CAMEL RIDES & COFFEE

CAMEL RIDES & COFFEE

Thursday, September 24, 2015

John chapter 3 … [Jesus explained] Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. … as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. …

  John the Baptist was quite the promoter. In cooperation with his advisory servant leader team, to attract people to hear his message of God’s love John provided free camel and donkey rides for children and coffee and donuts for adults in nice setting of furniture surrounded by pleasing tints. John had the river bank paved with stone and installed a weir to make a settling pond so baptismal waters would be preferably clear and mud free. Additionally, upon wise advice, so as to not offend anyone and to be publicly accepted John refrained from speaking out again sin lest he be labeled a preacher against things.

  The above paragraph is neither true nor funny. Had John been a Carney, his final results would have been same as any carnival; stale coffee grounds and stinking dung left behind.

  John certainly did tell of God’s love, but not at all in comfy aromatic words. His message of the need for repentance was heard by most people then as it is now; either in godly submission or devilish rejection.

  In proclaiming the soon-to-be Messianic age, John said:

Matthew 3:11-12 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he [Jesus] that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his [threshing] floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Luke 3:7-9 Then said he [John] to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father [our religion]: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  Jesus proclaimed the same requirement: “… Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. … The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mt.4:17; Mk.1:15)

  Indeed John’s message incorporated the love of God, but as with the Apostle Paul’s later words recorded in Romans 12:1-3 and elsewhere in God’s Word, the need for repentance was not casually or optionally associated with God’s love, it is essentially of necessity included for eternal redemption.

  As instructed by the Lord the disciples declared the same: “… they went out, and preached that men should repent.” (Mk.6:12;  Act.2:38; 3:19; 8:22; 17:30; 26:20) 

  What of us? While being hospitable serving coffee, camel rides, or any other loving caring practice, do we unashamedly faithfully tell of the need for repentance . . . the reason why our listener(s) need to accept Jesus?  Without repentance is to remain hell-bound; “condemned already”. (Jn.3:18)  Jesus said “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

EBB4