Four Lights
By Wayne Mckellips. Copyright 1998. Copy and use as desired but do
not sell. Scripture reference Luke 16:19-31 and John 14:6. You do not have
permission to mirror this article or site on the Internet.
I need three teenage volunteers. Thanks for volunteering guys. Line up
here, facing the crowd. Hold these candles. Now, let me light them.
These three flickering lights stand for the life's led by three
fictious individuals I'll call Reggie, Nick, and Sandra. The fourth
light stands for your life.
Reggie's Light
Reggie heard the gospel and he even thought it was true. But he didn't
want to stop enjoying life yet. After all he was too young. He figured
he'd enjoy himself first, and then get "religious" and settle down when
he got older. That way, he could have fun and still go to heaven.
Unfortunately for Reggie, things didn't work out that way. Reggie was
driving to High School when a pickup ran a stop sign and ploughed into
his car. Reggie was killed instantly. (Blow out the first light.) One
minute he was in his car listening to his favorite rap song. The next
he was out of his body looking at his dead body. No, he screamed, I'm
to young to die. Suddenly, there were two evil looking creatures on
either side of him. They laughed and said, "Were taking you to hell,
where you belong!" They grabbed him and immediately he began to fly
through a dark burning tunnel. He heard screams and moans up ahead.
Why, oh why had he rejected Jesus? Just then, he was thrown out of
the burning tunnel into an envelope of burning, eternal darkness. He
moaned in pain and regret. Why, oh why had he ignored Jesus, who had
suffered and died on the cross for him? If he had only trusted and
followed Jesus when he was alive he wouldn't be here.
Nick's Light
Nick heard and understood that he could be forgiven of his sins and
saved by trusting in Jesus as his Lord and Savior when a Christian
friend at school told him about Jesus. His friend asked Nick if he'd
like to ask Jesus to be his Savior and new master. Nick sure wanted
Jesus to be his Savior. He wanted to go to heaven. But he wanted to be
his own master. He didn't want Jesus spoiling his fun. He figured he'd
turn to Jesus when he was older, much older. Nick lived life hard and
fast. He experienced all the pleasures the world could offer. He lied
and stole, mostly for the thrill of it. He drank, did dope and had sex
with a lot of different women. Talk about swearing! Nick could make a
sailor blush. His friends all admired Nick for his ability to swear
so artfully. They admired his skill at shoplifting. They even sought
his advice on how to seduce women. Yes, Nick was admired and looked
up to. Life was good to Nick, or so it seemed. He became wealthy and
even married a beautiful wife. Nick's home was the scene of many wild
and I do mean wild parties. Yet, Nick was looked upon with respect in
the community. Nick even joined a church, for appearance sake. Nick
was always chasing after some pleasure. That was his goal in life, to
experience all the pleasures he could. He experienced a lot of
pleasures, but no lasting happiness. Oh well, maybe he would be
content when he got that bigger boat or house. Selfish Nick got the
bigger boat and house, he even got a prettier wife but contentment and
happiness still eluded him. So many things, so many temporary pleasures,
but no inner peace. Death finally took Nick when he was 60.
(Extinguish the second light.) He'd forgot all about Jesus by then.
But as the evil spirits whisked him off to hell he remembered what his
friend had taught him. Why, oh why had he rejected Jesus? Why had he
trampled the blood of Jesus under his feet? Why had he ignored Jesus?
Why hadn't he recognized the worth of Jesus? Suddenly he realized what
he'd been missing all his life. It was Jesus. That's why he was never
content. He screamed when they threw him into hell as he realized what
an fool he'd been.
Sandra's Light
Sandra's mom carefully explained the gospel to her once again. Sandra
was only eight years old. In child like faith Sandra asked Jesus to be
her Lord and Savior. She knew Jesus had left his wonderful home in
heaven to come to earth to die for her. She knew he had taken her
punishment for sinning for her. Jesus was, as her mom said, her
substitute.She knew she was all clean and could enter heaven because
Jesus' blood had washed her clean. In child like obedience Sandra obeyed
Jesus and was baptized (dunked) as soon as her parents said she could.
When she was 15 Sandra's head began to hurt really bad on a
Friday. Sandra told Jesus her head hurt. She told Jesus everything.
She even told her parents how bad her head hurt. They put her in the
hospital right away. The doctor's told her she had an inoperable
brain tumor and would probably die before the week was over. Sandra
told her parents and all her friends to not worry about her because
she would soon be with Jesus. She led several more of her friends to
Jesus. Thursday Sandra saw a special visitor in her room. She smiled
when she realized who it was. It was an angel. (Extinguish the third
light.) The angel took her through some kind of tunnel to Jesus.
Sandra heard the angels singing. The warmth and love of Jesus soon
surrounded her. Shortly after that, she was rejoicing with some
Christian friends who had already died. She was so glad she had
chosen to trust Jesus and walk with him as her Savior and Lord.
Your Light
Which of these three people will you be like? That is, which of these
three people are you like? Are you on your way to hell or are you on
your way to heaven? Is Jesus your Master and Savior? Or are your
friends and your own pleasures more important than Jesus and what he
did for you? Some day, maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe in a few
days, your light will extinguish. Only God knows when you will die.
(Extinguish the fourth light.) Then you will go to hell or you will
go to heaven. If you were to die right now, where would you go? Jesus
loves you and he suffered greatly for you. He died for you! Please,
right now, humble yourself, deny yourself, turn from your sins, from
seeking your own pleasures and submit yourself to Jesus as your Lord
and Savior. Now, right now, right where you're at, before it is too
late, ask Jesus to be your Savior and Master. Have you done that? Do
you want someone to help you and pray for you?