Introduction: A Story of A Pencil: In the beginning, the Pencil Maker spoke to the pencil saying, “There are five things you need to know before I send you out into the world.”
First You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand.
Second You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but this is required if you are to become a better pencil.
Third You have the ability to correct any mistakes you might make.
Fourth The most important part of you will always be what's inside.
Last No matter what the condition, you must continue to write. You must always leave a clear, legible mark no matter how difficult the situation.
If we are to learn, we need to sometimes use objects in an off the wall way.
When I read this little story my mind was working along Biblical verses that would describe our task as Christians.
There was a secular point for each of these five points, but what I want to do is relate this story to our Bible and our lives as Christians.
I. HELD IN GOD’S RIGHT HAND
(Isaiah 41:13) For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
A. If You Understand
1. That it is your decision
2. That you must trust Him
3. You must allow Him to hold your hand
B. With That Trust In Him
1. We can do the impossible
(Matthew 17:20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
2. We, you and I, are limited
i. Only by
a. Our faith in God
b. Our trust in God.
C. How Big Is Your Faith?
II. WE WILL BE CHASTENED
(Revelation 3:19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
A. We will Experience Pain
1. Physical Pain
i. From disease
ii. From accidents
iii. Old age
2. Emotional Pain
i. From disease
ii. From accidents
iii. Old age
B. Yet We Must Stand Steady
(1 Corinthians 15:58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1. Steadfast
2. Unmovable
3. Always abounding in our work
i. For the Lord.
4. That way our labor is not in vain.
III. WE NEED FORGIVENESS
(Ephesians 1:7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
A. Jesus Gives Us Forgiveness
1. Through His blood
2. No other blood
3. No other being
4. No other God
B. Jesus Teaches Us To Forgive
(Mark 11:26) But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
1. We are taught we must forgive
2. Without our forgiving others
i. God will not forgive us
a. Of our trespasses (sins)
IV. THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
A. What We Are Made Of!
(John 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
1. Our Holy Spirit within us
i. Shall
a. Teach us
b. Bring remembrance
c. To what God has said
B. Without The Holy Spirit
1. We have nothing
i. No Salvation
ii. No Hope
iii. No direction
V. WE MUST NOT RUN IN VAIN
(Philippians 2:16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
A. As a Christian
1. Our life should be for the Lord
i. Not for me
ii. Not for our names sake
iii. Not for our family
iv. Not for our future
2. Just for the Lord.
B. My Work Should Not Be Useless
1. Of no consequence
2. Of no value
CONCLUSION: What we have seen in comparing ourselves to a pencil is that you and I are more important than a pencil.
We can be used the same as a pencil, yet, we can do more than a pencil.
God has created you and I as individuals capable of doing all His work. We can do great things.
When a pencil is finally used it is thrown away. No possibility of redemption, no possibility of salvation and no eternal hope.
Just hell and damnation is the only choice. The pencil has no selection. Jesus tells in John 3:16
If we BELIEVE He will give us eternal life. Jesus doesn’t put other requirements on us. Just that we believe.
You see Belief is the only requirement for salvation, yet we should repent once we have that salvation. God tells us in Acts 2:38
(Acts 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter was talking to new converts, folks who had recently accepted Jesus as their Saviour.
We are to change our ways, and ask for the forgiveness of our sins.
If you really and truly, sincerely, have told God you do believe in His Son, then this repentance and asking of forgiveness of sins should be your desire.
Not something the preacher told you to do. As each day goes by your desire should be to want to serve the Lord more and more.
This asking for forgiveness and repentance on a daily basis should be our deepest desire.
So what kind of life is your desire?
One of personal accomplishment, or working for the Lord.
Have you as an individual confessed Jesus to others?
Paul tells us in Romans 10:9 that if we do BELIEVE and will confess His name salvation will come.
No: If’s, And’s or But’s just plain period.
Our God loves us very much (John 3:16) and He didn’t put in any fine print in His testament. No lawyer legal jargon, just plain talk.
It all comes down to two things, God and you.
God wants you and all you have to do is put your pride away and believe He raised His Son from the grave, confess His name to others and salvation happens.
(Romans 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
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