My dad was a farmer for many years and he had an old saying…it goes like this:  “If you throw a rock into a pen full of pigs, you can bet the one that squeals, is the one that got hit!”

 

I want to talk to you for a just a minute about getting ‘hit’ by the Word of God from the pulpit.

 

Some folks get mad, and never come back to church because they got ‘hit’.  Other folks ‘squeal’ in pain, but run to the altar to ask for forgiveness.  

 

You see, the pastor’s job is to preach the Word, and let the Holy Spirit convict us of our sin!  Some folks believe that going to church is supposed to be a wonderful experience with sweet words and flowery speeches.  Some of it is.  But the church is really supposed to be a hospital…a place of healing and curing all of us from whatever ailment we may have in our Spiritual walk with God.

 

I’d rather take the ‘hit’ from the pulpit, and from my friends and loved ones…squeal in pain, see my guilt NOW, and have the opportunity to ask God for forgiveness…change my ways, than to see the disappointment in God’s eyes when I stand before Him.  It will be too late to ask for forgiveness then.  Too late to change my ways!

 

You see, our self-righteous attitude disappoints other Believers around us and we become a stumbling block to their growth and walk with the Lord.  And, even worse, our testimony to the lost is destroyed.  We think we’re pulling the wool over people’s eyes, -and even the eyes of God at times, but it’s 100% cotton!  People can see right through us!  And so can God Almighty!  

 

Instead of seeing Jesus in us and finding salvation, they see lies and deception.  They see back-stabbers and connivers…lovers of SELF, rather than lovers of God!

 

Next time you get ‘hit’ by the Word of God that’s being preached from the pulpit…RUN to the altar and ask for forgiveness!

 

– Anita Mondragon