Hitting the Nail on the Head

Back in 1993 on my second CoMissioin trip to the former Soviet Union (this second trip was spent primarily in Keiv the capital of Ukraine), I had the opportunity to preach at a local church. A group of believers who had attended one of my workshops, asked me to come and shed light from the Scriptures on a problem within their local assembly. After getting permission from my team leader (there were about 70 North Americans on that particular team), off we went. The gathering numbered, if I recall correctly, about 50 - 60 people. I spoke about 30 minutes (so with the translation it went about an hour) to the issue. As I was leaving, I asked the group that had invited me for their assessment of the evening. They enthusiastically said, "We have a saying in our country, 'You did not hit the eyebrow .... you hit the eyeball!'"  Which I took as saying, "You hit the nail on the head!"  I walked away gratified that God used my meager efforts to meet a pressing need in a church in Keiv, Ukraine!

I tell you this story because yesterday I read a quote from that great London preacher of the 1800's, C. H. Spurgeon. His words did not hit my eyebrow ... nor did it merely stop with my eyeball - it struck a chord deep within my heart! Here is what he wrote:

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

Ouch! But thanks, C.H., for these words of admonishment. May we read and respond!

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj