Plea

As I was thinking about a lesson on the Lord’s prayer, I was in the process of preparing our newly planted landscaping patch in front of our porch. I even lay awake at night “dreaming” or something, about hoeing all of the pesky little green intruders that pop up after every rain. We are going to put down the black fabric that supposedly blocks weeks, but I am taking no chances. I am going to excise as many of those pesky interlopers as possible before we make the final installation. Then we will lay a smooth bed of stones on top of that to finish the look of our shrub line. We do not want any unplanted or unplanned vegetation protruding from our rocky plot.

Previously, I had cut out the rotted bases of the six “decorative” posts that seem to hold up the roof over the porch. I replaced those with solid, treated lumber so the whole affair is stronger, sturdier, and longer lasting than the original was when the house was new. We are fixing this place up with new shingles on the roof and new BLACK gutters. They look sharp.

As I was contemplating what I have left to do, a thought flashed into my mind. “Are you fastidious in preparing for eternity and warning others as in preparing a landscaping plot or avoiding COVID-19?” We know people who do not meet anyone and very rarely venture out of their own house and yard. We hopefully, all wear masks when out and assiduously wash our hands or disinfect them at every station in the stores that we enter and leave. And we wash for 20 seconds, just long enough to pray the Lord’s prayer, when we get home.

What about it? Are your preparations for what comes next as choreographed and determined as what you use for “daily chores” or other activities? The consequences of poor preparation will be some nuisance weeds interspersed with the shrubs. Careless or negligent hygiene may expose us to this virus, which, in some instances may even be fatal.

But failing to properly prepare for what comes after death has eternal, everlasting consequences. We join Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Paul is begging you, on behalf of Jesus Himself, to turn to God. Turn before it is too late. We beg you as well. There is nothing on earth that will compensate for missing this invitation. Nothing.

And, just for good measure, turn this around and pass it on to any and everyone you know. This is not just weeds in a garden. It is not just life and death. It is eternal separation from the Lord Who loved you and gave His life for you on the cross.

Romans 5 says that death came to all men (and women) because of Adam’s sin, which we all have copied. Adam died, physically, but he accepted the sacrifice that was made to cover his nakedness. That was a literal picture of the spiritual transaction that took place and culminated on Calvary. Jesus died as a substitute for Adam, and Eve. And He died for you and me. The sin debt was satisfied by the death of the Perfect Substitute, not an innocent lamb as in the Garden, but of the Innocent Lamb on Calvary.

Beg is not a strong enough word. When people came to Jesus to ask Him to heal their children they often sprawled on the ground in front of Him, grasping his feet. They did not need to portray such anguished pleading. His heart was ready to answer even before they asked.

Just as we ask for “bread” for the day, we need the living bread that Jesus talked about in John 6. We have to ask for it to have life. To have eternal life. Please ask today. We beg you. If I could grab your feet and hold on until you asked, I would. But that is not how Jesus works.

You have a free will, to choose. Choose Jesus. Choose Him today. There is nothing more important and no other option. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.