Help Wanted

I Would Like To Share With You some thoughts about a “Help Wanted” ad. It has appeared regularly in a well-known book for a very long time in practically every country of the world. Men and women, married or single, young or old, have been urged year after year to undergo a course of training offered without charge to equip them for positions of great responsibility — certainly better than any position they now have.

A terrific opportunity

The educational standards required are not high, but the rewards offered have never been equaled.

Very few need to give up their present occupations or employment to gain the advantages offered, and yet surprisingly only a very small number show any interest. It’s hard to understand why more people don’t apply. But I suppose one of the conditions in the advertisement turns a lot of people off ­ it says ‘only those who plan to live forever need apply.’

Isn’t it amazing? Not everyone wants to live forever.

In drawing our attention to this ad, it’s not necessary for me to persuade you to answer it, because all of you have seen it and already applied. But why do others chose not to seek after the ad? Why do they choose not to live forever? And, what can we learn from those who do not answer the ad?

Power and wealth a poor choice

Here is one example; from Acts 26: Paul stood before King Agrippa, Festus and a notable company. They were both great and illustrious in the eyes of the world. In the midst of his discourse, Paul is interrupted by Festus who says:

‘Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.’ But he said ‘I am not mad most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom I also speak freely: For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him: for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.’ Then King Agrippa said unto Paul, ‘almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.’

We don’t read much about King Agrippa — but he was undoubtedly familiar with the writings of the prophets of Israel. Because of this, and because of Paul’s powerful and weighty speech, he was almost persuaded to become a Christian.

He was one of those who did not answer the ad. He was almost persuaded. Maybe he paused and counted the cost and found it too great a price to pay. To give up all that he had, position, wealth, prestige, power, he would have to become as a little child in humility, a servant of Christ. It was of his own free will that he chose not to serve Christ. He had a golden opportunity to change his earthly crown as King Agrippa for a far better “Crown of Life” that is soon to come. Sadly, King Agrippa and his crown have long since vanished into dust. He was almost persuaded.

Not far from the kingdom

Remember the case of the rich young man who came to Christ in Luke 18: “Good master what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus tells him some of the major commandments and the young man answers that he has not broken any of them. “But Jesus said, you lack one thing, sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and come follow me.” When the young man heard that, “He was very sorrowful because he was rich and had great possessions. And he went his way.” He, too, was almost persuaded.

Neither one of these individuals was far from the kingdom; they couldn’t quite bring themselves to give up the things that Christ required from them, so they passed into history and into oblivion in the grave. King Agrippa looked at his earthly crown and could not give it up. The young man also looked at his possessions. These were stumbling blocks to these men. Many others, even many raised in the truth, have turned the other away because they were only almost persuaded.

Can any of us relate with the way of the world? Are we fully persuaded in our life in Christ? Do we have tunnel vision for the things of the kingdom? Most of us have tasted the great things of the world, are we trying to hold onto both God and mammon?

The need to be fully devoted

Remember the lesson taught to us by Jesus in Revelation 3:15: I know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other. So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

What group are we in?

It’s a personal question of course, one which will be answered at the judgment. Perhaps we are mostly persuaded. We are nearly there, not far from the kingdom, and yet not our whole heart and soul is in it?

Remember Hebrews 11:13: These all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and embrace them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims in the earth. These brethren were fully persuaded because many gave up their lives for the truth. Paul says of Abraham, He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in the faith, giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able to perform.

What about us, brethren and sisters?

Being fully persuaded essential

In times of trouble, the truth will see us through! Because we are fully persuaded, we will turn to God for help. My parents used to have a little saying on their wall which said, “Real prayer does one of two things, it either frees us from the trouble we fear or else it gives us the strength and courage to meet the trouble when it comes.” In times of temptation we will receive the strength to overcome.

Being fully persuaded will keep us from idols, from serving the things that please the flesh instead of God. In times of grief and sorrow (and we all experience them) being fully persuaded helps us to see beyond our present problems, to the end.

We should acquire the habit of looking beyond the present, because the present isn’t really worth looking at. We need peace of mind (let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus) a calmness that comes to us in all situations, that comes from being fully persuaded.

What happens when we become fully persuaded? We will look at this present life in a new way. We will not sorrow because we are sacrificing the many desirable things this life has to offer, but as brethren we will see our whole life as an opportunity to serve God. The best gift we can offer God is to be able to stand before Him as a faithful and just servant.

Our gift to God

Paul says in Romans 12: “I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” There isn’t anything else we can present to God ­ not a thing — because at the day of judgment we will have nothing — no gifts, no goods, no treasures, no jewels – nothing but ourselves, our characters and our walk.

If we have really answered the scriptural “want ad,” brethren and sisters, and have truly accepted the training and work offered, a transformation will occur within us. We become persuaded that God offers far greater rewards than this world can offer. We will develop the confidence of Paul when he says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Let each and every one of us be fully persuaded of the things which we have believed! And let our actions reflect the hope which we share.