Election time has come again. Hand shaking, baby
kissing, and mud- slinging have been in full swing. I am always
glad when it's over. For just a moment, imagine if we had to run
for re-election to maintain our church membership. Did we do what
was required to make our calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10)?
All levels of our political system do a roll call
of officers and delegates and keep track of such. These records
can be used for or against one running for re-election. God does
His own record keeping (Philippians 1:8). How is our attendance
record regarding Lord's Day Bible study and worship (am &
pm), mid-week Bible study, Gospel meetings and lecture series,
etc.? Hebrews 10:24-25 lets us be quite certain that forsaking
the assembly of the saints shows inadequate love for God and Christ,
not to mention the brethren.
Would our financial records be an embarrassment
to us and to the church? Suppose your expense records were to
be made public. Did you purchase things that Christian people
never should (Alcohol/drugs, gambling, pornography, etc.)? Did
you waste the Lord's money on frivolous or riotous things (Lk.
15: 13) that could have been better used? Did you withhold funding
from where obvious needs were present? "Withhold not good
from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine
hand to do it." Proverbs 3:27. Are there expenses you cannot
account for because of unfaithful stewardship? (1 Cor. 4:1-2)
Suppose a public comparison were made between your annual income
and your annual offering to the Lord's church. Did you willingly
give as you prospered (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-8)?
How much time did we contribute (not counting
time at meeting)? How much time was spent in private study (2
Tim. 2:15), meditation (O how love I thy law! it is my meditation
all the day. Psalms 119), fasting and prayer (1 Cor. 7:5)? Did
we take time to visit the sick, elderly, and wayward members (James
1:27)? How much time was spent teaching others the gospel plan
of salvation?
How did we do in the field of public relations
and with our constituents (our brethren)? Romans 12:18 says, "If
it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all
men." Likewise, 14:19 says, "Let us therefore follow
after the things which make for peace and things wherewith one
may edify." Did we exhort (encourage) our brethren? "Remember
... them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the
body." Heb. 13:3. Did we show interest in others? Philippians
2:4 says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every
man also on the things of others." "Bear ye one another's
burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2.
How about our efforts in foreign relations (alien
sinners)? You know, Jesus went to the home of Zachaeus and taught.
Lk. 19:1-10. Paul taught publicly and from house to house. Acts
20:20. Aquila and Priscilla loved the truth and Apollos enough
to take him aside and teach him regarding his error. Acts 18:24-26.
Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew were on the job when Jesus
invited them to partake in a greater work. We must be like Jeremiah:
"But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up
in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not."
Jer. 20:9.
Did we display loyalty to our party (God, Christ,
the faith)? Did we proclaim Christ much in any way the same as
did Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4? Did we, like Phillip, open our
mouths regarding Christ? (Acts 8:35). Our brethren in the first
century ... [D]aily in the temple and in every house ceased not
to teach and preach Jesus Christ (Acts 5:42). And again, brother
Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 1:23, "But we preach Christ crucified,
unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness."
If we want to be of the elect in that better country
(Hebrews 11:16), we need to make our calling and election sure
now! (2 Pet. 1:10). -70 Gale Ave., Newport, OH 45768 (740) 473-2528.
jtakeith@aol.com