MY LAST OPPORTUNITY
Every Sunday I stand before people, in person and electronically, with one goal. THESIS: “Be the voice of Jesus to these people as if this were the last opportunity they had to hear from God and as if this were ‘MY LAST OPPORTUNITY’ in this world to communicate Biblical truth.” Truthfully, I hope that is not the case. However, we never know. In fact, contained in arguably the greatest sermon ever preached, Jesus surmised: “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”Matthew 6:34 (HCSB)His point, make every opportunity count for today!
If you were commissioned by God to deliver the last message ever preached on earth prior to the end (yours, theirs, and all), what would you say? No matter how anyone responds to this question, truthfully there are no guarantees. It could very well be the last opportunity some have to hear from God. Therefore, the intensity of perceptions preparation, passion, and proclamation must constantly be at a fever pitch. Here are some thoughts…
…As God’s child, regardless of vocation, you have been called to be His voice in your sphere of encounters.
…Nobody else has been called to do what you have been called to do and encounter the people you meet every day.
…Sometimes other people will think they know how to do it better than you (and they may very well be right), but only you can be what God has called you to be.
…Other people will not be held accountable for what you do.
…The eternal destination of others will be impacted by your obedience. (The need and importance for missions)
…Today’s opportunities are tomorrow’s history. You cannot go back and “redo.” As a former staff member of mine once said, “You can’t should’ve!”
…As we yield to God, He will give us the right words. “For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.” Luke 12:12
Today, you may be someone’s last hope, help, or opportunity. I know, this places a lot of pressure on each of us, but it is true. Seize the moment and be prepared to be a voice from God and speak into their lives His truth.
An old preacher told a riveting story that I have never forgotten. As church began one morning, a man walked in prepared to leave his wife and family. God would be given one more opportunity. A girl walked in and had been pressured by her boyfriend to succumb to his sensual advances. She came that same morning to gain strength in dealing with her challenge. A third person arrived ready to take his own life due to fractured relationships and a mound of financial debt. Surely something at church that morning could help.
With the congregation intact and the music service concluded it came time for “a message from God.” The short, yet scholarly message that morning was read from a manuscript entitled: “Who Wrote The Book of Hebrews?” That day, a family was torn apart, a girl lost her virtue, and a man took his own life. If the preacher had developed the philosophy, “today is MY LAST OPPORTUNITY,” things may have been different.
God has only called you to be you. He has given you today. Eternity hangs in the balance. Approach every sermon, Sunday School lesson, Bible Study you lead and even simple conversations as if it were YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY! Who knows, it very may well be…for the hearer…for you!
BOOMERS: A MUST FOR CHURCH OUTREACH©
I was born right in the middle of a group known as BOOMERS (Born 1945-1965). This is the hinge generation between depression born babies and entitlement babies (the more recently born are the stronger section of entitlement babies). We have received much criticism for “worshiping our work, working at play, and playing at worship.” Amazingly, many of life’s gadgets and music (Rock & Roll/ Modern Country/ Modern Easy listening) enjoyed by our world came predominantly from this age group.
In America, our Boomer generation has fought and endured (for those who were not killed) several unpopular wars, an ungrateful nation, the proliferation of drugs, an escalation of divorce, and an exodus from church, just to name a few indigenous movements characteristic of our time. We have been called materialistic, selfish, anti-establishment (until we became the establishment) and secular in priorities. Still, our money has been invested to create wealth and toys once a sign of affluence but are now necessities (computers, cell phones, etc.).
In regards of government, we have given a great portion of our earnings to finance a rapidly expanding governmental enterprise currently funding nearly half of the population. With the prospect of potentially losing Social Security, our politicians have been able to sustain it for a while longer. This accomplishment has been funded in addition to financing the entitlement programs demanded by dependent citizens and politicians. In effect, this has kept the underprivileged at bay so the politicians may remain in office and retain power. There is a move now to bring in a section of population void of American citizenship to benefit from the entitlements and given rights to vote for those providing the entitlements. What group is predominantly writing the checks? Baby Boomers!
However, with the first Boomers entering retirement and without adjustments to “free programs,” the party is soon to come crashing down. In the next few years, the substantive financial base of the proverbial “handouts” soon coming to an end, the country has been forced into a $19,000,000,000,000 (Yep, $19 Trillion) debt. The interest every second is staggering. Guess what! Boomers are not going to be around to pay the tab.
How does this impact churches? Several thoughts must be considered or tough days lie ahead. To piously say that God does not need our money is a cop-out that only reveals a lack of understanding of how God has chosen to fund his work. In every church there is a wisdom component, a spiritual component, a strategic/logistic component, and a financial component. Those who are spiritually mature understand how these all are intertwined to establish a solid ministry.
The good news is that Baby Boomers are currently coming back to the God of their parents’ faith. In America, this is evangelical Christianity, the rock upon which our nation was built. The call to spend resources and finances on reaching other groups have become so loud, that reaching Baby Boomers is rarely the topic of discussion. It is difficult enough to follow the “Greatest Generation,” let alone be slighted when being targeted for inclusion in churches and ministries. Here are some thoughts to be considered:
- Baby Boomers are beginning to think of their mortality. Preparations for living in retirement, accentuating the last days, and laying out plans for their own death and burial have become popular to remove stresses from remaining family.
- Baby Boomers are beginning to rethink their understanding of God. They want a relationship. They are willing to return to church. They are willing to write checks to implement mission and ministry projects.
- Boomers also have a heart to see other age-segmented groups engaged in church. As they retire, they have time and resource to make this happen.
The bad news is that many churches have become so enamored with reaching other groups that the Baby Boomers, who have always been like a middle child, are seldom the target of church activity and outreach. Even worse is that the church, within the next 15 years, will begin losing this major resource as life takes its natural course. Secularism will be the mantra of secular and spiritual leadership and churches will “lose their saltiness.”
As a final word, this author began this article admitting to being a Boomer. There is also an admission that we unwisely raised our children (who are now young adults with families) where church was not necessarily a priority. We made a mistake. However, in God’s providence, He is giving us a second chance. We are retiring with hearts seeking spiritual fulfillment, resources to perform ministry, and a willingness to finance activities that may be used to impact other age groups. The problem is that few churches are acknowledging this and prioritizing reaching this retiring group.
Part of the solution to reaching the “none,” “millennial,” “booster,” “buster,”and those left in “the greatest generation” is to engage and empower the Boomers and allow their strengths and resources to impact the other groups. Boomers must be willing. The other societal components must also understand that the Boomers are necessary or all could be lost. Every generation has something to offer. In fact, this sounds a little like the New Testament Church, does it not? We are ALL important to God. We ought to be important to each other, regardless of which group you find yourself associated with. We did not chose when we were born. We do choose how we relate to God. A good relationship with God requires reaching out to all- EVEN BOOMERS, regardless of age and generation!
(Note: These thoughts are not necessarily the official position of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, but rather simple observations and musings of the author.)
Mike Boyd 