When many of us were children, our parents made us eat the good food they prepared so we wouldn’t get hungry later and eat the junk food others might offer us, especially strangers. They did it because they loved us and wanted to make sure we had the best. Hopefully you did that for your children. With so many unhealthy choices and questionable sources out there, you made sure they were too full of your good food to want what others offered.
Now that you are older, perhaps your children have left home, it’s no time to slack off and let your nearest and dearest leave home unsatisfied. Surely you want them to have the best you can give them, right? Don’t leave it to the chance that they will ask for more if they want it or that they no longer have a good appetite. If they don’t seem interested in what you offer, make some adjustments until they are. You don’t want to leave it to someone else to meet their needs.
But they wouldn’t do that because it wouldn’t be right! Is it right to send them out to be tempted when they are hungry? No one would be interested in them because they are too picky and hard to please. Really? There is always someone willing to fill a void and they will do whatever it takes to have what you don’t protect. Remember, your opponent is trying to win, and will give them everything they want until they have them hooked. But they can’t keep that up forever! By the time they realize that they will no longer be your problem.
That’s kind of like the Church, you will do whatever it takes to get someone in the door, but then what? If you don’t fill them up, someone else will lure them away with what looks like it will satisfy their need. But most of that is a lie! By the time they find out the other place or program won’t fill them, they will be too proud or embarrassed to come back.
You can’t make them accept what is good for them, but you can “preach the gospel” which points them to JESUS and “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:15-16 KJV). People won’t look for other sources when they experience “him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph 3:20 KJV) for “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Mat 5:6 KJV). Faith is the key for “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6 KJV).
But GOD is love and He won’t let us go to Hell! The thief who “cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 KJV) has twisted the truth to come up with that lie. JESUS said, wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Mat 7:13 KJV). GOD is righteousness itself and JESUS said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3 KJV). Thankfully “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). You don’t have to send them away hungry. Point them to JESUS and He will fill them up!
Wayne Lance – That’s Good News to Share!