Good, Better, Best

Even though there is some division in Christianity, we all need to be thankful if we have been raised in any church that preached and presented the Lord Jesus Christ.

ILL.- My own background is Southern Baptist. I remember my mother, Juanita Shepherd, being baptized in the First Baptist Church of Webb City, MO, which is next door to Joplin, MO. Mom took us kids to Sunday School and church. We also attended some youth meetings at night and nearly every Vacation Bible School. I loved Sunday School and VBS. Naturally, they were geared for young people and that’s where we learned the most.

Admittedly, I didn’t care much for church because I thought it was boring and the preaching was boring. The services were dry and I was always sleepy. But I am so thankful for being raised in a church that preached Jesus Christ. Had I never heard about Him I might never have eventually accepted Him into my life. Thank you, Lord!

Some of you should be even more thankful if you were raised in a Christian home and came to accept Christ at an early age and have lived the Christian life all your life. Thank God for your home life. Thank God for your godly parents and Godly heritage!

ILL.- It’s like what Brother Bill Griffin said to me the other day after Elmer Schilly’s memorial service. Bill said that he had a grandfather who was a Christian Church preacher. Thank God for that heritage that Bill has! No doubt, it had a very positive influence on Bill and his family.

1- The good life – born and raised in America

2- The better life – born again and raised in the church

III. THE BEST LIFE

Buried and rejoicing in heaven

ILL.- An 85-year-old couple, having been married almost 60 years, died in a car crash. They had been in good health the last ten years mainly due to her interest in health food, and exercise.

When they reached the pearly gates, St. Peter took them to their mansion, which was decked out with a beautiful kitchen and master bath suite and Jacuzzi. As they "oohed and aahed" the old man asked Peter how much all this was going to cost. "It’s free," Peter replied, "this is Heaven."

Next they went out back to survey the championship golf course that the home backed up to. They would have golfing privileges everyday and each week the course changed to a new one representing the great golf courses on earth. The old man asked, "What are the green fees?" Peter’s reply, "This is heaven, you play for free."

Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch with the cuisines of the world laid out. "How much to eat?" asked the old man. "Don’t you understand yet? This is heaven, it is free!" Peter replied with some exasperation. "Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol tables?" the old man asked timidly. Peter lectured, "That’s the best part...you can eat as much as you like of whatever you like and you never get fat and you never get sick. This is Heaven."

With that the old man went into a fit of anger, throwing down his hat and stomping on it, shrieking wildly. Peter and his wife both tried to calm him down, asking him what was wrong. The old man looked at his wife and said, "This is all your fault! If it weren’t for your blasted bran muffins, I could have been here ten years ago!"