Where is everyone?

I have been thinking lately about that old rhyme we said when we were kids. Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and here are the people. Are the people really in there or are they just there physically? Everyone has heard the phrase "the light is on but no one is home". I once was one of those people. I also wonder why it is that when we go to our favorite football game or sporting event that when something good happens everyone rises to their feet yelling, raising their hands, giving high fives to each other. When something bad happens like a foul of some kind we take offense to it like it was personal.

Where are the people at to celebrate the birth of our King? Where are all the people to stand up and cheer knowing that our Father is there for us when we are having a bad day, week, or year? I don't know about you but when I hear someone preaching about Him or when my favorite praise song is being sang, I want someone to say that is awesome or raise their hands with me and root for our team. When someone mocks our Lord our says anything negative, I want to stand up with disbelief and take it personal (I think God wants us to also).

I have had the opportunity to see people come to Christ and get baptised. Did we cheer as if our team mate scored the winning touch down? No. Most of us sat there, maybe we clapped, maybe got an amen, but that was about it. Even though they did score the winning touch down they won the game, they scored the goal for themselves. We are the fans to root for them and give them high fives!

I think its time to stand up for the team. What team are you on? The winning team pumps each other up and celebrates with each other when they do something good. Getting saved and being baptized is something that I want to encourage. We need to be there for them, have their backs when they do not understand why things are happening to them. We need to be there when things are bad, when things are hard. That is how we get to be there when things are good.

Very seldom do we get the opportunity to do something in life that really counts. I 'm not talking about getting that job, or house, or that statis. I am talking about making a difference in lives. Lives that can be changed for ever. If we stand up for those who just scored the big one and congratulate them and let them know how proud we are to have them on our team, then maybe we can also be in the game called salvation. Do not get me wrong, I do not think its a game at all but so many people do. They only want to play if they are in the spotlight. Those are the ones that do not understand being washed in the Holy Spirit. They think that since they came down front and asked the coach (God) if they could come and get in the game, that they are playing. The truth is they are on the side lines watching, until its time to score then they rush in and try to score but get pushed back because of lack of experience. I know because I have been there.

People, it's time to get real and take the responsibility that we receive when Christ comes into our lives. You might be asking who gave me the right to call you out? In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said "All the authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Jesus). Therefore go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age".

Surely after you read this you can see what I am talking about. We need to go out there and put ourselves on the line and seek God's will and what He has COMMANDED each one of us to do.

It's time to go to battle for those who are new in their spiritual walk and for the ones that have grown tired and are hurting. We need to stand up for them.

More to come on this subject...