Heaven's Hope For Humanity

Heaven's Hope for Humanity

Scripture Reference: Micah 6:6-8

Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on February 7, 2021

Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson (www.mountzionfamily.com)

Statement:

My personal relationship with the LORD will affect how I perceive Him. (Audience Say it Out Loud)

Scripture Text:

6 With what shall I come before the Lord,

And bow myself before the High God?

Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,

With calves a year old?

7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,

Ten thousand rivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

My Christian Walk

I’ve been a Christian for over 33 years. Like you, I’ve had setbacks along this Christian walk. I’ve got sidetracked a time or two. I’ve experienced a lack of faith on many occasions. By my own actions, I’ve taken myself out of the will of God more times than I even want to think about.

However, the greatest characteristic of our LORD Jesus Christ is this…He is full of grace and love.

Past Views of God

Early On - Once viewed Jesus as the Great God sitting up in Heaven keeping watch over us. He wanted to be worshipped, and demanded that we behave a certain way.

After a few years - The more my relationship grew, I began seeing God as a close friend. He wasn’t in Heaven. He was right by my side. He walked along side me, and helped me stay out of trouble.

The past 10 year - I’m at the progression now in my relationship, that I view God, not at a friend, or a distant being, but I perceive Him now as my Father. One who loves unconditionally. Not a demanding Father, but a desiring Father.

The more you grow in your relationship with Jesus, the more you’ll understand His desire and will for you.

Favorite Show:

By far my most favorite show on television has been the Andy Griffith show. I actually record the episodes when I’m not home, and when I am home, and nothing is on television worth watching, I’ll just sit back and watch old Andy and Barney. It’s sad that many in our younger generation don’t have a clue how many morals this show produced.

I was talking with one of our department employees a few weeks back, and the topic of the Andy Griffith Show came up. I had asked her to name the deputy in the show, and she had no clue what I was talking about. I even showed her a picture of him on my phone, but she had no clue who he was, but did recognize other pictures of him. I mean who doesn’t know Barney Fife? That’s almost ungodly.

Of all the episodes I enjoy, one is by far my favorite. In this episode, Gomer Pyle is fast asleep inside the Filling Station. As he sleeps, a small fire ignites in one the barrels with oil rags. Luckily, Andy shows up, puts out the small fire, and wakes up Gomer. Gomer realized what has happened, and make a pledge to serve Andy for the rest of his life. Andy became Gomer’s, “Life-Saver Man.”

Gomer got up at 4:00 AM to go fishing to bring Andy a mess of fish at breakfast. Gomer had washed the patrol car, and even offered to drive the Sheriff around so Andy could sit in the back and put his feet up. He cut Andy's grass, and almost drove Andy completely insane because Gomer could not stop thinking of ways to thank Andy for saving his life.

The Cross Saves Our Life

I’ve come to discover that until you know how and why Jesus died to save your life, you’ll never truly appreciate Him. Until you know the meaning of the cross, and the grace that was poured out there, you’ll never know who God really is. Until you appreciate the blood, you’ll never know the love of Jesus. He saved us on that cross. His blood washed our multitude of sins away. The empty tomb freed us from death. Jesus saved my life from the judgment of Hell, and wrote my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I’ve been given a second chance at life. Jesus saved my life. He’s my “Life-Saver Man.”

I’m going to be a Gomer. Be a Gomer for God. Look at you’re loved one and say, “Be a Gomer for God.”

The more you grow and develop in your relationship with Jesus, the more you’ll understand His will for you.