Subscription Lists
'Christ in You...'
by Dale Krebbs
What would you consider to be the shortest sermon ever preached?
Some of us have it preached to us several times each day as we travel down the roads of our lives. Actually we have had it preached to us our entire lives over and over again, no matter where we had been or where we were going. That sermon consists, and has consisted of, only one word - "YIELD"! There is another next-to-the-shortest sermon. It is totally compatible and functions with the shortest. It is "KEEP RIGHT"! I think you can readily see that the two go together. Perhaps we have often seen them close together on the roadway. We all know that if we fail to respond appropriately to these road way "sermons", someone can be injured or even killed. Someone can loose their life.
But there are two other sermons we could entitle with the same words. YIELD - to your Maker! KEEP RIGHT - with Him!.
These are profound and penetrating statements indeed if we will ponder them. It is a sad commentary on all of humanity that MUCH more attention is given to the two physical roadway signs. But there is a conspiracy by the "god of this world" (Ephesians 2:2) in an attempt to keep everyone so preoccupied with the busyness of life - the PHYSICAL "yield" and "keep right" of our physical lives, that the spiritual, eternal road signs are not seen. History is replete with horror stories of those who did not see the SIGNS of their times. (Matthew 6:3) Their view was blocked, or their minds were on something or somewhere else. However, even the heavens at night and the sky and clouds by day "pour forth speech". Have you ever thought about how much more we look down at the dirt beneath our feet, instead of looking up? God is telling us something VERY important by all of this... (Psalm 19:1-4)
Being alert to physical road signs of instruction and warning is important as we drive down the roads of our daily lives. But how much more important to believe and obey these two "signs" that our Creator has been preaching to us, in one way or another, all our lives. How urgently God desires that we hear His two sermons, and respond willingly. EVERYTHING...not just an unfortunate auto accident with possible injury or physical death is at stake, as terrible as that could be. Everything hangs on our response to these two sermons. All else pales into insignificance by comparison.
Of course, with all signs there is always a CHOICE. This is a choice between life and death. What could possibly be more important to us than LIFE - and certainly ETERNAL life. We all want life. My mother once remarked to me: "whatever you do, don't get old!". But most of humanity will do almost anything to perpetuate life. Jesus Christ purchased for us not just temporary life, but ETERNAL life. And He will GIVE it to us if we will obey God's spiritual road signs. God is saying "I have set before you life, and death - therefore, CHOOSE LIFE."! (Deuteronomy 30:19) If we don't - we are still without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
The next time you see a sign that says "YIELD" or "KEEP RIGHT", let it remind you of what your Creator desires to do for you. He wants to share something with you so valuable that it is almost incomprehensible. He desires fellowship with you. He wants you to talk to Him. He invites you to share in what HE HAS - FOREVER. The Way - the "Road" is Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY way to God. (John 14:6) He desires fellowship with you. He wants you to talk to Him. He wants to talk to you through His Word. Above all, He wants you to have ETERNAL life! Some in society today cringe with anger and resentment when they hear the word "Jesus". God may be OK - but NOT "Jesus"! (-unless, of course, His name is used in vain). Turn from ignoring or resisting Him. Obeying HIS road signs will result in eternal life for you. They will keep you uninjured spiritually, and headed in the right direction on your road of life, and safe from eternal death. And your road map is His word - the Bible. No matter how many twists and turns, no matter how many valleys and mountains your road may cross, His road map is always current and up-to-date. It will always keep you on the RIGHT WAY. (Proverbs 16:9) And He will give you peace in your valleys and on your mountains - even when there seems to be no peace. (John 14:27) As the words to a popular gospel song go, "the God on the mountain is still God in the valley"...
Make the highest and best choice! - YIELD to Him. Give Him complete control of your new life, without any reservations. Then, with Him living in you, He will guide you, and enable you. One of His names is "the giving God". He will help you and provide your needs. (Matthew 6:25-34) He will lead you to honor and glorify Him, as He helps you KEEP RIGHT! (Matthew 11:29-30). The more you honor and glorify Him, the more He will increase your honor and glory with Him.
When you reach the last road sign, you will find all has been changed from what you might, at one time, have expected. The "DEAD END" barricade has been removed. The road of eternal life is open and clear now, with only one sign: "THE BEGINNING! ". . . . 1 Corinthians 2:9
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "'Christ in You...'" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.