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One day, a businessman walking along the beach noticed a boy hurriedly picking and throwing things into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, "young man, what are you doing?" The boy replied, throwing starfish back into the ocean. " The surf is up and the tide is going out, if I don't throw them back, they’ll die". The businessman laughed at him and said, "Don't you realise there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish. Stop wasting your time, you can't make any difference". After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean, then smiling at the man, he said, " I made a difference to that one". (The Starfish Story, Loren Eiseley)
The greatest need of God for the end-time harvest is men-raising and not fund-raising campaign (Isaiah 6:8, Luke 10:2-3). Yes, the harvest hands (men) are the most important equipment that God needs for the rescue operations on earth (Matthew 10:5-10). The boy in the above story understood this salient truth. He refused to accept the discouraging comments of the businessman. He knew it is possible to make a difference without organizing a fund-raising campaign. The boy was convinced that the available hands are what God needed and he was willing to serve wholeheartedly.
It is obvious that the tide of this world has washed many people out of the ocean of God's enclave. There are many lost, confused, helpless and stranded starfish on the shore of life everywhere around us. Heaven is looking for harvest hands (men) that will go pick and throw those stranded starfish back into the ocean of God's love before they pass out (Mark 16:15).
Unfortunately, many professing believers today are like the businessman in the above story. Instead of joining the boy in rescuing the stranded starfish at the shore, they are always looking for opportunities to organize fund raising campaigns. The things that matters most to the businessmen are the ephemerals on the shore of life. They believe that the act of rescuing a lost, stranded starfish or soul is a complete waste of time and resources. What a shallow or myopic mind-set!
"I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. ... so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple." - 2 Tim 4:1-2 (MSG)
Friends, we are the harvest hands (God's equipment) for the end-time rescue operations. God is patiently looking over our shoulders and expecting to see us make positive differences for Him everyday by proclaiming the good news (2 Tim. 4:1-2). We cannot afford to be slack on the shore of life since we know that Heaven rejoices over every single starfish that we throw back into the ocean (Luke 15:7 & 10). We must never get distracted or fooled by the comments of those many modern day businessmen or ceremonial believers around us. If we do, we may lose our place in the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).
Friends, are you one of those helpless starfish that has been washed to the sea shore by the strong tide of life? Has the lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life dragged you out of the reach of the Almighty? Are you a backslider? Are you a hypocrite? Has your inordinate obsession for power, position, success and riches thrown you out of the Great Shepherd's everlasting arms? Then, please repent and surrender your life to Jesus now. Stop struggling with your maker and throw yourself back into that powerful fountain of His blood that cleanses deeply. You will never regret that you did!
Beloved, are you one of those businessmen around? Please amend your ways. But If you don't, you will be held liable for every starfish that dies around you (Ezekiel 33:8). Are you one of the few harvest hands or God's equipment in this generation? I rejoice with you. Please continue to throw those stranded starfish back into the ocean (2 Tim. 4:5). Great shall be your reward in Heaven. Never stop living a life that radiates God's love and command positive impact. Please keep the fire burning till you hear "well done thou good and faithful servant" in the city of Gold.
God's counsel to us as we approach the end of the harvest session on earth is summarized in this powerful poem below:
ONE MORE DAY TO LIVE ( By Carol Ann)
If I had only one more day to live,
All love, praise, and glory to you I’d give.
I’d try my best to put a smile on someone’s face
To share with them your saving grace.
I’d remember things about my life
The times you were there through fun and strife,
And thank you then for all you’ve done.
Without you no victories would have been won.
If I have one more day before I die
I would apologize to the kid I made cry.
I would take back the harsh words said to everyone,
And fill their hearts with laughter and fun.
If I only had one more day
I wouldn’t push anyone away.
I wouldn’t try to hurt a friend
Because I should love them to the very end.
Why not live each day as if it were our last
Looking towards our future and forgetting the past
To be a Christian each day we live
And most importantly to always give.
My prayer for you and my humble self is that, the Holy Spirit will pour a fresh passion for lost souls in our hearts. May we truly live each day as if it would be our last on earth. And as we rescue starfishes for Christ on the shore of life, may we not miss out of the grand reception on the eternal shore in Jesus name, Amen.
On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord- Pastor E.A Adeboye, I would like to invite you to our February 2025 Holy Ghost Service. Theme: GLORY AHEAD - 2. Date: Friday, Feb 7th 2025. Time: 6pm (WAT). Venue: The Redemption City of God, Mowe, Nigeria.
Good day and God bless
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
For more articles, please visit:
https://okanlawon.webnode.page/
https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
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