Changing Your World?

A retired airline pilot and very good friend was performing at an air show one weekend. What happened next would forever change his world as well as his family's world. He had just eaten an afternoon meal and it was his turn to perform. He entered the cockpit of his experimental aircraft and taxied for departure.

It appeared he was performing a high performance take off and turn when suddenly from three hundred feet; the aircraft fell from the sky. Rescue workers were on the scene almost immediately. He was rushed to the hospital where he would die from his injuries a few days later.

Another friend, whom had taken medication for injuries received in a vehicle accident, went to see her family one weekend. Her family had tried to awake her from a short nap as they were planning on spending the evening together. She did not respond. She was rushed to the hospital for care. In just three days she had departed this life.

My friends and their family's world forever changed from the loss of a loved one. You just never know if you will be next or not. I wish I could tell you that my friends had everything settled between them and God. But I just don't know. I can only hope and pray that everything was all right. I personally am saddened that I didn't take the time to discuss Christ, in their life.

Death can come late in life or early in life. Death is no respecter of persons. The question is are you prepared? Today you are closer to death than you were yesterday. Tomorrow you will have less time to repent of your sins. Tomorrow you will have more sins to repent of. Tomorrow you will have a harder heart.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 3:7-8, "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness." It took me a long time to realize that when Satan desires you to give into sin. It is those times of temptation that Jesus desires you more. God test us, Satan tempts us.

When you become a Christian your world has changed. That change starts with yourself. In 1990 centerfielder Brett Butler left the San Francisco Giants as a free agent. He was loved in San Francisco, and rightly so. He was a great ballplayer. But the best offer came from their cross state rivals the L.A. Dodgers.

Early in the season when the two teams meet, Butler was the center of attention as they were playing at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. When the lineups were being announced and players introduced, the crowd cheered as Butler their former player was announced. The people still loved him even in a Dodger uniform. Perhaps they felt he was still a Giant at heart.

But Brett Butler did something interesting at that point. When he had heard the response of the crowd, he walked up to his new manager, Tommy Lasorda and hugged him in front of thousands of Giant fans. Instantaneously, the cheers began to turn into boo's and insults.

After the game the press asked him why he did that. Brett Butler replied, " it turned a page in my career. I'm a L.A. Dodger now; I'm not a Giant. That just kind of solidified it. I wanted them to know I am a Dodger.

When you become a Christian in one way or another you need to embrace Jesus in the sight of your family, friends, and acquaintances. You need to make it clear in your circle of influence just who you belong to now. Let them know you have turned a page in your life. The Bible says in Mark 1:17, "And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men."

The good news of Jesus travels and it travels by Christians doing their duty to spread the Gospel of Christ. Christianity is not a spectator sport it requires your involvement. People don't care how much you know until they see how much you care. The Bible says in Mark 16:15, " And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

Let your actions and your words be a witness to Christ in all that you do. Let people know that Christ is your strength. Your life may truly be the only Bible someone will ever see. The reality of our witness is not in results. As disciples of Christ we are called to be faithful.

God has given you what you need in his word now what will be your plan? What can you do to make a difference? It begins with putting Christ first in your life. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:1-2, " I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

The labors are few and the job will be difficult but we have one of Gods greatest promises in Isaiah 41-10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yes, I will help thee; yes, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." And in Philippians 4-13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Now to the lost, those who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The Bible tells us in Romans 3-23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." The Bible also tells us in Philippians 2:10-11, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

You have the chance to be saved today even right now by doing what the Bible says in Romans 10: 9-10, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

As I said earlier the two friends that died, I do not know if they were saved or not but I will ask you. Do you know if you died right now, would you go to Heaven or Hell?

I offer you this challenge. Truly commit your life to Christ. Not because I asked you to. Not because someone thinks you should. But because he laid down his life for you and took that commitment, that life style to the cross. Jesus changed his world, his life style for you. Will you change for him?

It is my prayer today that God has spoken to your heart and that you will follow Christ. Jesus has a wonderful plan for your life. May God Bless and keep you.

Inspired by: My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To him I give all the Glory and Praise.

By: G.L.F. Ephesians 2:8-9

George Fields
Ephesians 2:8-9