My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, please allow me to render a disclaimer before you read on. In this article and in any other article you may read in my blog I never discredit another race, culture or gender. In this article’s first paragraph, I will briefly mention words and or phrases such as “Black man” and “A black Perspective”. I am in no way a racist, bigot or a hater of any of God’s creation. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and serve the only wise God. Therefore if you are uncomfortable please continue to read on because it leads towards a place we’ve all visited in our lives no matter what race we represent. I represent the human race. What race do you represent? Amen.
This year (2009) marks the 20th year anniversary of an Emmy Award winning Variety talk show that aired late weeknights in Broadcast syndication and aired from January 2, 1989 to May 27, 1994. The name of that show was “The Arsenio Hall Show” and I surely loved and enjoyed that show. The show was created and hosted by black comedian/actor Arsenio Hall. As a Black man I was so excited to see another black man successfully create and host such a show. It was a type of “Tonight Show, with Johnny Carson” with a black perspective. Arsenio was able to speak of things that that was sort of hush, hush talk in African American and Hispanic homes.
A frequent gag in Arsenio's opening monologue suggested that he still lived in Cleveland, and drove himself to Los Angeles every day to host the show, despite it being an impossibility to traverse the 2300 mile trip. While on these alleged long drives, Arsenio would ponder certain thoughts, referring to them as "things that make you go hmmm..." This running gag inspired a 1990 C & C Music Factory song by that very title. "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..."
While on my long drives to the prisons where I preach monthly or to a church I’m scheduled to preach in, I would ponder certain thoughts of my experiences with fellow Christians over the years, referring to them as "things that make me go hmmm..."
One of the biggest things that make me go hmmm... is how we as Christians are so selective about God, His plans and His promises in our lives. We seem to indulge in a mental smorgageborg of promises selecting to believe God would only keep certain promises but not all of them.
“Hmmm...”
Now for those of you who are reading this today, and you are believers, I dare say it: I could probably not find one of you who would deny that you are going to heaven. If I asked you these following questions right this very moment:
“Do you believe in Jesus Christ?”
“Are you going to heaven?”
“How do you know you’re going to heaven?”
“Do you believe His Word?”
This year (2009) marks the 20th year anniversary of an Emmy Award winning Variety talk show that aired late weeknights in Broadcast syndication and aired from January 2, 1989 to May 27, 1994. The name of that show was “The Arsenio Hall Show” and I surely loved and enjoyed that show. The show was created and hosted by black comedian/actor Arsenio Hall. As a Black man I was so excited to see another black man successfully create and host such a show. It was a type of “Tonight Show, with Johnny Carson” with a black perspective. Arsenio was able to speak of things that that was sort of hush, hush talk in African American and Hispanic homes.
A frequent gag in Arsenio's opening monologue suggested that he still lived in Cleveland, and drove himself to Los Angeles every day to host the show, despite it being an impossibility to traverse the 2300 mile trip. While on these alleged long drives, Arsenio would ponder certain thoughts, referring to them as "things that make you go hmmm..." This running gag inspired a 1990 C & C Music Factory song by that very title. "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..."
While on my long drives to the prisons where I preach monthly or to a church I’m scheduled to preach in, I would ponder certain thoughts of my experiences with fellow Christians over the years, referring to them as "things that make me go hmmm..."
One of the biggest things that make me go hmmm... is how we as Christians are so selective about God, His plans and His promises in our lives. We seem to indulge in a mental smorgageborg of promises selecting to believe God would only keep certain promises but not all of them.
“Hmmm...”
Now for those of you who are reading this today, and you are believers, I dare say it: I could probably not find one of you who would deny that you are going to heaven. If I asked you these following questions right this very moment:
“Do you believe in Jesus Christ?”
“Are you going to heaven?”
“How do you know you’re going to heaven?”
“Do you believe His Word?”
How'd you do?
Now because you are so adamant, unwavering, inflexible, unbending, unyielding and immovable about going to heaven that truth could not be beaten out of you with a stick, the majority of the answers many of you would give would be as follow.
“Absolutely!, I believe in Christ”
“Yes, I’m going to heaven.”
“I know I am. God said so in His word.”
“Absolutely, the word says it’s true.
Sadly, for many of you who said, “I know I’m going to heaven. I’m a believer in Jesus Christ. I am going to heaven,” if I asked you, “Will God meet your needs?” Your answer may probably be “I hope so.”
“Hmmm...”
You have never seen heaven; you have never been there. You believe just based upon a statement from His word, based upon a promise He made, and you would not dare say anything else! What about God’s promise to meet your needs? If His promise to meet your needs is doubtful, maybe that promise of heaven is doubtful.
“Hmmm...”
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ let me tell you something. Neither one of them is doubtful, beloved. You ought to be just as adamant, unwavering, inflexible, unbending, unyielding and immovable about the promises for God meeting your need or saving your family or whatever it is as you are about saying that you are going to heaven. If God is good on one promise, He’s good on another promise.
Now because you are so adamant, unwavering, inflexible, unbending, unyielding and immovable about going to heaven that truth could not be beaten out of you with a stick, the majority of the answers many of you would give would be as follow.
“Absolutely!, I believe in Christ”
“Yes, I’m going to heaven.”
“I know I am. God said so in His word.”
“Absolutely, the word says it’s true.
Sadly, for many of you who said, “I know I’m going to heaven. I’m a believer in Jesus Christ. I am going to heaven,” if I asked you, “Will God meet your needs?” Your answer may probably be “I hope so.”
“Hmmm...”
You have never seen heaven; you have never been there. You believe just based upon a statement from His word, based upon a promise He made, and you would not dare say anything else! What about God’s promise to meet your needs? If His promise to meet your needs is doubtful, maybe that promise of heaven is doubtful.
“Hmmm...”
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ let me tell you something. Neither one of them is doubtful, beloved. You ought to be just as adamant, unwavering, inflexible, unbending, unyielding and immovable about the promises for God meeting your need or saving your family or whatever it is as you are about saying that you are going to heaven. If God is good on one promise, He’s good on another promise.
The Message Translation of Hebrews 6:9-12 (MSG) says it nicely, "I'm sure that won't happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you—salvation things! God doesn't miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you've shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them."
Some of you just need to hang in there. It does not always happen on our timetable, but God is faithful to keep His word, and He is greater than men. His promises can be trusted. He's never broken any and He promised He never will. Now that's what I call a sure thing.
