Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Pulled Out of The Fire

As a preface to this writing, I am posting on this date for a reason.  It was 21 years ago today, October 22, 1992, that my Mother, Lois Brown Chastain accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour.  On March 07, 1997 she entered into her promised rest.  For this knowledge I praise God.

Jude 22-23  And of some have compassion, making a difference:  (23)  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

            A few days ago Sharil, (my wife) and I were discussing the core of events that convicted our hearts for The Salvation of God.  (I had recently looked at my Mother’s Bible which we had given her at Christmas in 1979.  Within the front she had written the date she accepted Jesus The Christ as her Saviour, October 22, 1992.  She also wrote the date of her Baptism, November 08, 1992.  (Her Baptism date is the date we both remember as the first time we had ever heard The Gospel of Jesus The Christ.)
            (Also, I must confess the scripture and title for this dissertation was given to me at our Sunday evening Sermon preached by Dr. James Rasbeary, our Pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church here in Wiley, Texas.  His subject reflected on the thoughts I had in mind to write.)
            In order for my Mother’s Baptism date to be relevant to this discussion, I must back up a few months before that date. 
            Sharil and I were members of a protestant church, and attended “off and on.”  My Mother went with us occasionally, however she told Sharil and I, “I want to hear what I heard when I was a little girl.”   My comment was, “Mom, I wasn’t there, I don’t know what you heard.”  (Sharil, with much more wisdom told Mom, “Maybe you need to go to a Baptist Church.” Sharil had never been in a Baptist Church, but knew they were more conservative.)
            Later, Mom wanted/needed a hobby.  (Sharil introduced her to Kay Denson who taught her how to make porcelain dolls.)  A few weeks later, Mom related what Sharil had told her about a Baptist Church.  Kay said, “I have just The Baptist Church for you.” 
            Mom began attending Calvary Baptist Church in Palestine, Texas.  Bro Tom Huntress and his wife Vera led Mom to The Salvation of God, and her demeanor began to change considerably.  Mom asked Sharil if I would go to her Baptism, as she was afraid to ask me.   Sharil told her we both would be there.
            We attended Sunday School, (which I thought would include the Baptism, not, then in the 11:00 service, I thought it would happen, again not.)  Then they told me I would have to come back for the evening service.  Evening service? I didn’t know they went to Church twice in one week.  Finally she was Baptized at the end of the evening service. 
            (What I was not yet aware of was a Gospel seed had been planted, both in Sharil’s and my hearts.)
            In the early morning on November 22, 1992, (a day before Sharil’s birthday,) I asked her what she would like to do for her Birthday.  She was really reluctant to answer my question.  She kept asking me to decide.  I refused and finally she said, “I want to go to Church.”  She has since told me I said, “You Do?” (With extreme sarcasm.)  Then I asked, “Which Church do you want to go to?”  She answered, “The other Church.”  We attended both services that day, and except for sickness, we haven’t missed many services since.
            On January 19, 1993, Sharil and I both accepted Jesus as our personal Saviour at about 3:30 pm on that Tuesday afternoon.  The next Sunday we went forward for Baptism, and the following week January 31, 1993, we were both Baptized at the end of the evening service.
            All that I have described was God via The Holy Spirit, “pulling them [Mom, Sharil and I] out of the fire.”   Yet, it all began by the desire [Holy Ghost conviction] of my Mother wanting to hear The Word of God again like she remembered hearing when she was a young girl.
            God tells us how and what we must do to gain that Eternal Salvation.  He tells us He wants us to know we can have it.

1 John 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

He wants your heart to rejoice in the knowledge of your Eternity with Him.  If you believe, Jesus will save you.

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

There are three thing in this verse:   1.) If you will confess your belief in Christ Jesus to others, and 2.) Believe that God has raised Jesus from the grave, and 3.) God will save you from that everlasting death in The Lake of Fire.
            Amazingly, God saved a little old widow woman at age 70, Sharil and I both at age 51, and has done miraculous things within our lives.  God called me to The Pastorate, and Sharil to be a Godly Pastor’s wife.    All this comes from that one statement from my Mother, “I want to hear what I heard when I was a little girl.”  Have you ever heard a similar statement or question?
              “If you died today would your home be in Heaven for The Eternity, or would it be the flames of hell?”    Call on His name and receive him, repent of your ways, go to that Baptist Church, and obey Christ Jesus and be Baptized.

Bro John R. E Chastain
Baptist Evangelist
Wylie, Texas


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