Characters in the Bible I Have Met

             The Bible has records of people who made history by the manner in which they conducted themselves. The Holy Ghost made it a point to draw attention to these folks so we could learn from their experiences. History has a way of repeating itself. The incidents are the same, but the characters are different.
             I once worked with a man named Steve. He was a good man, but had suffered several heart attacks. One day, I asked him if he was afraid to die and stand before Jesus. His reply was, “I’m ready to stand before the Lord because I have never hurt any man”! I found Steve in the Bible.


For Steve being ignorant of God’s righteousness went about establishing his own righteousness.


At that same work site, I had a boss that had a stroke and was on the verge of a major medical event. The doctors told him to change his lifestyle or he would die. He would not take their advice. He was living on borrowed time, so I began to tell him about Jesus and a place in Heaven. His response was, “I don’t believe any of that nonsense. Don’t even try to tell me anything.”


See that you refuse not Him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape if we are turn away from Him that speaks from Heaven.


A few months later he had his last stroke and died. We all went to his funeral and the preacher stood up and unashamedly lied on his behalf. He said our boss was a good man who did good things and God needed him in Heaven. I muttered under my breath and called the preacher a liar. My co-workers heard me and told me to hush. Later they questioned me and I told them the truth. Some men go to salvation and some do not.
Through the years, I have had to deal with a boat load of people who tried rebuking me for not teaching the Bible the way they wanted me to. They didn’t believe women should be teachers. Others said tongues was of the devil. Some of them didn’t believe it was God’s will to heal every time. Many refused to accept the message of prosperity, God loves the poor above all. I am committed to teaching the uncompromised Word of God.


For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears.


I don’t have enough room to list all the people who have taken offense at the stupidest things. One lady came late and left early and was offended because I didn’t talk to her. One man got offended because I didn’t build the church big enough. Another man got offended because we didn’t build a kitchen to feed the poor. Several people got offended because an associate minister resigned.


Blessed are those whosoever shall not be offended on My account.