shot right to the gut with my fist……”. The angel looked at Rodney with a great deal of interest and said, “Wow, that is quite a story and I am impressed.” Then taking his clipboard in hand, he said, “Could you tell me when this happened?”……. Rodney looked at his watch and said, “Oh, bout two or three minutes ago!!” Now I have something that is just as hard to do, but not quite so deadly. Are you brave enough to be like David and say to God, “Search me, Oh God and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me….” God wants us to examine ourselves. Paul told the members at Corinth that before they participated in the Lord’s Supper, they had better examine themselves. Is that the only time we should consider our life in relationship to how God’s Word says?
Some old Puritans recognized the need of self-examination and wrote the following questions. I challenge you to get a piece of paper and answer these questions as honestly as you can. SEE HOW YOU MEASURE UP!
- Am I a hypocrite?
- Am I honest in all my acts or words?
- Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
- Did the Bible live in me today?
- When did I last speak to someone trying to win that person for Christ?
- Do I pray about the money I spend?
- Do I disobey God in anything?
- Do I insist on doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
- How do I spend my spare time?
- Is there someone whom I dislike, criticize or hold resentment toward? What am I doing about it?
- Do I grumble or complain constantly?
- Is Christ real to me?
Are you ready to say to God, “Search me!” What are you afraid of? If you are not ready to do that, then I can assure you that you are probably giving indication of your great need to do so. It is hard to ask God to do that and be brave enough to listen and act upon what HE tells you. It might even mean death to some of the things you’re doing now, but in the long run, it will be real life…..HEAVEN as you see God do His transforming work in you.
In need of examining, too……………………..Pastor Steve