SOMEONE CARES!
David expressed a modern cry long ago : “No one is concerned for me…no one cares for my soul” (Psa 142:4). We, at the church of Christ at Hughes Rd. and Gooch Ln, are sharing this with you because we’re interested in you!
Our world seems cold and uncaring. Our depersonalized society has crowded cities filled with strangers. Families are fractured or uprooted. Our fast-paced age has everyone going separate ways. Many feel alone. This is driven home by the sad story of Judith Bucknell. At 38, she was an attractive, successful executive secretary in Miami. She was tragically stabbed to death a few years ago. The police found a diary. The Miami Herald ran a feature on her lonely plight: “Judith Bucknell has failed to connect…many lovers, much love offered, none returned.” Here’s a diary excerpt: “What about me!…Who is going to love Judy Bucknell? I feel so old. Unloved. Unwanted. Abandoned. Used up. I want to cry and sleep forever….I’m alone and I want to share something with somebody.”
So, who cares? We do!
1. Who is Interested in Helping? In this heartless world, most seem to look out for #1. Selfish unconcern, strife, envy, gossip and betrayal in human relationships are, according to the Bible, all symptoms of man’s sinful corruption and alienation from God (Rom 1:28-32; 3:19-28).
But there is hope! Someone really cares about you. We’re simple New Testament Christians, endeavoring to be caring followers of Jesus Christ. We have come to know God’s loving care that has changed our lives. “We love because He first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). God gave the best and dearest He had, His Son Jesus, to save us from our sins (Jn 3:16). Jesus’ death on the cross is the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever known (Rom 5:6-8). The just died for the unjust (1 Pet 3:18). Love is the greatest power in the world. Nails did not hold Jesus to the cross…love did. We marvel at the gospel of the second chance.
Everyone with God has eternal significance. With Christ, there are no unimportant people, no insignificant lives. God plays no favorites. “God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35). You are unique to God and He cares about you as much as anyone else who has ever lived!
Jesus, when He walked among men, was known as “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt 11:19). He had “compassion” and cared about everyone, even the down and out (Matt 9:36). He cared enough to get involved and to point people back to God.
2. We Care About Your Problems. All of us have problems — some big, some small, but all very real and discouraging. Do you sometimes feel stressed out? Do you feel you cannot change?
Jesus taught us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mk 12:31). No man is an island. We are trying to be caring people who honestly love others as Christ first loved us. The dog-eat-dog, back-stabbing ways of the world bring pain and problems, like when others walk all over you up the ladder of carnal success.
We’ve found the solution to our problems. Jesus offers a gracious invitation: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:28-29). We’ve found refreshing rest from sin and life’s daily grind in following Jesus.
In Christ, we become part of a loving, caring family. “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart” (1 Pet 1:22). The Lord wants His people, the church, to be a warm, nurturing, understanding community of loving believers. “Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2). We all have problems and faults to overcome, so we should care enough to help.
3. We Care About Sharing God’s Word. Isn’t it strange that so many who say they believe in God but overlook His answers to our problems in the Bible? “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov 14:12). God made us. He knows how we work best. We believe the Bible holds the answer to all life’s important questions: Who am I? What is my purpose? What happens when I die? “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecc 12:13-14).
“Back to the Bible” is the answer to our religious questions. Only the New Testament of Christ is our rule of faith and practice (1 Pet 4:11). Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn 8:31-32). We’re just Christians, and seek to “glorify God in that name” (1 Pet 4:16). As idealistic truth-seekers, we wear no human sectarian names. This is what the original Christians were, loyal only to Christ and His Word (Acts 11:20-26).
The same pure gospel seed planted in your heart and obeyed in faith will make you the same thing today (Lk 8:11,15). We make up a local church of the Lord, without any human denominational ties. We are striving to restore the original pattern of Christ’s church in work and worship (Acts 2:42-47).
We care about you and want to help you know the transforming truth of Christ’s living Word.
4. We’re Interested In Your Eternal Destiny. Each of us has a soul destined to live somewhere forever. In the end, Jesus predicts, “`An hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (Jn 5:28-29).
I care enough about you to ask, “Where will you spend eternity?” Jesus asks, “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?” (Mk 8:36).
In visiting our assembly, we hope you find a friendly welcome. Many have been burned by hypocritical religion. Others have been “turned-off” by money-grubbing churches. Yet, Paul states our sincere care for your spiritual welfare: “I do not seek what is yours, but you” (2 Cor 12:14).
I care enough about you to invite you to become a fellow seeker with us of the truth of Christ that guides to the eternal home of the soul. Get in touch with the part of you that will live somewhere forever? Someone has said, “Get ready for eternity — there’s no stopping it!”
Are you looking for answers in life? Please contact us and/or worship with us. Search God’s Word with us. We believe you will not be disappointed but will find the truth you really need.
By W. Frank Walton