Car Pooling... Nah!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes...  Romans 1:16

 

 

     "So, I'm thinking that my final speech, given that it is persuasive, will be 'Car Pooling'.  That will be easy to research.  Also, I can put a spin on spending time together and making relational connections."  This is the pitch that I gave to my husband in seeking his opinion of my topic choice.      

     Going back to college for this 42 year old mom of three has added many dimensions to my life.  This semester one of my courses has been Public Speaking.  Thinking that I was well-prepared for such a class was in my thought process.  After all, I speak publicly on a regular basis; however, this class has both challenged me and been a wonderful opportunity to get to know my peers. 

      It crossed my mind for my final speech, because it was persuasive, to do one on Jesus, God, Christianity, Discipleship, or any other inspirational topic.  Instead, I started leading toward the easy route.  My husband was mortified.  "April, you have been given an opportunity to present on any topic and you choose Car Pooling?"  So, with this man's statement falling heavily on my shoulders, I took on the responsibility of choosing the topic, "The Need for Jesus Christ".   My thoughts began to shift from the grade to the need.  And so the speech developed. 

     I would like to give you that speech today in writing... not for your compliments or criticisms.  I am giving this to you today as a reminder that we are often put in situations where the bigger picture must be allowed space to evolve.  The bigger plan is laid out before us using faith's measuring stick.  How often have I missed that plan because the obvious reasons were clearer?  I hope that you are inspired to take the pieces of your life and turn them into a testimony for others.  Seeds will be planted.

 

     "Almost you have persuaded me to become a Christian."  These are the words spoken to Paul, a converted murderer to Christianity, as he stood before King Agrippa.  The account is given to us in Acts chapter 26.  Paul has been brought up on charges and now finds himself standing before this king in order to give an account for his actions.  Instead of Paul pleading a case that clears his name, he, without reservation, spreads the beautiful pages of Christ's life before King Agrippa.  After the compelling speech is given, all King Agrippa said was, Almost..."  Though very often not acknowledged, there is a desperate need for Jesus Christ in the lives of those whom He came to redeem.

     Anne Graham Lotz, author of Just Give Me Jesus, says, "Why do we look to material possessions, to personal relationships, to powerful positions, to pleasurable places, to sexual experiences, to eating and entertainment and exercise and education for what is only found in spiritual rebirth?"

     Earlier this semester, Jelisa shared with us that 14% of High School students seriously consider suicide.  On save.org, we are told that suicide takes the lives of 40,000 Americans every year.  Amy brought this home by sharing with us that Robin Williams had a long time struggle wh depression that lead to his own suicide earlier this year.  Molly told us the horrifying statistics concerning Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  On cdc.gov, we are told that there is an estimated $4 billion spent on FAS in America each year.  Melissa shared with us information on methamphetamines.  The drug-free world.org website states that there are 24.7 million abusers.  And Jacob, in his quirky and mysterious way, gave us a speech on serial killers such as Jeffery Dahmer.  Cdc.gov states that in 2011 alone, there were 16,238 homicides.  More personally, in your introductory speeches, you shared with us the struggle to watch friends and family suffer with diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer.  You even opened up and shared with us about your own battles with depression and suicidal thoughts, and your childhood experiences that have brought you to this place in time.

     My PaPaw sat on the edge of the Fontana Dam in North Carolina.  Having left behind his growing family in order to provide for them was a lonely and difficult time for him.  Times were hard and work was scarce.  So, his skills as a welder opened up the opportunity for work.  As he sat there one day, he looked down over the freshly poured concrete and thought to himself, "If I throw myself off of this bridge, my body will never be found and my family will receive the life insurance.  This could be the answer to so many of our problems."  Yet during this battle, he heard a still small voice speak something like this, "Follow me."  He made a choice that day to live and soon took the challenge to follow Jesus Christ.   

     In the article "We're Condemned to Act in Character", we are told that "God placed within each of us the freedom to choose.  When opportunities come to decide, we simply choose the way that is consistent with the choices we have made in prior circumstances."

     To make a choice to believe in Jesus Christ requires faith.  This defies human nature.  To ask you, this morning, to tie a blindfold around everything you have proven to be true or untrue about Jesus is a stretch on your part.  I'm asking you, however, to stretch.  Anne Graham Lotz states, "When you make the choice to follow Jesus, you will be consciously aware of your spiritual life.  You may not understand it or be able to articulate it but you will know that you are spiritually alive."

     Jeff Lucas states it this way in his article, "The Light and Soul of Christmas", 'My past is forgiven.  My present sparkles with significance.  My future is assured, with Jesus for eternity... not because I'm good enough to earn heaven but because of the free gift Jesus offers.'  In just a few weeks, we will be celebrating the most amazing gift ever given to mankind.  It is beautifully told to us in John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

     Knowing Jesus is not only a heaven or hell issue.  Many of you even struggle with the reality of these two places.  But Dr. David Jeremiah puts it this way, "It is a fearful thing to find yourselves in the hands of an angry God and not know Jesus Christ."  Because I promise you that one day each of you and every person under the heavens will "bow down and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

     I stand before you today as a witness to my Jesus.  He is my Savior, my Redeemer, the Light of the World, the Peace Speaker, the Way Maker, and my very best Friend.

     The story goes of a young man whose car had broken down on the side of the road.  With frustration setting in, the hood was lifted and the young was to no avail trying to get the car going again.  Up pulls a nicely polished sedan and out steps an equally polished business man with his suit impeccably pressed and tie perfectly placed.  He says to the young man, "May I help?"  The young man tells the finely dressed gentleman that he is in need of a mechanic and surely there is nothing that a man of his stature can do.  After much persuasion, the young man moves over and allows the businessman an opportunity to fix the unresponsive car.  A few minutes later, the gentleman asks the young man to try to crank it up.  He does and the car comes to life immediately.  "Thank you.  Thank you."  Shaking hands with the kind gentleman, the young man inquires of his name.  The answer given was, "Henry Ford", the maker of the car.  You see, the only One that can fix what is broken in your life is the One who created you and breathed breath into your body.

     In closing, persuasive speeches are all about us asking you to come over on our side and see things from our perspective.  I'm not asking you today to do that.  I'm asking you to come over to the side of Jesus Christ.  Don't be like King Agrippa and say, "Almost..."  Choose for yourself to be a Christian.  Thank you.