Ring Your Bell

 

There sure is a lot of noise in the world today. These noises demand our attention. “Hey! Pay attention to the election!” “No! Pay attention to the Olympics!” “What about these riots?” “No, listen to these headlines!” In the world we live in there are constant distractions. That is no news, but are we as Christians making noise to demand similar attention? “Keep ringing your bell. Eventually people pay attention,” said Conan O’Brien in reference to becoming a comedic voice and talk show host. I think the same thing can be said as encouragement to us as Christians. In a world raging with noise, we must have a consistent and constant message. Jesus is Lord. What He says goes. In order for our bell to be heard we all have to do a few things every day. We must love each other. No matter our race, gender, background, economic status, we must love one another and act like it. We must love our enemies and live that out. Above all, we must love our God, live like it, fall in love with His words, and be obedient to His commands. God loves us despite our inconsistencies, but for the sake of souls, we must be a consistent ringing in the ears of unbelievers. We must be examples of righteous living to the sinful lost souls of today.

Barton W. Stone was born in 1772. In his autobiography he wrote, “My father, John Stone died when I was very young. I have no recollection of him in life.” He grew up without his father, but he never used his loss as an excuse to rebel or quit. When soldiers returned after the war cussing, drinking, and gambling, he refused to be like them. In spite of an overbearing teacher, he excelled in school. He went on to be baptized and become one of the most influential preachers in his time. * When Moses Lard was twelve his father died of smallpox. His widowed mother lost their home and found it very difficult to provide for six children. When he was seventeen, she told him and his brother, that they would have to go out and make it on their own. He never saw her again. The only thing she had to give him was a New Testament. At the time Moses couldn’t read or write. Some young men would have become bitter and mean, but not Moses. He learned to read and taught himself to write, studied God’s Word, obeyed the gospel, and became one of the most eloquent authors and preachers of his generation. * J.W. McGarvey’s father died when he was four. His mother later remarried, but his stepfather died when McGarvey was twenty-two. In spite of the afflictions he suffered, he was never resentful toward friends and families with better fortune in life. He is known to this day for his good nature and kindness. McGarvey rose above the disadvantages of life and became one of the most effective of all the writers, teachers, and preachers in the history of the American Restoration.

These stories encourage us, but we should not be surprised. Even the Bible contains many examples of those who rose above the adversity and influence of their young years. * Abraham’s father served other God’s (Joshua 24:2), but Abraham followed the Lord. * Moses was the adopted grand-son of a pagan king, but he chose to worship God (Hebrews 11:24-26). * Hezekiah’s father was an idolater, but Hezekiah feared the Lord unlike any king before or after him (2 Kings 16:2-4; 18:1-7). * Josiah was eight when his father was murdered, but he became a king who sought God with all of his heart (2 Kings 22-23). * Daniel was taken from his home when he was a young man and made a eunuch, but he had an “excellent spirit” (Daniel 6:3). * Joseph was taken from the father he loved when he was seventeen, but who could think of a better young man (Genesis 37-50)? We don’t choose many of the circumstances of our life, but we have to decide what to do with them. I pray it be your will to seek and find God – then ring your bell with joy.