January 2010

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The Parable of the Fish Pond

A while back I was studying Jesus’ parable of the dragnet found in Matthew 13: 47 – 50.

47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; 48and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49“So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, 50and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

My thoughts immediately began to go back to my “growing up” days on a farm where we raised catfish.  As I thought about what Jesus’ was saying, God began to formulate the following story in my mind.  I hope it will motivate all of us to be more aware that time is drawing near when those who are Christ-followers will be separated from those who are not followers of Christ.  We need to try to bring them into the kingdom of God before it is too late!

The Parable of the Fish Pond

Life was really great in the pond.  The water was deep and wide.  The fish had freedom to swim and explore the limits of the pond to their heart’s content.  They had learned all about the pond.  They knew every inch of it, but no one really knew what lay beyond the surface or past the water’s edge.  Sometimes they even speculated about the unknown beyond the surface. Continue reading The Parable of the Fish Pond

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Overtaking

About a year ago I noticed a place on my  back where my skin color was different from the color of the rest of my skin.  The spot was small so I didn’t think much about it.  As time went on the spot began to get larger.  Eventually the spot came to be about the size of my hand.  It wasn’t noticable except when I would get hot or get out of the shower.  Therefore, I began to think this spot was a heat rash or something to that effect.  A few months after noticing this spot, I noticed that after I would shower my neck and chest were splotchy.   Once again, I shrugged this off as a heat rash and didn’t think much about it.  It did not take long for these spots to begin to overtake my upper torso.  Finally, I decided to see a dermatologist about these spots that were overtaking my body.  Upon meeting with the doctor, he determined it was a fungus I caught in the summer air.  He prescribed me 4 pills and some cream and the fungus was completely gone within one week.

Sin affects our life in the same manner the fungus affected my skin.  It enters in very subtle and begins to grow.  If sin goes undiagnosed, it can overtake your life in a short matter of time!  It begins to wrap itself all throughout your life until you are completely covered with sin to the point that you see nothing else.  Once sin enters in it only wants to stick around.  Remember, sin will ALWAYS take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you’re willing to stay, and cost you more than you’re willing to pay.  There is only one way to get rid of the sin that covers our life.  The cure is through the blood of Jesus.  By Him dying on the cross for our sin, His blood covers us if we accept His grace! 

Romans 6:22-23 (New International Version)

22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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