“And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.” (Mark 9:20-21 NASB)
The purpose of today’s meditation is to equip you with a response to someone who you reach out to that uses “It’s been a long time” as an excuse for not coming to or coming back to the church.
For you see even if it has been a long time since a person has darkened the doors of the church as they entered the sanctuary; even if it has been a long time in which they have been troubled by the heavyweight of sinful living; even if it has been a long time that grief has dominated one’s being; even if it has been a long time, perhaps since childhood, that a person you are witnessing to has been taught the truth and instead has been influenced by the noise in the world; even if it has been a long time that they have turned to Jesus to remedy their situation, you tell that person, “Jesus can fix it!” And then invite them back to the Lord and His church; the place where they can get help and stop hurting self and by influence, hurting the lives of others. Implore them to come back to the place where they can be raised up to a higher spiritual place; a place where they can rebound from “down” to “up.” Oh, take a quick break and say, “Praise God,” if the Lord has ever fixed you! I know He has!
I suggest that you read the whole story in Mark 9:14-29, but in the meantime, reach back into what you might consider an old school church song by Lee Williams. When you reach back and get it, sing some of the lyrics below at some point in the day, today, not just to further equip you with a fact, but just in case, just by chance that you need find a saving from something that has had you not acting normal as a believer should. Let the lyrics remind you that even if it has been a long time, Jesus can fix it!
“Trouble in my way. (Trouble in my way) I have to cry sometimes. (I have to cry sometimes.) Trouble in my way. (Trouble in my way.) I have to cry sometimes. (I have to cry sometimes.) I laid awake at night. (I lay awake at night.) But that s alright (That s alright.) Because I know that Jesus will fix it afterwhile. (After while)”
My friend, I have only four more short things to tell you: Believe! Have faith! Pray! Be blessed!
“But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him, and he got up.” (Mark 9:27 NASB)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King