Legal Property

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Thursday, January 6, 2011

The Owner of the House

Many apologies. Here it is Thursday, and the sermon from last Sunday (January 2) is just now getting posted. I'm slooooooowwww. Last week, it was me giving the sermon because Pastor Shim is out of town until next Saturday.

Proverbs 2:1-9, John 14:1-10
Okay--I'm sure many of you, between Thanksgiving and New Years, had guests in your home or went to visit someone in their home. But--how would you have felt if someone you didn't know knocked at your door and informed you he or she had come to live with you? What would your reaction be? Surprise? Astonishment? Indignation? What if you were the one to to knock on someone else's door and ask for a place to live? Discomfort? Embarrassment?
I sometimes wonder--Does God know everyone who knocks on His gate asking for admittance? What would He do if this was the first time--or one of the few times--you'd ever spoken to Him? And yet, isn't that what might be happening? We all expect to be admitted to Heaven someday, right? What if He says He doesn't know you?
There's a passage in the Bible that I particularly love, part of one of the scripture references above. Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am you may be also."
Who was He talking to when He said that? His disciples, His friends! Do you think He would have said the same thing to the Pharisees or Scribes who were opposing Him at every step?
Personally, I don't think He would have made that promise to them. The Pharisees really didn't know Him, did they? Why would He invite them to His Father's house?
Soooo--how well do you know Him? Well enough to go and live with Him for eternity? If not, this might be a good time to get to know Him better. One very good, very easy way, is to read the Bible. If you are not familiar with the Bible, I strongly recommend beginning with the New Testament. And an easy way to get into the Bible is to join a Bible study. Pastor Shim said he wants to get several Bible studies going after the first of the year, and this is after the first of the year. This is a time for new beginnings, for self-improvement, for new goals and resolutions.
Those of you who are reading this that don't go to our church, find a local church (if you don't already have one) with some Bible studies. Don't have time? Oh, come on now. You have time to go places with your friends, time to sit down an read or watch TV for hours on end. What would it cost you to spend an hour with God? Try it. There's no time like now to get to know Him. You don't ever know when it might be too late.

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