He was an agnostic, and...
Illustration
He was an agnostic, and his wife an atheist. After receiving a direct-mail flier from our
church, they decided to come to one of our services. Soon they attended regularly and
also came to a Bible study. Both were inquisitive and intelligent. Church members
befriended them and enjoyed their company.
As quickly as they started, however, they stopped. The husband decided to look elsewhere for answers, enrolling in a course offered by a church that emphasizes reason. It teaches humankind's essential goodness; one must merely find the good inside and release it. "We all can equal Jesus," say its leaders. Our friend studied the religious and philosophical "masters," paying handsomely for his course. When he graduated, he asked my wife and me to attend. The ceremony rivaled that of any university's in impressiveness.
In the meantime, his wife developed Alzheimer's disease. She died in a Hollywood hospital. Some of the church members helped him with burial arrangements. That led him to a new realization. His expensive course presented some philosophical nuggets, but nothing for the hard realities of life-and-death. "A good time religion," it had no more lasting value than a Halloween skeleton.
Our friend yielded his life to Jesus and began to experience the new birth the Lord promises. Will your religion carry you through the tough times? Or, after they auction off your possessions, will you be left with nothing but a cadaver?
As quickly as they started, however, they stopped. The husband decided to look elsewhere for answers, enrolling in a course offered by a church that emphasizes reason. It teaches humankind's essential goodness; one must merely find the good inside and release it. "We all can equal Jesus," say its leaders. Our friend studied the religious and philosophical "masters," paying handsomely for his course. When he graduated, he asked my wife and me to attend. The ceremony rivaled that of any university's in impressiveness.
In the meantime, his wife developed Alzheimer's disease. She died in a Hollywood hospital. Some of the church members helped him with burial arrangements. That led him to a new realization. His expensive course presented some philosophical nuggets, but nothing for the hard realities of life-and-death. "A good time religion," it had no more lasting value than a Halloween skeleton.
Our friend yielded his life to Jesus and began to experience the new birth the Lord promises. Will your religion carry you through the tough times? Or, after they auction off your possessions, will you be left with nothing but a cadaver?
