WILL I REACT WITH NO HEART? GO FIGURE? COMPASSION?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
DON’T WORRY, BUDDY?
A man went to the police department to report that his wife was missing.
The husband said to the officer: My wife is missing. She went shopping yesterday and has not come home.
The officer said: What is her height? The husband: Sir, I'm not sure, she is around five-feet tall, maybe?
Weight? The husband said: She never told me. I don't know. Not slim, not really fat.
The police man: Color of eyes? The Husband answered: I have never noticed.
Then the officer asked: What was the color of her hair?
The husband said: You never know, she changes the color a few times a year. Maybe it was dark brown?
Then the officer ask: What was she wearing? The husband: She could have been wearing a skirt or maybe shorts.
I don't remember exactly.
So what kind of car was she driving?
He answered: She was driving my new truck.--- Sir, what kind of truck was it?
Without hesitation he said: A Brand new 2018 Ford F150 King Cab Ranch model. It is a 4X4 with eco-boost 5.0L V8 engine special ordered with manual transmission. It has a custom matching white cover for the bed. Custom leather seats and “Bubba” floor mats. Trailering package with gold hitch. DVD with navigation, a 40-channel CB radio, six cup holders, and four power outlets. Added special alloy wheels and off-road Michelins tires. There is a small scratch on the driver’s door where my wife drove it.
At this point the husband started tearing up and crying.
The officer said: Sir, don't worry, buddy. We'll find your truck.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
WHAT WILYOUR LAST WORDS BE? YOUR LAST GIFT?
I worked as a Chaplain at a hospital several years. We had beepers back then. I was beeped to the emergency room. There had been a coal mining accident. There was water gathering in the mine shaft so the men dug out a hole for the water to flow. They hand drilled a small place to place the explosives. As the foreman was placing the explosives they accidentally went off. The foreman was lean over and the explosive went off unexpected. We followed the stand procedures and waited for the ambulance to bring our patient. It was very serious and there was no hope. The man’s wife was called to come to the hospital immediately. I was waiting at the door and escorted here into the prayer room. The wife was so upset. She explained to me that morning her and her husband had a terrible argument and she refused to cook breakfast or pack his lunch. In a few minutes the doctor came into the room and she knew her husband was deceased.
The doctor explained the injuries were was excessive there was nothing the staff could do. She explained to the doctor that he left the house and they were angry with each other and she said some mean things to him.
She went on to explain they had been very successful in life and she would give the doctor a large sum of gifts if he could bring her husband back for five minutes so she could talk to him. We knew his injuries were extensive and he could do nothing. She cried and cried. She demanded to see her husband to talk to him. The doctor recommended her not to see him. He left the room and asked me to pray and tell her don’t go in the room. She demanded she was going in with him if she had to force her way. The doctors and nurses worked a long time to prepare the man for his wife’s visit.
The rules were explained and we went into the room. It was terrible. She leaned over and said: “HONEY, I AM SO SORRY FOR HOW I ACTED THIS MORNING! I DID NOT MEAN WHAT I SAID, I WAS ANGRY AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE REFUSED TO COOK AND FIX YOUR LUNCH. I AM SORRY! I AM VERY SORRY! She turned to me and said: PASTOR, WARN PEOPLE THEY NEVER KNOW WHAT THE DAY MIGHT BRING. NEVER SPEAK IN ANGER. We turned to the little chapel and sat and prayed.
LAST WORDS:
My neighbor is in his mid-80’s, he has pastored over 60 years, his wife recently died after 61 years of marriage. He penned these words and with tears running down his face he gave this note to me…
What I tried to say was: Among the last words that Jean said to me were: "Thank you for loving me and thank you for taking care of me." She also said: I --- Love --- you. It was not a casual "I love you" Each word was distinct and the emphasis was on each word. " I" "Love" "You" Now that I reflect, I had mentioned this to you before stating that she knew she was dying. Then you confirmed my feelings when you told me what she said to you one day when I was outside the house on one of your visits. She wanted you to watch after me, or words to that effect. Thanks for being the wonderful neighbors and friends that you and Linda are to us and always have been such to our family.
Bro. XXXXXX
WE NEVER KNOW WHEN OUR END IS COMING… WE LIVE LIKE WE HAVE FOREVER. DO WE EVER THINK THIS COULD BE OUR LAST CONVERSATION OR OUR LAST GIFT?
My Mom was in intensive care in real serious conditions. Many friends were visiting throughout the day so the nurse help mom to get dress and up in bed. Between one of the visits Mom and I were alone and mom pulled something out of her bra. And she held it tight and then called me close. She had money in her hand. I think now (20 years later) it was $47. She said: Son this will be the last gift I have to give you and with tears in her eyes she put those little boney fingers out to me and she kissed me. I said: No mom, the kiss is all I need, you keep the money. I don’t need it.
Mom said: THE ISSUE IS NOT WHETHER YOU NEED THE MONEY OR NOT. Mom when on to say: I NEED TO GIVE THIS GIFT TO YOU. Tears were running down our faces and we hugged and kissed and I accepted her gift.
I carried that money in my briefcase for years. From time to time I would be having a bad day and I would get MOM’S GIFT out and hold it. I always planned on giving it to a missionary or someone in need. But somehow I could not part with MOM’S LAST GIFT. Sometimes when I was preaching I would MAKE THE POINT THHAT ONE OF THESE DAYS WOULD BE OUR LAST CHANCE TO GIVE OR DO SOMETHING. It made a powerful point.
I preached a funeral and I went to get MY MOMMA’S LAST GIFT OUT AND SOMEONE HAD TAKEN THE MONEY. My heart was absolutely broken. For a little while I tried to figure out who had had access to my briefcase. Then I just accepted it was gone. I WOULD NEVER AGAIN HOLD MY MOM’S LAST GIFT. That is ok.
ARE WE HABITUAL COMPLAINERS? WHAT DO WE DO IN A CRISIS? DO WE REACT TO PROBLEMS? DO WE ACT BY FAITH?
Numbers 21:4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
WHILE YOU ARE DISCOURAGED YOUR MOUTH SEEMS TO KICK IN GEAR?
Numbers 21:5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
GOD HAS A WAY OF GETTING OUR ATTENTION…
Numbers 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
WE MUST QUIT OUR NEGATIVE REACTIONS AND FIND THE POSITIVE PLAN OF GOD…BY FAITH MOSES HAD TO FIND THE PLAN…
Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
5,000 men, LET’S SAY 1 WOMAN FOR EACH MAN, AND ONE CHILD… JESUS WE HAVE A BIG, BIG PROBLEM…THE TIME WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING NOW… 15,000 HUGRY PEOPLE.
Mark 6:35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
REACT HARD HEART SEND THEM AWAY?
I think about DOROTHY’S JOURNEY…
1. THE LION NEEDED COURAGE... I know many worried, weary, nervous people and they make it…
2. THE SCARECROW NEEDED A BRAIN… I know even more people that never use their brain.
3. THE TIN MAN NEEDED A HEART… Father knows His people need a heart of love and compassion…How can we function without a heart?
MANY OF OUR PERSONAL AND FAMILY AND CHURCH PROBLEMS WE TRY TO “FIX IT” THE PROBLEM BY FLESHLY MEANS.
THIS IS A HARD HEARTED ANSWER…
Mark 6:36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
Many times our problems are much larger than the reach of our hands abilities to “fix it.”
HOW MANY LOAVES DO WE HAVE…??? 5 LOAVES? ORE LIKE 5 BISCUITS ANDTWO MINNOWS? THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE ODDS.
PHILIP TRIES TO FIGURE THE SOLUTION, A BIG MAC, FRIES AND DRINK IS $7.52…
Lets us say 15,000 and 12 people EQUALS $112,890.24 …
MAYBE A SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT ON SOME? LET’S CHECK WITH JUDAS ABOUT HOW MUCH IS IN OUR ACCOUNT?
John 6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Mark 6:38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
PHILIP WAS FROM BETHESDA --- PHILP KNEW THE AREA WELL… HE KNEW WHERE MCDONALD’S WAS, WENDY’S AND BURGER KING…
John 6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?.
JESUS IS SEEING WILL HIS BOYS CALUATE THE PROBLEM AND REACT TO THE PROBLEM OR WILL THEY ACT BY FAITH?
JESUS HAS COMPASSION…
REACT HARD HEART SEND THEM AWAY?
I think about DOROTHY’S JOURNEY…
1. THE LION NEEDED COURAGE... I know many worried, weary, nervous people and they make it…
2. THE SCARECROW NEEDED A BRAIN… I know even more people that never use their brain.
3. THE TIN MAN NEEDED A HEART… Father knows His people need a heart of love and compassion…How can we function without a heart?
JESUS, SORRY WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH?
John 6:6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
ANDREW HAS THE ACTING FAITH SOLUTION THEN
John 6:8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
ANDREW HAS ENOUGH FAITH TO SEE A SOLUTION, BUT I WILL BE DOG GONE IF HE SEES THE MAJOR PROBLEM AND LOSSES SIGHT OF THE SOLUTION.
Is our problem bigger than us? IS IT BIGGER THAN GOD?
JESUS DOES NOT REACT TO BY THE HARD HEARTEDNESS OR MY THE ONES THAT CAN SEE THERE IS NO SOLUTION BY HUMAN MEANS… JESUS HAD COMPASSION AND FEEDS ALL AND HAS LEFTOVERS…
JESUS HAS COMPASSION…
COMPATI: to suffer with… COMPASSION CHANGES THE WAY YOU THINK…
COMPASSION: TO BE PUNCHED IN THE STOMACH…
Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Mark 6:36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
CONCLUSION: WE MUST REFUSED HARD HEARTED, APATHY, I DON’T CARE, CALLOUSED MINISTER. We must refuse to calculate and analyze the problems and seek for human solutions … we must BE MOVED IN COMPASSION AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS…
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
We need more than closed eyes or open hands, we need a heart moved by compassion that touches the very heart of Jesus for those in need. You can do this, quit reacting to problems and act by faith.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me pass it on…
