E-MAIL TO GOD
INTRODUCTION
Sometimes ago, I received a telegram from a minister in Oroville, California, inviting me to the dedication of his new church. Telegrams suggest three (3) things namely: Importance, attention and speedy reply. The Bible might be called a collection of telegrams from God, messages or love, mercy and grace from a loving heavenly Father
addressed to “whosoevers”. Some are addressed to certain individuals, some are addressed to those who have grown careless, some are instructions to workers, promises to the faithful but each encased in God’s love. Let us note first:
I. The telegram to those who have forgotten God
It is found in Amos 4:12. It is short and to the point. It was written by God and delivered by his prophet Amos to the nation Israel. It said,“Prepare to meet thy God!” What a solemn message this is! It is something that you can’t laugh off. You cannot play it by ear. It is serious business to meet the Almighty God and be unprepared. God
had blessed Israel so much that the heathen people said, “God has done great things for them”, but their prosperity had given them the
belief that they could get along without God. Consequently, they went along on their own and forgot God.
Luke 12:20 tells of a prosperous farmer who made the same mistake. One year his harvest was too great for his barns so he decided to build bigger barns. His future seemed so secure that he believed that he had
it made, but that very night God sent him a telegram that changed everything. God said, “Thou fool; this night thy soul shall be required
of thee, then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”
A burglar entered an office. His theft netted him $ 23.50. He left a note which read, “I am sorry that I robbed you. There is coming a day when I shall pay.” How true; for as Paul wrote to the Romans (14:12), “So then, everyone of us shall give an account of himself to God.”
There is an urgency about God’s telegrams. You may have silenced your conscience, turned a deaf ear to the pull of the Holy Spirit. You may be taking refugee in procrastination rather than outright denial. You only want a more convenient season. God’s telegram says, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” If you hear his voice, harden not your heart. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?
A mother explained to her little daughter concerning her daddy’s sudden death by saying that God had sent for him, and would someday send for them all, but there was no way of knowing when that would be. The little girl said, If God is going to send for us and we don’t know when, hadn’t we better get ready to go?”
Someday, a similar message will be sent to us, and shouldn’t we be ready?
II. There is better news in God’s telegrams to earnest seekers for his promises of forgiveness of sin
John 1:29 says, “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.” One night a young man entered a mission and said, “What must I do to be saved?” He was told, “You are too late.” He said,
“Please don’t tell me that. I want God’s forgiveness. I will go anywhere; I will do anything to get it.” The worker said, “It is too late
for you to do anything, for many years ago Jesus died for you sins, and forgiveness is the free gift to all who will accept it.” As Isaiah 53 tells us, Christ was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.” I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus says to every seeker, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
An old man once testified that it had taken him 40 years to learn three (3) simple things. First, that he couldn’t do anything to save himself; second, God didn’t expect him to, and third, Jesus had taken care of everything.
How easy it is for the sincere seeker to find God. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And ye shall seek me and find me when you shall search for me with your whole heart.”
III. There is a telegram to the Christian worker in Luke 19:13, “Occupy till I come”
While this scripture is taken from the parable of the pounds or talents, it it is also a special word to the servant of Christ. We are called upon to serve our Lord faithfully.
An old man had an excellent garden which was the envy of all who saw it. One of his neighbors said to him, “I hear that you asked the Lord to give you a good garden.” He said, “That’s right, but I
never pray for a good garden unless I have a hoe in my hand.” I say, ‘Lord, you send the sunshine and the rain, and I’ll chop the weeds.”
The Christian should not differentiate between things secular and things sacred. All Christian activity which we engage in should be regarded as unto the Lord, and all secular activity should be regarded as unto the Lord.
A young woman was thoroughly converted. She worked in a candy factory and was asked what difference her conversion had made in her work. The girl replied, “I used to make candy for my employer; now I make candy for God and my employer.” Work is glorified when we realize that we are laborers together, with God and for God.
God rewards faithfulness. He says, “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.” OCCUPY; keep everlastingly at it, until I come again. As God servants, we must be faithful in well-doing. We must do the very best that we can at all times and in all ways.
IV. God has a telegram for those who suffer for their faith
Esphesians 6:10 “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.” Strong in the Lord and not in ourselves, or our friends, but in Jesus who said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” He will meet our every need, and his grace will be sufficiently. The one who is all powerful, all knowing, ever-present is standing by to meet our need. Paul found it so. From II Corinthians 12:9-10, we read, “And the Lord said unto me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made
perfect in weakness.” Paul added, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me;
therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. From II Corinthians 11:25, we read of some of the things Paul endured for Christ’s sake. Five (5) times he received 39 lashes with the whip. Three (3) times he was beaten with rods. Once stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked 3 times, perils from his own countrymen, peril from non-Jews, perils in land and seas, hunger and thirst; yet through all these, God’s presence and grace sustained him.
The same source of grace is open to all of us. A little boy used to run to his mother every time he got hurt. She said, “Why do you always run to me when you usually get hurt by disobeying me?” With tears in
his eyes, he said, “Mother, who can I go to but you when I hurt?” She drew him close to her heart and said, “You can always come to me no matter what.” Then she thought, “Lord, to whom can I go but to you with my heartaches and troubles?” Our Lord says, “Come unto me!”
V. In Revelation 22:7, 12, 20 we find another telegram: “Behold, I come quickly.”
Three times this word of cheer is repeated by our Lord. He is our hope; we are not forgotten. If we have been faithful, we will find him
faithful.
A noted preacher was invited to preach at a church some distance from his home. He traveled by train and when he arrived at his destination there was no one there to meet him. A car finally arrived and the driver said, “Are you Reverend Brown?” He said that he was and the driver loaded his luggage and drove off, leaving Reverend Brown standing there. He was wondering what to do next when a much finer car arrived. “Rev. Brown, I believe”, said the driver? Brown said,
“Yes, but someone else just drive off with my luggage.” “Oh, that was my hired man. I sent him for your baggage but I’ve come for you myself?”
The Lord will personally come for his people. Let us be faithful until he comes.
CONCLUSION
Telegrams from the throne of God:
PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS
OF THE WORLD
OCCUPY UNTIL I COME
BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY
Telegrams encased in the Father’s love. To the promise of his coming, let us respond with John, “Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. We are
waiting for you.”
