Let’s go Fishing! Written by Mel

(Photo taken in 2014 at the Boise Watershed - not real fish!)

Let’s go Fishing! Written by Mel

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Mark 1:14-18  

If we truly believe that the Bible is the Word of God, then we should do everything within our power to persuade others to believe also. God’s Word teaches us that we are sinners in need of a savior, and Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. Christ made atonement upon the cross for those who will repent of their sins and make him Lord of their lives. Apart from Christ, there is no hope of eternal life, only damnation. Luke 16: 19-31 Christ teaches a parable about Hell. Hell, also known as Hades, or Sheol, is the abode of the spirits of the dead awaiting the resurrection. Christ taught us that Sheol is divided into sections, separated by a great chasm. The righteous go into Paradise, also known as Abraham’s bosom, and the wicked into prison, or torment. After the second resurrection of the dead, there will be the great white throne judgment. The righteous will inherit the Kingdom of God, and the sinners will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Death and Hell, will also be cast into the lake of fire. I believe that the original Greek language of the New Testament indicates that this is the destruction or extinction of the unsaved. A proper translation of the Greek indicates a final and irrevocable decree, not eternal torment.

 The illustration of the rich man, being in torment, and Lazarus being comforted, should shake us to the core. If we believe that Hell is a real place, we should do everything possible to persuade everyone we know to accept Christ in order to escape this place of torment.  If we saw a child about to walk out in front of a semi- truck, would we not try to save them? Or if we noticed a burning car with people inside on the side of the road, would we not also try to save them? Every day we are among those in danger of Hell fire. Do you share your faith with them, or do you try to fit in with the crowd in order to please men rather than God?

There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,  desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'  Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,  for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'  Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'  Luke 16:19-31

This life is like a vapor in comparison to eternity. Our lives are in God’s hands, and we don’t know when we will depart this earth. If you were killed in a car wreck today, are you prepared to meet your maker? God’s Word says that today is the day of salvation. This means that we have no guarantee of tomorrow, and we need to make Christ our Lord today. We must enter by the narrow gate that leads to eternal life, because wide and broad is the way that leads to destruction. God’s Word says that the soul that sinneth will surely die. This destruction is the second death.

When Christ told Peter and Andrew to follow him and that he would make them fishers of men, they immediately dropped their nets and followed him. The same call goes out to us today. In Matt 28:18-20 (The great commission) the Lord instructs us to go out into all of the world and make disciples, teaching them to observe all that he commanded. We are called to share our faith with all people. If we are ashamed of Christ, then he will deny us before the Father in Heaven. We need to be bold about sharing our hope of salvation with a dying world. We must also reflect Christ in our daily lives. Are you an example of true Christianity to your co-workers or family members? You may be their only lifeline of salvation. If you were in a boat and someone fell overboard, would you not throw them a life preserver? Jesus Christ is our lifeline, because he alone, paid the price for our salvation. Concerning salvation, 2 Thess 2:13 states that God chose us for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Paul is saying that salvation comes through being set apart or purified by God’s Spirit, as well as by faith. Without holiness no man shall see the Father. Unless you are truly born again your faith is dead. We must teach the truth in regard to holiness or our message is in vain.  

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2 Thess 2:13

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14


The entire world is a mission field and the Lord does not require us to be eloquent speakers to share our faith. We can plant seeds of faith with those around us. It's not up to us for them to believe, it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin and lead them to the truth, but we should utilize every opportunity to plant seeds of truth. One person may plant a seed, then another will come and water that new tender shoot, then another will harvest the crop and bring it into the storehouse. Let us look at Luke 8:5-18. 

  
A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.  Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.   And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.   But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"  And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest [it is given] in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.'   Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.   But the ones on the rock [are those] who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.   Now the ones [that] fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.   But the ones [that] fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep [it] and bear fruit with patience.   No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts [it] under a bed, but sets [it] on a lamp stand, that those who enter may see the light.   For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor [anything] hidden that will not be known and come to light.  Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him [more] will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." Luke 8:5

We need to be a light set on a lamp stand, not hidden, that the world may see our good fruit, and desire to have the faith that is able to save their souls. Many people will fall away do to the cares or riches of this world, that is why it is so important to teach new believers of the importance of studying God's Word.  1 Thess 2:1-12 gives us good instruction on being a good role model to those we disciple in the faith.

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.  But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.  For our exhortation [did] not [come] from error or uncleanness, nor [was it] in deceit.  But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.  For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness -- God [is] witness.  Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.  But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing [mother] cherishes her own children.   So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.  For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.   You [are] witnesses, and God [also,] how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;  as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father [does] his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

 
The Apostle Paul was a great role model to the churches that he established, in both conduct, as well as, deed. His teachings did not come from error, uncleanness, or deceit. In order to be a good example to the churches, he worked with his own hands so as not to be a burden to those whom he preached to. Paul’s example of true Christianity is polar opposite of that of the modern day television evangelists and mega church pastors. Most of them live in multi- million dollar palaces, built from the money given by the poor, widows, as well as the disabled.  

Christ said that you cannot serve God and mammon (money), for only one will be your master. As Paul pointed out, our moral conduct should be blameless as well. We should live a life worthy of an ambassador for Christ, because the world is watching. We need to be the salt of the earth, letting our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. Let us all pray that the Lord of the harvest will send us out.


After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, "The harvest truly [is] great, but the laborers [are] few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.  Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Luke 10:1-3