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In October of 2003, I was a visitor to New Birth Baptist Church. I had attended a few times at the request of my mother. I was preparing to accept a job in Raleigh at a biological lab. The Sunday before I was supposed to give my answer to the lab company, Brother Brian gave a sermon on "Stay Close to Home." I wondered all the rest of that day and a few more if God was speaking through Brother Brian to me. I wasn't sure. It seemed like everyone thought I should take the job, and those that didn't think I should take the job...didn't say anything! So, there it was. Was I to go or stay? I listened to everyone and took the job in Raleigh. Not too long after that was when the storms started. One thing happened after another. The devil worked so hard to break my family apart. The devil tried so hard to break my faith. My mom suffered economic hardship and took advice from someone that wasn't trustworthy. My sister lay up in the hospital near death...and we almost lost her. I prayed every minute of everyday and made promises to Him one after the other...which I keep to this day! The devil sent 'em after us...one attack after another. It felt to me like the family I knew before forgot who they were. Love was gone...worry was rampant; fear was controlling the people I loved. And it felt like somehow parasites were taking all the goodness away from our lives. The job? The job seemed far, far, far away from what God wanted for me to be doing. My coworkers and I joked that we were stuck in the waiting room to hell! Life didn't feel good. All the money I was making, I had to spend it to MAKE myself happy. There was no real enjoyment in my life, 'cause my "promised land" was in turmoil back home. For the first time in my life since I could remember I WAS LOST! "This has to be a taste of what Hell feels like", I thought. How did I get here? How could things be this wrong?
I think it's ironic that Job listened to God always and praised God and I was separated from God by chasing a job! I went to Raleigh chasing a job while not listening to directions from God. This sounds like a story of a guy from the Bible, Jonah, who didn't listen to what God wanted and it got him in all kinds of trouble. I didn't really think that I had been commanded to "stay close to home", but all of the evidence just stands against that thought! You see, when I finally figured out that satan had somehow taken the driver's seat in my life...chasing money and prestige...I somehow was tricked into "worshipping" some other god...(money)...I felt like a fool! And when I let go of that job (against a lot of people's suggestions)...When I finally let go of that job...things fell into place. It was going to be a lot like wandering in the wilderness for a while but things were starting to get better. I could now make it in this world on a third of the money that I needed working at that job. I had joy in my life working with children at a wonderful school! One lesson you should take from my testimony is that the people that felt like it was wrong for me to leave...were scared. They didn't say anything. If God puts something in your heart...Say It! Now, my lesson: So after all the storms that came and feeling like I was as far from God as I had ever been, I realized something. I was a fool! God was trying to prepare me for what was going to happen -- and I just didn't listen! I had listened to God since I knew who God was -- and all the little ways that he talks to us. But THIS time I didn't listen, and look what it got me. A whole bunch of nothin'. I got a whole lot of worldly goods to look at down in the storage building...a lot of things I don't really need! But now I have peace...I'm doing what God wants me to do! I wonder sometimes if we're all guilty of this sometimes. Being a fool and not listening when God puts it right there and does everything but slap you with it. My Mama one time was working and asked for a sign, and her truck ran into a handicap sign. Just listening to my story...we kind of know what the ramifications of that sign were. I can only imagine, but, I think he was saying get ready for trouble and don't be weak. What other proof do you need? Listen to Him! He talks to his children...you just gotta' listen! If you need help figuring out what he wants, ask Him, ask your pastor...but, don't listen to any fools...they'll lead you down a path of destruction. We want you to know that God loves you! God has a plan for you! To be accepted into heaven you have to humble yourself before God and accept that He came to earth through Jesus Christ and died to pay your sin debt as your Savior! He loved us so much that He paid for our sin Himself so we wouldn't be doomed to Hell! But, we have to believe that he did it for us or we ARE doomed to spend an eternity in Hell! There is no other way! It can be hard to humble yourself in this world we live in. Sometimes people think to themselves, "There's nothing wrong with me!" or "I'm doing good things and I'm a good person...I'll get into heaven!" You are wrong! Learn More about Jesus as "God With Us" Us humans started out perfect with Adam and Eve, and then we fell from grace. From then on innocent blood was required for forgiveness of sin. Jesus' innocent blood changed things forever. Again, God loved us so much that He paid for our sin Himself. Now we have to deny our own understanding and accept Jesus' ultimate gift to get into heaven. No matter how much God loves us, if we don't humble ourselves and realize that we are just a big Nobody and it's not all about us...a speck of sand in the eyes of God...and our only ticket into heaven is Jesus Christ, then we are rebelling against God. And rebelling against God will send you to hell. That sounds scary! But, friend, sometimes the truth is scary! We find the Truth or the Gospel in the Bible! And if you think that we're not telling the Truth, then the devil is lying to you and, just so you know, the devil doesn't want anyone to know that they are not saved! The devil doesn't care if you're saved. He wants you to continue thinking there's no hope. He wants to continue blinding you to the Truth. He wants you weak so you won't do anything to stop him from ruining lives! He wants you to feel guilty for every little thing you have ever done. He'll say things like, "You are a nobody." He'll try to trick you into believing God forgot you. But he is a liar and a coward. Speak the truth and he runs away! I'm speaking the truth. Take a lesson from me. NOW is the time to listen to God, not later! Accept His gift to you! Click Here to Learn More! Learn More about Jesus as "God With Us"Come visit with us. You won't find any of us to be scary! You will find a loving and caring family and the Gospel here at New Birth Baptist Church! Bro. Mike Scammell satan's name was not capatalized, because, he doesn't deserve that kind of respect! |
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