Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

GOOD RESULTS NECESSITATE GOOD DECISIONS

From the hall of personal memories of decades long past, comes a story underscoring bad decisions and bad results. On a rare occasion both mother and father were absent from the home. Teenage sister decided she would make some cinnamon rolls. Well into the process, she discovered the cinnamon container to be empty. So, she sent my little brother, about age 6, to the local grocery store to buy cinnamon. No money was involved as all things were charged, and paid for weekly. It remains a mystery why I, several years older, was not sent. Regardless, here is where things went awry.

The trip to the store ran right by a neighbor’s house who loved practical joking. He stopped the little brother, and asked where he was going. Being told, he insisted there was no need to go to the store to get “simminon” as little brother pronounced it. He said there were lots of simminons right here on the tree, and he could have all he wanted.

The longer it took to gather the “simminons” the more anxious and angry the sister became. When he showed up with a can full of persimmons, she really blew her top! She literally ran all the way to the store herself to get a can of cinnamon. I can still hear the laughter of the neighbor, now joined by my own at the frustration of the incident. But, it underscores an important lesson of life.

Good results necessitate good decisions. The desired results from a messenger demand a knowledgeable messenger who understands the goal, and who will not be sidetracked by someone offering a substitute or shortcut. The world is full of messengers with erroneous messages which they, themselves do not understand, but are quick to offer as a substitute for “thus saith the Lord.” Note 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. It is to such a scenario that the words of the apostle Paul to the Galatians comes to mind: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7.

Do you expect good results at the end of your trail of life? What kind of decisions are you making? There is one Creator of heaven and earth; one author of all life. He is the One that should be trusted. Why would anyone trust any other?

FOR THOUGHT: Upon whose word are you trusting for the eternal destiny of your never dying soul? Is it other than the Word of the Creator God? If so, it is extremely important that you make some immediate changes.