Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
May 16, 2001 Bobby Dockery
An Entry In A Diary
Over a hundred years ago, young Sam Clemens was persuaded to attend the services of a Gospel Meeting. The name of the preacher and the subject of his sermons have long been forgotten. But Clemens left the following autobiographical record of the experience in his diary: “Campbellite revival. All converted but me. All sinners again in a week.”
Clemens is internationally known today under his pen name as Mark Twain, the celebrated author of such American classics as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. His barbed comment invites the following observations:
1)
It Is Unspeakably Tragic When Declarations Are Not Matched By Deeds.
Professions of faith must be proved by performance! “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2.17) Evidently, Mark Twain felt that the sermons he saw spoke louder than the sermons he heard. He remained a lifelong skeptic and critic of religion. What a shame that his great talents were never redeemed for the Lord. Perhaps it was the careless conduct of professed Christians which was partially to blame for extinguishing his interest in the Gospel.
2)
Sometimes We Imagine Faults Where There Are None To Justify Our Own Failings.
I doubt that Mark Twain’s caustic observation was completely accurate. It is likely that he exaggerated in order to justify his own non-conversion. One of the oldest dodges in the world is pointing to “Hypocrites” to excuse one’s own faults. What others do or fail to do does not relieve me of my own obligations to God! And, as someone has well observed: “To hide behind a hypocrite, you have to be smaller then he is!”
3)
We Must Never Doubt That Genuine Conversion Can Take Place.
Though some who answer the invitation may only be responding to emotion or the excitement of the moment, there are many more who come to “Obey from the heart that form of doctrine” which was delivered to them. (Romans 6.17) Genuine revival does occur! We must never allow ourselves to grow cynical about the possibility of conversion. The possibility of change is the hope of the world!
“Repent ye therefore and be converted” (Acts 3.19) It is possible! It is necessary! It is really up to you!
BOBBY DOCKERY
Fayetteville, Ark.
