NOW THAT'S GOD

by Ronnie Mutina

I just recently received an email forward entitle, "Now That's God." It was about a little boy whose family and town was going through a severe drought. The mom caught the little boy running back and forth to a little fawn letting it drink water from his hands. A very precious and dear friend of Becky's and mine sent it to us. We met Nita and Randy in their home town and church of Greenwood, Arkansas. We don't get to talk much, but they really reached out to Becky and I, and we even thought we had a chance to be that churches' pastor, but obviously God has other plans. But, as I read that email I was thinking about how God places people in our lives for a reason. As the email that was sent to me said, there is no such thing as coincidence. There is a purpose for everything. Even Solomon said, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" This verse is in Ecclesiastes 3:1.

In the past year, I have often wondered why I haven't been able to do some of the things I really wanted to. And as Becky says, "I know this statement sounds like a cliche, but it's the truth." God has a purpose for us all! The writer of Hebrews, which this writer considers to be Paul, wrote in Hebrews 13:2, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Now, understand this, Nita and Randy did not entertain angels when we went to their house. Well, they may have entertained one in my wife, but I'm no angel at all. However, the things that happened with our two families happened for a purpose. God showed me and Becky that He uses people to minister to each other. Granted He has used Nita and Randy in both of our lives.

You may ask, where are you going with this? There are times when God tries to reach us when we think we are totally alone. God, for a short period of time, allowed me to see a family, and church family, that love Him. He used them, because they allowed Him to, to minister to Becky and me. He allowed me to see what wonderful people He has at Greenwood, and what it was like to preach to a loving church family again. I was reading some scripture in my Bible study last night about the seed, which is sown by us. In that passage, I ran across a scripture that really stuck with me and was one my mind this morning. In Luke 8:16, Jesus said, "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light."

There are several scriptures in the gospels that talk about the light, but this one kind of got me to thinking about people who let their light shine. Granted, the Light, which is mentioned in God's Word is Jesus Christ. HE is the LIGHT of the world. We as HIS children have decisions to make. We either allow HIM to shine in our lives or we hide HIM. In Matthew 5:14 16, we find scripture where Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven." Yes, I got this email this morning from our friends in Greenwood, Arkansas, and immediately God showed me some things. Through HIS word and some dear friends, He showed me how to allow God to be seen even when I'm down and out. There are three things we need not forget.

WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Granted I don't feel like I allow God to be seen in me the way I'm supposed too. However, we need to understand that we can be ministers to each other by allowing God to be seen through us. I had the opportunity to work with an administrative assistant from my office in Marshall. She, as all office personnel, has been told that she had to ride with all of the technicians at least once this month. We have had differences of opinions, to say the least, but I found out she has problems I never knew about. I may have had this attitude about how I was going to endure working with her, but I found out things that has changed my mine about some things about her. In this event, I was shown that I'm no better than anyone else. I'm just saved by the precious grace of Jesus Christ. I chose to allow HIM to be seen, and I received a blessing. Even with my attitude, Christ kept me straight.

When people see us, as saved people, they either see Christ or they see us. Which one do we choose to show? I know that I don't always show the light I'm supposed to, but what am I to do with that knowledge? I'm in control of that, and I have the power to change. I just pray that she saw Christ in me.

WE SHOULD NOT HIDE OUR LIGHT

I've made the comment before and I'll say it again. The only thing we are in control of is our testimony. What we say and do can and will be held against us. People who are lost will use us as an excuse. People who are saved will hold grudges; even though they are not supposed too. People will judge us for what we stand for. No, I didn't forget! Ultimately we will stand before our KING and answer for our failures to let HIM be seen through us.

We need to realize that we may very well be entertaining angels even when we think we are around ordinary people. We have a purpose on this earth! We are to minister to one another and seek out the lost so we can show them to Christ. It's a tough job to put self aside, but you know, we can do it. Remember, IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM.

ALLOW YOUR LIFE TO HONOR AND GLORIFY GOD

God will ultimately be glorified by your life anyway. Think about it. If you go against HIS Word, and what HE has commanded us to do and you're totally disobedient and HE see that you are rebelling, then others will see the discipline HE uses on you, to bring honor and glory to HIMSELF. However, if you are willing to following HIM and allow HIM to been seen through you, by being obedient and doing what HE has commanded you to do, then not only do you honor and glorify HIM willingly, but you also receive the blessings of it. Doesn't that sound much better? We need to remember HE created us for HIS pleasure.

Granted, I've met a lot of people who have been a blessing to me in one way or another and, as Randy and Nita allowed God to use them in our lives they did too. Who knows, God may allow us to live closer to them one day. However, if I'm not allowed to do that, HE has shown me two people that were willing to allow HIM to use them to be a blessing to at least two people. They weren't entertaining angels, but in my mind, they were acting like they were.

I thank God for Godly people who seek HIS will in their lives. Granted they may not always make the right decisions, and they will definitely fall on their face, but they still depend on God to help them find their way. May we all depend on God in everything we do and may we always be faithful to allow our lights to shine. In closing, I am reminded of what Becky told me this morning; she heard a DJ say this on a Christian radio station and passed it on to me. He said, "We may not know what God wants us to do, but we just need to stay faithful." Being faithful allows HIS light to shine through us.

May we always be faithful in allowing HIM to shine through us. Amen