Dusty Old Libraries

"The life-saving strategy of Jesus is based on ordinary people showing and telling about Him in ordinary places."

Ron Hurchcraft 

On one of my early morning fawn spotting drives I noticed what looked like a beautiful garden in a backyard I past. Realizing the homeowner probably wouldn't appreciate me knocking on their front door at 6:50 a.m., I went back later that morning. I was welcomed by a friendly woman who invited me to take as many pictures as I'd like. I was given a bouquet of flowers to take home with me and invited back any time I wanted too and cut flowers for free. And she wasn't the gardener. Her husband created the gardens! Above, and following, are some of my snaps.

I like libraries. I don't frequent them often, but they've always been helpful when I had a need for information. 

I recently read the following words by Alistair Begg in his devotion book, "Truth For Life." It made me stop and consider for a few moments. This is what he said:

"What a great sadness it is when churches become like dusty old libraries, filled with so many lives that are like volumes of truth but sitting there, never used . . . a church is to be a gallery of living experiences. There ought to be a vibrancy about believers, so that when we face the world’s many problems . . . we can see them for what they are and respond by holding out the truth of God’s Word as we ourselves live it out." 

"So many lives that are like volumes of truth but sitting there, never used." It's not a favorable comment. Is it me? Is it you? Many of us are in the latter part of our lives so we definitely are slower getting around and take longer doing things. But are we just sitting around with all this knowledge in us and not making a difference for Christ.

Other words I've read said, "when a person dies a history book is gone." We can only hope that we've made a difference in our world of life before we die.

There will be a time when we can no longer be out and about and share all that God has done in our life. It's at that time we can make a great difference for our God. Prayer becomes our activity. Praying. 

"If I cannot work or rise from my chair or my bed, love remains to me; I can pray."

Williams Congreve

1670-1729

Are you a dusty old library? Think about dusting yourself off and asking God where you can make the most difference for Him. Your family? Your workplace? Your church? Your hobby? Your neighbor? Your community? Our world needs to hear from us now. The fight began years before and it's critical that we share our knowledge about Christ and our faith. 

"When we are willing to open our mouths to speak for Him, we can be sure that He will give us the right thing to say. It is not that we put our minds to neutral but that we submit our minds to Him to use as He sees fit and to empower as He has promised."

John MacArthur, 1939-

"I will consider my earthly existence to have been wasted unless I can recall a loving family, a consistent investment in the lives of people, and an earnest attempt to serve the God who made me."

James Dodson, 1936-

By His Grace . . .