The preacher pulled into the church yard and marveled at what a beautiful Sunday morning it was. It was going to be a glorious day! ....if only Fred would come to church and hear God's Word.He parked his car in the appointed spot and proceeded to walk to the door. As he slipped the key into the lock, he heard a chorus of robins singing their tiny praises to God. He smiled and felt so good. ...if only I could get Fred to come to church and hear God's Word.
He entered the sanctuary and began straightening the hymn books in the pews. The light was streaming in the windows making lovely prisms on the wall. He smiled and thought "how glorious!" ..if only I could get Fred to come to church and listen to me this morning.
He turned on the microphone and noticed some childish drawings on the podium. The children's church had met the night before. He marveled at their little stick men and knew that their lesson had been "the Prodigal Son"...if only I could get Fred to come to church and listen to the special sermon I wrote for him.
He looked out the window and saw several cars pulling into the church yard. Brother Gene and Sister Mary, Brother Dave and Sister Joyce, Sister Wanda and her children....no, wait a minute. He strained to see who was in the passenger's seat beside Sister Wanda...it couldn't be! But it was! It was Fred. ...he came to hear me preach!
The pastor hurried to his office and opened the top desk drawer. He located the sermon he had written months before for this special occasion and hurried back to the sanctuary to greet his congregation. He was all smiles when Brother Fred walked in the door. Brother Fred looked rather ill and the smell of alcohol, though faint, was unmistakable as he walked passed the small group that had formed at the door. Sister Wanda greeted the pastor quietly and herded the children to seats beside their father. ...gotta make this a good one!!
Finally it was time to start the service. The pastor smiled happily throughout the song service and, when it was time, walked serenely up to the podium.
"Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit that they may add sin to sin !"
This was a sermon that would show men like Fred that repentence is the only way!! "I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in this fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean?" This was going SO WELL! "For I will lay the land desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate because of their abominations which they have committed." He spoke for about 20 minutes. He felt it was the best sermon he had ever delivered. ...I sure hope Fred is listening!After the final hymn, the pastor hurried to the door to greet his congregation. He waited anxiously for Fred. Finally, the subject of his brilliant sermon appeared with tears flowing from his eyes. The pastor smiled knowingly and reached to shake Fred's hand. Fred looked at the outstretched hand and said quietly: "Wanda convinced me to come here this morning because she said God would help me with my problem . You told me how bad my problem is preacher, but I already knew that. Why couldn't you have told me what to do about it?" He dropped his shoulders and shuffled out the door.
The pastor, stunned, reached in his pocket and pulled out the message the Lord had given him the night before to deliver that morning. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy , and my burden is light."
Fred had come to church.
The Word of God is a two-edged sword. It cuts and it heals.
When Jesus wields His two-edged sword He uses both edges.
