Friday, November 9, 2012

It's Time To Get Back To Work

I was working in a grocery store as a department manager and had a very enjoyable job. My plan was to retire from the company after a long satisfying career. One day, as I was stocking shelves, the Lord spoke to my heart, "The world is dying and going to hell.  What are you doing stocking shelves with shampoo and deodorant?"  That statement changed my priorities and I started moving toward my new goal of stocking the shelves of heaven with precious souls.

Around that same transition time, I attended a Camp meeting at World Harvest Church in Columbus, Ohio. I heard a message by the great R.W. Schambach that inspired me to make a leap of faith into full-time ministry.  He preached that night on Mordecai's words to Queen Esther, "Who knows but that you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?"  He applied that question to all in the audience but, it hit me like I was the only one in the room. It changed my life. I have gifts, talents and abilities that God expects me to use to influence my generation.  I've come to the Kingdom for such a time as this.

I believe that if Mordecai was walking among us, he'd give a similar "talkin' to" to each of us today.  He would point out that our fellow countrymen and loved ones are perishing from the destructive forces at work.  Everywhere you turn, there's suffering and devastation.  He would encourage us, as he did Esther, to get engaged in the battle and make an effort to save lives. 

You have gifts, abilities and talents that were designed to reach your world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There are books and songs that need to be written.  There are sermons and Bible studies that need to be taught.  There are blogs, tweets, e-mails, powerpoint presentations, videos, films, movies and television shows that God is calling you to produce.  You have ideas, concepts and inventions that will enable millions to hear the life changing message that Jesus saves.

There's no time for any of us to be discouraged or overwhelmed by recent events.  We must rise up in the power that God has given us.  We've come to the Kingdom for such a time as this for a reason.  Let's get engaged in the battle for souls.  Break time is over for workers in the Lord's vineyard.  It's time to get back to work.

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