Christian Living

---

A Tragedy
By
Troy Koehne

It could have happened anywhere but tragedy choose a small town in West Virginia. From the time it was announced all over TV and radio we couldn’t get enough of it. We prayed in earnest for the miners trapped in the belly of the earth, hoping that God would provide a great miracle. As time passed we continued to look to the sky and mumble, “Now would be a good time.”
Word came that they were found alive. Jubilation broke out all over America as the families ran out of the church singing praises to God, giving Him glory. Newspapers all over the country, headlines rang out, “Their Alive!”
Sadly, as we now know, that was not the case. Twelve passed away leaving one survivor. America’s heart once again broke with the families who lost loved ones as the news spread that they were never coming back. Anger and rage flashed as the joyous hope turned to grief.
They had believed the lie. From all the information that has since came out, we have learned that the families got the information by someone who happened to be ease dropping on a call. Taking a half-truth and making it gospel destroyed 12 families. It was a tragedy.
The events that we all witnessed got me thinking about Christianity today. Have we also been told a half-truth that we have taken as gospel? How are we to know what is right and what is wrong? We go to our churches on Sunday and listen to what the Minister preaches for about 45 minutes and out we go. If the Word of God is supposed to be our spiritual food, did you get full? Was there just a grain of wheat in with all the junk food of fluff and circumstance? Do you even know what you got?
Jesus said in Matthew 24:4, “Watch out that no one deceives you.”
I have noticed that more and more people don’t bring Bibles to church. You don’t need them when the verses are put up on a big screen and you have notes in the bulletin to follow along. You are then told everything that you need to hear on how to be a better person as you live a Christian life. Did Jesus really say that life would be great if we follow him and give the church all our money? The pastor wouldn’t be preaching it if it weren’t the truth.
The Apostle Paul went in to greater detail when he said, “For time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2nd Timothy 4:3-4)
Jesus told his disciples to guard against the “Yeast” of the Pharisees and Sadducees. A small pinch of yeast will go a long way in the raising of bread. It’s the same with deception. It only takes a twist of one little morsel of truth to begin the downward spiral to believing the lie. That’s why Jesus warned about teaching of religious people. They tell a truth that is mixed with great deception.
If you chose to walk down that path thinking everything is great, life can’t be better, beware…
Imagine that you are in the church that you attend every week. Every time the doors are open you take that seat close to the front not wanting to miss a thing. In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye “POOF,” the lady who annoys you by singing off key is gone. You have been left behind.
Now it is judgment and you are standing before God. You are filled with excitement knowing, by what you have been taught that God is going to let you into heaven.
“DEPART FROM ME, I NEVER KNEW YOU!”
“But God,” you try to argue. “I know Bible verses. I was part of the bus ministry. I served you with all my heart.”
“YOU NEVER REPENTED…”
“I didn’t know I needed to!” Before being thrown in the lake of fire, you scream, “Why didn’t they tell me the truth?”
There is a lie being told out there today. In our daily lives we feel safe and secure, enjoying life and all that’s in it. While the Word of God sits on the shelf collecting dust, we believe the deception floating around in our hearts.
My heart grieves for the miner’s families. My heart grieves even more for you. You still have time to make it right with Jesus. You hear Him calling out to you. Will you answer the call?
If you listen to another voice, you will suffer the consequences. Just because your church doesn’t teach sin and repentance, doesn’t mean that you won’t be held accountable.
Make the right choice or the next tragedy could be yours.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE