Can I help you?

BY REV. GARY LANBERT - LIGHT OF THE LAKES FRIENDS CHURCH

I'd just reached the top of the stairs when a screeching lady ran at me – knife raised above her head: "I'll kill you! I’ll kill you!"
A bulletproof vest saved my life that day. The lady had been beaten by her husband – she stabbed him. We couldn’t save him; we did help her …
When this young man became a police officer – he thought he was going to "save the world." It didn't take long to realize that he couldn't be everywhere at once … he could only help one person at a time.
That young officer grew up, still wanting to help people. I'd like to believe he made a difference to some.
In later years, the officer retired — well, not quite. He became a pastor. As a new pastor, he again wanted to help people. He wanted to save people.
Forward to 2019 – I realize I can only help so many people. As a pastor, I can't save anyone.
Many, many years ago, a child was born. He wanted to help people as well. He wanted people to be saved. That young man was nailed to a cross and His death made it possible for the world to be saved. Jesus Christ was the Son of God – Jesus Christ was God.
John 3:14-16 says: "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Folks, while police officers want to help everyone, we can't. As a pastor, I want everyone to find salvation through Jesus Christ. As police officers and as pastors, it's kind of like standing on the bank of a fast flowing river watching people floating by – drowning. We can maybe help or maybe save only a few… Jesus Christ, because of Calvary, has the authority and power to help and save ANYONE who will call upon Him.
I John 4: 9, 10 says: "This is how God showed His love among us; He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Cops and pastors can't help everyone – no matter how much we want to.
One more verse and I’m done: If you forget this article tomorrow, so be it – but never forget Romans 10:13, which says: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
"Everyone" means you.