"And Now I'm On The Firing Line"
It had to happen! There was no way to avoid it! There was no intention of avoiding it! It is considered a priviledge and I thank God for this opportunity.
I have now begun my first full time effort. This is not an egotistical statement, but rather one of delight and concern. But I am not in the dark as to the problems a gospel preacher faces in his daily toils for the furtherance of truth. How I have thanked God many times for the fact I was reared by a gospel preacher and a godly mother. As a young child, I wasn't fully aware of their problems. Problems of denominationalism, institutionalism, support, indifferent brethren, and how I could go on. But after a few years I remember dad saying once "Sometimes it gets rough on this firing line." After that I started paying closer attention to what exactly went on. Oooh. . . how he was stabbed in the back and shot in the heart, and for what? For simply teaching and preaching the truth of God! That's all!
So now I can expect the same, because now I'm on that same firing line! Some brethren have wondered "Who in their right mind would become a gospel preacher? To be ostracized, ridiculed, and at times undoubtedly wonder where the next pay check was coming from?"
While some of these aspects are true, and I witnessed some of them, there still remains that ever growing urge to proclaim truth. I realized some time ago that there isn't enough of it being proclaimed. There have been ambitions, yes, in my mind for years — and many of them could have been fulfilled too!, but as I look around and see people dying in sins and needing the Gospel of Christ put those ambitions out of my mind and I turn and step on to the firing line!
I would to God, that young men everywhere will put the occupations of the carnal world, secondary — and use their talents for God — first!! The payoff here will be worth much more in eternity, although less here.
To step on to this firing line will mean hurt and pain. I am now only twenty one — and by the time I am forty, I undoubtedly as the apostle Paul will be able to say, "I bare upon my body — the marks of the Lord Jesus." But if I am to bear hurt and pain in this life — let me do it as a soldier of the greatest army ever known! If I am to do any battles — let me do them with evil; in the pulpit and out!
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not., nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." — (Eccl. 12:1) — Quite a good reason for stepping onto the firing line; don't you think!!?
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