Your Next Step: A New Thing

YOUR NEXT STEP, A NEW THING

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (I do this lesson in 3 parts… I like series.)

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT YOUR NEXT STEP? WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF A NEW THING.

There was a song of yesteryear called “THE NEXT STEP” The words were powerful. (Unknown)

WHY WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, WHY WORRY IF YOUR STEPS ARE SLOW?

IF YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN SPENT FOR JESUS YOU DON’T HAVE MUCH FARTHER TO GO.

CHORUS: FOR THE NEXT HAND YOU SHAKE MAY BE THE HAND OF THE SAVIOR.

THE NEXT STEP YOU TAKE COULD BE ON STREETS OF PUREST GOLD;

AND YOUR NEXT MEAL COULD BE THE MARRIAGE SUPPER (OF THE LAMB)

AND THE NEXT TOUCH YOU FEEL, HE COULD BE BLESSING YOUR SOUL.

BE STRONG AND KEEP ON GOING, DON’T BE ANGRY WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.

DON’T GIVE UP, FOR IT IS ALMOST OVER, ALL THE SIGNS ARE POINTING TOWARD HOME.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT: ONE DAY WILL BE YOUR LAST DAY, THE LAST STEP?

If life only had that two minute warning that a football game has? Have you ever thought about your next step? How about your last mile of the way? Have you ever thought about what will be the last gift you will give? Have you ever thought about the last word you will say? Years ago before all the “MERCY MEDICINE” many last words were known. There is a little book called “VOICES FROM THE EDGE OF ETERNITY” that records the last words of people. It is an interesting read. What did Christians say? What did atheist say? The real question is WHAT WILL YOUR LAST WORDS BE? Many times I have sat by the bed of a dying person and listened as they talked.

THE NEXT STEP COULD BE WITH MANY REGRETS? OR A NEW THING COULD BE FORGIVENESS.

I AM TOLD EVERY PERSON CARRIES TWO HEAVY BAGS WITH THEM. One bag is carried in front, the other bag is carried on their back. But bags carry the same luggage, the HUMAN FAULTS, FAILURES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS. The bag in front carries the faults of your friends and neighbors. The bag on your back carries your own personal problems and faults. Seems it is so much easier to focus on the faults and disappointments of others than to see your own…

LISTEN TO MY HEART. I WAS SITTING WITH A FELLOW PREACHER that I loved. He had pastored several decades. In great hurt the pastor left the ministry and found a secular job. Now years later the man was dying and I spent hours with him. He was placed in the hospital and was facing exploratory surgery the next day. The doctor came in and explained the man had a few days, probably hours to live. When he left we started talking. He had been a very successful pastor. But his last church he was faced with a crushing blow and he decided to leave the ministry.

The dying man would never discuss what happened. Now that he knew he was dying he talked to me about doing his funeral. There was a long time of silence. Then he told me of a woman in the church that had absolutely crushed him. He told me he was not totally innocent, he allowed that lady to birth a spirit of bitterness and hurt in his heart. This bitterness grew until he could no longer stand behind the sacred desk. So he threw up his hands in disgust and left the ministry. He wished he could go back and he would have had compassion and worked out the problem.

As he was finishing his regrets we heard a commotion in the hall. The nurses were pushing in a new patient in the next room. You would never believe what God was doing. IT WAS THE LADY THAT HAD HURT AND CRUSHED THE OLD PREACHER. I stepped out in the hall and talked with the daughter. The lady from the church was dying. Her heart was in terrible shape. They did not think she would live through the night. We had a prayer together. I went back in the old preacher’s room and we talked. I told him how serious the lady was. Visitation was over and we all had to leave.

The preacher was praying as I left. The next morning I returned to spend time with my dear friend. The lady was gone into emergency heart surgery. My preacher friend and I prayed for her. He explained to me that during the night he stepped into her bay and talked to her. He said: I ASKED HER FORGIVE ME FOR ALL I HAD DONE AND SAID YEARS AGO. HE SAID MANY THINGS I HANDLED WRONG. HE TOLD HER I HAVE ASKED JESUS TO FORGIVE ME AND NOW I BEG YOU TO FORGIVE ME. He said he was crying like a baby. He said she was crying…