Slow Computers And Waiting Series

Friends you don’t need to take an oath to let someone tell the truth. Instead, why don’t you do like James says, let your yes be yes and your no be no? Are you a person of your word? When you tell someone you will do something can they believe you? Or are they asking, do you really mean it? I have a friend I feel like telling her, “No you won’t” when she says she will do something. Why? Because she is not a person of her word. You don’t need to go around saying oaths like I swear to God. Just let your yes be yes and your no be no. Your word should be just as trustworthy as a signed document.

Did any of you see the movie Birdman of Alcatraz? Burt Lancaster played Robert Stroud who was sentenced to prison for murder. He is a troublemaker in prison and is sentenced to Alcatraz, a maximum security prison in San Francisco Bay. It is an island and it is almost impossible to escape because you have to swim over a mile to shore and there are strong water currents.

In Alcatraz he takes a bird for a pet, and helped the bird when it got sick. He became an authority on birds. When there was a prison riot, he convinced the warden that it was OK to put their guns down. The warden asked him, “How do I know that?” Stroud’s response was, “Because I give you my word.” The warden told the guards they could put their guns away. One of the guards asked the warden, “Are you going to believe a prisoner.” The warden’s response was, “I have known Robert Stroud for 30 years. He has been a thorn in my side. But he has never lied to me.”

Are you this kind of person? Can others take you at your word?

Do you get an urgent sense that Jesus could return at any minute from reading this book, and that you need to live like He could return at any minute? Or if you’re like me, you might think, no there’s still time. I know there are still some things I would like to see happen in my life before I die or before the Lord returns.

Last week I shared with you about my seminary professor Dr Harold Hoehner who died at 74? It was unexpected. He had come home from running, collapsed in his home and he never woke up. We often don’t think about this.

I remember 30 years ago when I went to Denton Bible Church and the pastor was preaching through the book of Revelation. One of the things I still remember being taught as a young Christian is that Christ is returning and we need to live like He is returning today. Do you want to be the kind of person James is talking about? Be patient…in circumstances and with others. Don’t complain. Always mean what you say. Then however long you have to live, you are always ready for the Lord’s return. Let’s pray.