It has been a challenging, exciting 43+ years of being saved and serving the Lord. During that time, there were many battles and sacrifices to preserve righteousness, souls saved from Hell, and society had some protection from many sinful influences.
Men and women quit high-paying jobs to teach the youth in Christian schools. Often, many worked at the schools for minimum pay or nothing. Christian education and to keep many from worldly false teachings were important in the minds of those believers.
Many who pioneered the Christian school movement went to jail rather than close their ministry. Hosts of young people were saved in those outreaches, and worldly, godless philosophies were kept from our precious future, our youth. Despite the world’s attempts to stop the schools, many grew and saturated their communities with God’s truths. Lives were changed, and some areas dealt with less violence and sin that scarred many neighborhoods.
Preachers stood boldly behind pulpits and exposed false religious doctrines and preached God’s Word truths. They stood bravely against sin, which so many were involved in, and were a tremendous influence to many.
Many rebelled against those church leaders and did all they could to stop biblical teachings and those exposing unrighteousness. However, those who endured criticism and challenges often saw miraculous changes in many lives.
Ministries grew to reach as many as possible. Some outreached into dangerous neighborhoods and put themselves and their families in unpleasant situations so that the needy sinners could hear the saving words from God. Multitudes turned their lives over to Him, resulting in them being changed and improved citizens.
Some surrendered all to go to foreign and domestic mission fields. Most faced tremendous opposition. Many faced dangers, diseases, and even death, Still, those unsung heroes went and stayed and made great improvements in so many lives.!
Others got involved in their local government to stop the spread of ungodly practices. They, too, faced great opposition and chastisement. Still, they kept on despite the trials they endured.
Many of those who sacrificed what this world had to offer for what God would have them do are now fading off the scene. Disease and age are silencing their great voices that once changed lives, helped those who had little hope, rebuilt families and relationships, and taught godly principles.
However, as their voices are no longer heard and many are going to their heavenly reward, I wonder who will pick up the burdens of those who no longer can? Where are those who will carry the torch that will illuminate the future world with godly, biblical messages and proper lifestyles? Who will fill the voids left by those that no longer can serve?
Some still obey their convictions and endure opposition so that others can hear God’s message. However, their numbers are dwindling. Even fewer are those who know what God’s Word commands and fewer are those who do not obey what they are shown to be His way.
Many church leaders who should stand for God’s Word, ways, and truths are not. The populace’s cry to halt convicting messages, to stop preaching against sin, not to go door-to-door soul-winning, and to do what everyone else is doing sways them from standing against unrighteousness.
Their message may be comfortable to sinners’ ears, but God’s truths are no longer pounded from many pulpits. Biblical truths and practices are often ridiculed and taught to be false and unnecessary today. Thus, few convictions against unrighteousness are experienced among churchgoers. Outreaches are limited. Workers are fewer, and communites succumb to the wiles and ways of ungodly, unbridled behavior.
Rarer are those ministries that see the damage done by worldly public school education and support or create Christian schools. Many, including church leaders, send their children to public schools falsely believing that “I will teach them what is right at home, and they will know better than falling for the worldly teachings in the government schools.”
Children are saturated with propaganda about threatening global destruction, how they have rights to do whatever they want, and that “right” is whatever they think it should be. Few hear how there is a God that can change any situation, loves them, and has great plans for them if they will only trust, obey, and follow His way.
Few surrender to serve and live for the Lord. Worldly excuses justify their not filling in the gaps from aged, ailing servants of God.
“Why, I need more money than the ministry offers. It must not be God’s will for me to work in the ministry full time.” The faith to trust God’s provision is missing in their life. God met the needs of ministry predecessors. He can do it today if people will only trust Him.
“I can’t teach that Sunday school class. The kids are so rowdy.” Those people, too, are not relying on the power God gives to those who do His will.
“Go soul-winning. No way. I don’t know what to say, and it could be dangerous going into some neighborhoods and homes.” All have had to battle the same fear of speaking to strangers about salvation and God’s will and way. However, they went, and God’s grace and protection were sufficient as they will be for those who will go now!
“Ride a Sunday school bus to bring children to church? Not me. I work all week and need to have some time to myself.” The bus workers of the past also had to sacrifice their time, but because of their volunteering, millions came to churches and were saved.
This world desperately needs another generation of convicted, concerned, and courageous believers. Who will step to the front and stand for God’s righteousness? Whoever you are, please start now. The world must hear God’s Word’s saving and life-altering news today. Who will go and tell?
“What about all the lost souls around you? They have an eternity. Please show them how to go to Heaven! You may be their only hope in knowing God’s way!” — Bill Brinkworth
“And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:31
