Now Is The Accepted Time

A Note from the Pastor…

There was once a story told about two evil brothers. They were rich and used their money to keep their dishonesty from the public eye. They even attended the same church and looked to be perfect Christians. Then, their pastor retired and a new one was hired. Not only could the new pastor see right through the brothers’ deception, but he also spoke well and true, and the church started to swell in numbers. A fundraising campaign was started to build a new church building. All of a sudden, one of the brothers died. The remaining brother sought out the new pastor the day before the funeral and handed him a check for the amount needed to finish paying for the new building. “I have only one condition,” he said. “At his funeral, you must say my brother was a saint.” The pastor gave his word and deposited the check. The next day at the funeral, the pastor did not hold back about the deceased brother – “He was an evil man,” he said. “He cheated on his wife and abused his family.” The brother became angrier and angrier as he sat and listened to the pastor’s message. After going on and on for what must have seemed like a very long time – he concluded his eulogy with, “But, compared to his brother, he was a like a saint!”

 I have told people in the past, you better live well, because I will not lie for you at your funeral! God knows the truth and nothing any Pastor can say, no prayer that can be prayed, nor any donation anyone can make – can change our “destination” after we die. The writer of Ecclesiastes states, “where the tree falls, there it will lie,” (11:3). As we think about death – we must always remember, “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Truly, our opportunity for eternal hope and assurance must be gained by faith in Jesus Christ in this life!

         Pastor Chris