The Old, Old Story!

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. - 1 Timothy 1:15

    When I was a little boy, my Uncle Boss would tell me stories of things which happened to him when he was young. I loved to hear them over and over again. It seemed as if I was present in his experience. There was one or two favorites that I would always ask him to tell. Those stories, although old, never grew old to me. They were always new and exciting.

    This is the way it is when a child of God hears the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the same, yet never grows old or boring. It is new and exciting every time we hear of our Redeemer and his great love for us. This is our favorite story, so much so that we desire no other. Only those, and all those, whom he lovingly relates it to, are mesmerized by the substance of it and the sweet tones by which it falls upon the ear of the heart and soul. Late in the evening, after Uncle Boss’s work was finished, I would anticipate sitting by him on the front porch and listening to him repeat those stories! The child of God looks forward with great anticipation to meeting with other believers and hearing God’s preacher tell them, one more time, of him who loved them and gave his life for them—I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord (Ps 122:1). This faithful saying, and the one that is worthy of all acceptation, is worth repeating over and over and over again—Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!

    This story, though as old as God himself, is always timely, soothing, and refreshing to the quivering, thirsty heart that hungers and thirsts after the Water of life. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God (Ps 42:1). No one made me cross the road to hear Boss’s stories. Often I was there before he was, waiting for him! I would drop what ever I was doing and high-tail it over there! It was where I wanted to be.

    Who loves the Gospel and who doesn’t, is evident. You will find those who love it on the front porch waiting, because they have a need for, and only find satisfaction and comfort in, Christ in the Gospel, and the Gospel in Christ. Those who do not love the Gospel, will probably be found looking over some land they bought, or proving an ox, or bonding with their spouse (Lk 14:18-20), or anything else that comes up that is satisfying and gratifying to the fleshly appetite.