Echoes From the Campfire

Get people spoiled to luxury and pretty soon it’s not a luxury anymore, it’s a necessity.”
             –Elmer Kelton  (The Good Old Boys)

    “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or elseI am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place–unless you repent.”
             –Revelation 2:5 (NASB)
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There is one topic that I rarely hear preached from the pulpit anymore, yet it is vital to the growth of the church and of the Christian.  People are quoting and claiming 2 Chronicles 7:14, but are not fulfilling the obligations presented in the verse.  REPENTANCE!  It is a vital doctrine, but is not presented.  Repentance means that we have sinned; repentance means that man has a sin nature, both of which are not viewed in a good light by people today.
    For God to heal our land there must be humbleness and repentance.  Repentance means that we will do our best not to sin again, not to offend anymore.  What is it that causes a person/you to offend?  I came across the following when reading last week and thought I would share it.  It is a piece by F.B. Meyer dealing with the cause of sin and what we should do about it.

         “Is it a friendship?  Then he will cut the tender cord, though it were a thread of his life.
          Is it an amusement?  The he will forever absent himself from that place, those scenes, and that companionship.
          Is it a profitable means of making money?  Then he will rather live on a crust than follow it a moment longer.
          Is it a study, a pursuit, a book?  Then he will rather lose hand or foot or eye than miss the favor of God, which is life.
          Is it something that the church permits?  Nevertheless, to him if it be sin, he will discard it.
          If you cannot walk on ice without slipping or falling, it is better not to go on at all.  If you cannot digest certain food, it is better not to put it into the mouth.”

    People are afraid, yet they refuse to repent.  They refuse to humble themselves before the Lord and recognize they are not where they belong in the eyes of the Lord.  I have seen pictures of people along streets and byways praying.  Good, that is a first step.  On to repentance–a changing of ways, a changing of lifestyles.  People must get back to the Bible, and recognize the holiness of Almighty God.