God is looking for some good men and women: are you one of them?
Years ago, the Marine Corps had a slogan that read, “We’re looking for some good men.” The concept behind the advertising campaign was obvious: not everyone can be a Marine. Training and homework are hard. Anyone wanting to serve in the Marine Corps has to be some kind of tough individualist, willing to take orders, who also works and gets along with others. These same attributes can be applied to people who want to serve God.
Our Heavenly Father has always looked for men and women who are willing to serve him. The sad truth is that he hasn’t always found them. In the Old Testament Biblical book of Ezekiel, chapter 22 and verses 23-31, the King James Bible says: “And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, say to him, You are the earth that is unclean , nor rain on the day of wrath. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst of her, like a roaring lion that snatches prey; they devoured souls, seized treasure and precious things; they made her many widows in the midst of her. The priests have violated my law, and have defiled my holy things, they have made no difference between the holy and the profane, nor have they made a difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am defiled among them. among them are like ravenous wolves, to shed blood and destroy souls, to gain dishonest gain.And their prophets have covered them with loose mud, seeing vanity, and divination lied to them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when Jehovah has not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised theft, and have afflicted the poor and the needy; yes, they have unjustly oppressed the foreigner. And I looked for a man among them who would make a fence and stand in the gap before me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but i didn’t find it. Therefore I poured out my wrath on them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath; I have paid his way on his head, says the Lord GOD.
The twenty-second chapter of Ezekiel is devoted primarily to explaining the sins of Jerusalem, the results of those acts, and God’s punishment for them. It is a very sad progression of events. The problem starts when the prophets who are supposed to be serving God serve themselves. They do not follow or obey his law. This disobedience soon infects the priests. They also begin to ignore God’s law to the point where people are no longer told what is right and what is wrong. Like many churches today, they create a kind of “do whatever you want” religion that ignores many biblical teachings and warnings to the local church and the body of believers as a whole.
The corrupt circle is completed when the leaders of the people, having been deceived by the prophets and priests, also begin to go their own ways. They oppress the people to get rich. The poor and foreigners become his easiest targets and the most vulnerable victims of his betrayal. It’s amazing to see that God still wants to put things right in the midst of all these wrongdoings. All he needs is someone who is willing to “stand in the gap before me for the land.” Unfortunately, he does not find that person.
God was looking for a person who would tell people the truth based on the laws he gave them. In reality, it was just a simple matter of obedience, but no one wanted to step up and risk being rejected or punished by those who were unwilling to serve God in the way he taught them. Everyone just decided to “go with the flow” and not rock the boat. The results were tragic and progressive. The prophets and priests continued to lie, while the leaders of the people continued to oppress them. God turned their own lies and wickedness against them and allowed his enemies to defeat them.
Today we also see a sad progression of events based on the disobedience of those who claim to speak for God. Many Christian pastors, evangelists, teachers, and church leaders have turned away from God’s word into false teachings. For example, they no longer teach or practice the fundamentals of the faith that include the divine nature, the virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, the victorious resurrection, and the visible return of Jesus Christ. They question the inerrancy and inerrancy of the Bible and use corrupted and unreliable versions. They ignore the teaching that people must be born again, confessing their sins to God and accepting Jesus as their Savior. Even some who believe in the second birth deny the Biblical teaching that all believers must be active soul winners. The New Testament Biblical book of 1 Peter chapter 2 and verse 5 makes this clear in the King James Bible where it says, “Ye also, like living stones, be built up a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices.” acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Like the Marines, God is looking for some good men and women to serve. That service begins with your ability to obey the simplest of his teachings. First, you need to become a Christian. If he is not sure that he will go to heaven when he dies, God tells us that he can be sure by accepting Jesus Christ as his Savior. Simply pray to God, admit that he is a sinner, and ask Jesus to come into his heart and forgive all his sins. The New Testament Bible book of Romans, chapter 10 and verses 9-10 says in the King James Bible: “That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be because with the heart one believes for righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses for salvation.”
Salvation is the first step. Finding a good church to attend and join is next. That church should be a Bible-believing, Christ-honoring house of God. Once you find a home in the church, you will need to be baptized in order to join. The Bible teaches baptism by immersion in water. John the Baptist practiced this method and the Word of God gives us an excellent example in the biblical book of Acts of the New Testament, chapter 8 and verses 26-39 where the King James Bible says: “And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go south, along the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert.” his chariot read the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah). Then the Spirit said to Philip, Come near and join this chariot. And Philip ran to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you read? And he said: How can I, unless some man guides me? And he asked Felipe to come up and sit with him. The passage of Scripture that he read was this: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter; and as a lamb dumb before its shearer, so he did not open his mouth: In his humiliation the judgment was taken away from him: and who shall count his generation? because his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said: I pray thee, of whom does the prophet speak this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning in the same scripture, preached Jesus to him. And as they went along the road, they came to a certain water; and the eunuch said: Look, here is water; What prevents me from being baptized? And Felipe said: If you believe with all your heart, you can. And answering he said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he ordered the car to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his joyful way.
Once you are a member of the church, you should start learning the Word of God. You must do this in two ways. First, by attending services that usually include a mid-week Bible study, Sunday school, and worship service. The pastor and others will teach you the Word. Second, you need to read God’s Word for yourself. Get a King James Version Bible and start with the New Testament Bible book of Luke. It is one of the four gospels and is the only one that really explains how John the Baptist and Jesus are related. It also gives us a look at the childhood of Jesus.
Prayer is another important step in obedience that will help you become someone God can use. Pray at least twice a day: when you wake up and just before you go to sleep. Pray for yourself and for others. The New Testament Biblical book of Matthew makes it clear that prayer is about asking. In Matthew chapter 7 and verses 7-11, the King James Bible says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you; for everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds.” , and to the one who knocks, it is opened. Or what man is there among you, who if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake? Then, being evil, you know give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?
Another important step in serving God is deciding on the title. A ‘tithe’ is ten percent of your income. That may seem like a lot, especially if you don’t make a lot of money. However, God uses that money to finance the local church and allow believers to carry out His Will. He also promises to give back to those who give to him. The Biblical Old Testament book of Malachi, chapter 3 and verse 10 says in the King James Bible: “Bring all titles to the storehouse, and there be food in my house, and test me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if not I will open the windows of heaven for you, and I will pour out blessings on you until it overflows.”
God does not ask you to be saved, baptized, attend church, pray, read the bible or title for his sake, he asks it for your sake! You avoid Hell, grow in faith, and gain trust in the Lord by doing these things. Just as basic training helps recruits become Marines by developing organizational skills and physical fitness, obedience to God’s Word builds spiritual strength and helps prepare a Christian to better serve the Lord. In exchange for your obedience, God blesses you, cares for you, and is there for you when you need him most. God is looking for some good men and women. If he is ready to serve you, his marching orders are in the Bible.