Heavy, Deep & Real ministries

Every Tuesday night I preach at a United Gospel Mission (UGM) mens transitional housing unit where there are about 40 guys who have been released from prison within the past two years. I’ve been doing this for about eight years now and it’s a really interesting group to work with.

About a third to half are believers – guys who either were in the faith before their fall and doing their time or guys that found the Lord in prison through a variety of ministries. The other half to two-thirds range from agnostic to atheist. As part of the requirements for living in this housing situation, the residents have to attend a devotional each Tuesday night – mandatory fun with Tom!

Last night I was there preaching about how we think about God. My primer was a quote from A.W. Tozer in his book Knowledge of the Holy where he writes this:

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

As I was going through a variety of thoughts people can have about God, one of the guys I’ve not really seen before had questions and comments. Specifically, he disagreed with my presentation of the world vs eternity. I had said that if you didn’t believe in God or eternity there is no hope in your life and that this world really has no meaning, no legacy, or anything of value. What is the purpose of your life if you live, you die, and the lights just go out? Nothing.

I actually liked his argument – he said that even though he didn’t really believe in heaven that his purpose was to serve others using the gifts God had given him. I agree with him! In fact, I was impressed that he knew some scriptures which he quoted. But it was clear that he wasn’t really a beleiver. In fact, he was shocked by my presentation – he said he’d never heard a pastor say the things I did because it wouldn’t draw people to Jesus. I explained that I wasn’t there to evangelize – I was there to disciple. Two very different jobs with two very different approaches.

As you can imagine, his comments had me thinking all night which is why I believe it is important to share my thoughts about the world, eternity, and what scripture says about all this! Hopefully this will help others who struggle with trying to find purpose in this fallen world.

Scripture is clear about the condition of the world and our own condition as human beings.

• All of creation fell when Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3)
• Because of the fall, Satan is the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4; Jon 12:31; Ephesians 2:2)
• We all fall short of the glory of God and not one of us is righteous (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10)
• Friendship with the world makes us an enemy of God (James 4:4-8)
• If you love the world the Father is not in you (1 John 2:15-17)
• For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. (1 John 2:16)
• Do not conform to the world (Romans 12:2)
• The world will give you tribulations (John 16:33)
• Keep your eyes on heavenly things and store your treasure there not in the world (Matthew 6:19-21)

There’s more but you get the point: The world we live in is fallen; Satan – the “prince of the air” and “god of this world” – has domain for a time while God is still sovereign on His throne. As fallen people we gravitate toward Satanic desires that Satan has created in this world. As “new creations in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17) we are to strive every moment of every day to be like Jesus even as our spirit and flesh battle (Galations 5:17). Without the Jesus and the Holy Spirit we can do nothing (John 15:4-5)

This is the foundation of my comments that the world sucks and a life without Jesus is worthless and wasted. God made man to do two things: Glorify God through our thoughts, words, and actions, and to share Jesus with everyone we meet so that they can be saved by their faith through the Grace of God.

I actually think I know what set the guy off last night. Like a lot of people, I think the guy believes that if you’re a good person that’s enough. I wish I would have addressed this last night but I’ll do it next Tuesday. In short – good people don’t go to heaven; saved people go to heaven. There are no “good” people because if we were good instead of sinners we wouldn’t need a savior!

One of the hardest hurdles to get over when preaching to a mixed group is the foundational piece of our faith that says we need to be saved! Saved from what? Saved from our fallen state which is in rebellion against God making us enemies of God! (Romans 5:10). Jesus came to reconcile His people with God. (Matthew 15:23). Of course the larger plan was to send Paul out into the gentile world to “graft” them in to the faith (Romans 11:17). But the key to salvation is this:

• Admit you’re a sinner and fall short of the glory of God, rebelling against Him as an enemy.
• Ask for forgiveness for your past actions, accepting responsibility and accountability for them.
• Admit you need a savior because there is nothing you can do in your own power to reconcile with God.
• Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior – the one the Father sent because He loves His creation so much that Jesus reconciles us to the Father through His blood sacrifice, death and resurrection!
• Become a new creation in Christ – the old is gone the new has come!
• Be indwelt by the Holy Spirit so you begin transform and see things through God’s eyes not your own.
• Continually grow in Christ through transformation of your mind!

It’s the first bullet that gets people! Admitting that you are not a good person and that there is nothing good in you is a very hard thing to do! (Romans 7:18-19) For the guys I talk with every Tuesday night, all of them are really working hard to change their ways and follow a new path. I admire their dedication and self-discipline to get their lives back in order! But just being “good” – following societal rules and nicities – doesn’t get you to salvation even if it’s a major change in your life.

The guy last night and I were talking past each other a bit. I was talking about eternal life in Jesus while I believe he was talking about worldly life and that being a “good” person was enough for him. As you can see from what I’ve said so far this is an obvious clash of ideas. While he believes that helping others and doing the right thing is the key to his new life, I believe that the key to his life is accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior so that he is serving people here for the Glory of God and that his eternity is set!

I’m looking forward to next Tuesday when I get to follow up on all this. I want to clarify some things such as the difference between evangelism and discipleship, as well as how faith and works function in this wordly setting.

Do me a favor as I close – pray that God gives me wisdom to handle this the proper way in truth and grace. I tend to get a bit intense in these discussions which is a character flaw on my part. Also pray for the guys at the house that the Holy Spirit wil rest on each of them and teach them the ways of the Lord!

Be blessed today my friends!