The Pulpit

The Pulpit

The pulpit is the place where God's messenger blows the trumpet every service. I heard a message once by Bro Mark Copeland and he made the very profound statement, "If this trumpet won't move you, then that trumpet won't move you." He was referring to the preached Word of God being like a trumpet (blow the trumpet in Zion) being blown. He said that if we get so stuck in our ways and have so much pride inside of us that we don't allow the preaching of the Word of God to move us, then how in the world can we expect to go to Heaven? I heard this message back in 2006 and, to this day, it has never left me. 

God, I don't ever want to get to the point in my life where I don't allow the man of God in my life to preach it straight to me. Every time I go to a church service, I want to be willing and ready for my Pastor to preach to me. We've all heard it, "No matter what it takes, I must be saved..." but do we really mean it? Are we willing to forgo the embarrassment of our Pastor calling us out, in front of the whole church, about something we've done in order to make sure we are right with God and that our eternity is our focus? 

I, along with so many, have gotten so wrapped up in the here and now that I don't allow my focus to be on what really matters. Eternity. Heaven or Hell. It's real, folks. It's not just a superstition. There are so many people out there who have decided to trade their eternity for temporary satisfaction. 

Oh trust me, I have been tempted and, at times, I wasn't sure it was worth going through everything I've had to go through. I questioned and doubted my relationship with God. I questioned if the life I am living is really truth or if it was just a made up religion like so many others out there. I had to go through an extremely rough time in my life to get to where I am at today. No, I am not perfect (I will be the first one of many to admit it); I have a really long way to go to achieve perfection. One of the things I have learned in life - you don't get good to get God, you get God to get good. I, for one, am extremely thankful that God has not given up on me. There was a time in my life when I honestly wanted to give up on everything - but God, in His mercy, looked down and saw this pitiful person trying to make it on her own - blaming herself for everything life had thrown her way, trying to punish herself for things she had no control over, trying to conform to please everyone around her - and reached out His Hand and picked me up out of the muck and mire that I was in and set me on the Rock to stay! 

I know the struggle isn't over - it ain't going to be over until Jesus comes back for His Bride. However, I do know that, as long as I put my trust in Him, Jesus will be there to carry me through the hard times. I have decided to put my faith and trust in God. I would rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25). God is great and greatly to be praised! I am so thankful for everything He has done for me! I don't know what my future holds - but I know Who holds it!