Monday, April 18, 2016
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As our family was growing up and we were driving somewhere for vacation, my travel philosophy was very simple and very male. The purpose of the trip is to get there! Why waste unnecessary time getting there, right? So we would drive along some long stretches and we'd have gas, rest, and food stops down to a well timed drill. We called it "the drill". But, during the busy vacation seasons there was a down side to this and it came at the end of when your body's saying, "Put me down, now!" See, since I didn't know exactly how far we'd be able to make it, I couldn't make a motel reservation. So, I got off where there were some choices of reasonable motels and I drove in hoping I could be horizontal within say fifteen minutes. "No chance." I hate words like these. "Sorry, we're full." Or those dreaded words, "No Vacancy." Or the slightly more comforting sign, "Sorry." They all mean the same thing – no room, I'm not getting in.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The 'No Vacancy' Tragedy."
You know it's hard to be continually greeted with the answer, "Sorry, No Vacancy." Jesus knows that feeling. He's been knocking at the door of many hearts who've constantly told Him, "Not today," "Not tonight," "Sorry." Maybe you've sensed at various times Jesus tugging at your heart, offering you another chance to invite Him in. He's come to the door many times, but He's still outside isn't He. It isn't that you openly rejected Him; it's more like you've neglected Him. You've told Him, "Not yet" or "Maybe later, I'm not ready." Or maybe you haven't told Him anything. It's dangerous business to hang out a "Sorry, No Vacancy" sign when the One seeking to come in is the very Son of God.
Listen to our word for today from the Word of God. Words addressed to people who heard His voice but didn't respond. Proverbs 1:23, "If you had responded to my rebuke," God says, "I would have poured out my heart to you. ...But since you rejected me when I called...since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster when distress and trouble overwhelm you. ...Then they will call to Me but I will not answer; they will look for Me but will not find Me.'" These are hard words to read but we've got to know they're there. God's poured out the life of His Son, Jesus, on a cross to cancel the death penalty for your sin and then your Creator has reached out to you. He's offering that love to you that none of us deserves.
Jesus says He knocks at the door and if you continue to ignore Him or reject Him, there comes a day when He stops knocking. You don't come to Jesus when you're ready; you come when He's ready. Jesus said, "No one comes to Me unless My Father draws him." So, if you feel yourself drawn to Jesus right now, it means He's ready and you can still let Him in, but He won't be ready forever. That's why the Bible says, "Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near." If He's near right now, please don't wait anymore to put your trust in Him. Open your heart to this One who loved you enough to die for you.
Don't you want to make today your day to begin that life-changing relationship with your Creator? Well, tell Him that right now. He's loved you enough to come back one more time, knocking at the door of your heart. This is not another time to say, "Sorry, no vacancy." Make room for Jesus. "Jesus, I'm yours" you could tell Him. I believe when you died on that cross it was for what I have done that has broken your laws, all the wrong doing of my life. You're my only hope of heaven, and I am yours."
Look, go to our website. Right there I have laid out as simply as I can how you can be sure you've established and begun your relationship with Him. ANewStory.com. Can you remember that?
It's time for you to finally reach for that door. Open it and welcome into your life the One who loves you more than anyone else.