But they refused to pay
attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might
not hear. Zechariah 7:11
Every once in a while I tell my wife, Pam, that it
sure would be nice if we could win a $50 million dollar Lotto Max as did the
individual in Woodbridge, Ontario.
That's when she points out to me that before we can
win Lotto Max we have to buy a ticket from the Lotto Max. It always disturbs me
when Pam gets both practical and right at the same time.
Still, I guess there's not much difference between not
buying a ticket and not knowing you have the winning ticket. Ignorance may
indeed be the condition for Canada's most recent $50 million winner.
The numbers were publicly announced and ... nothing.
Nobody came forward. Nobody jumped up and down yelling, "It's me! I've got it!
I've got it!"
Now it's true, the winner could be consulting his
lawyer or quitting his job or planning to move to Tahiti. But it's just as
likely he's oblivious to the fact he's carrying the winning ticket in his wallet
or her purse ... or they've just thrown it away.
That's a terrible thought, isn't it, to throw away $50
million?
This really takes me to the point of this devotion.
Through the bloody sacrifice of the Savior, because of His third-day
resurrection from the dead, all who are brought to faith in the Christ are
forgiven of their sins and guaranteed eternal life.
In short, they are winners. The Lord has given them
riches that would make a Lotto Max winner feel like he's a pauper.
In contrast to us there are others -- others who
should be winners -- but who aren't. Like the recent Lotto Max winner there are
two possibilities for the situation.
1. The first possibility is they haven't heard; they
don't realize Jesus has given His life for their salvation. These folks remain
in ignorance.
2. The second possibility is they've heard and they're
just too busy doing other things, making other plans, and they intend, someday,
to get around to believing ... just not right now.
It makes little difference if a person is unsaved
because of ignorance or because salvation is not a high priority -- the end
result is the same. They should have been winners, but they're not.
That's another terrible thought, isn't it, to have
eternal life given to you, but not received by you?
This is why we who already have been blessed need to
make use of every opportunity of pointing people to Jesus -- to tell of the
blessings which come from knowing Him as Lord and Savior.
To tell them Jesus has made them winners.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, on my own I am a failure, a
lost sinner. With faith in my Savior, Jesus, I have been forgiven, adopted and
granted eternal life. Now I ask that, if it be possible, other souls which are
lost today may soon be saved. In Jesus' Name, I pray it. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries http://www.lhm.org/ all rights reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.
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