Yes, “It is time” to clear all the events and activities from your calendar and mark April 28th – May 1st in bold print: “27TH ANNUAL OKLAHOMA CITY LECTURES!” We have been working on this one event for nearly a year and we are only four days away from the first lesson on Thursday night at 7:00 P.M. If you have not told your family and friends, do it now! Give them one of the printed advertisements, talk to them, encourage them, and tell them you will come by and pick them up and take them to and from the lectureship. You may not believe it, but people come to gospel meetings and lectureships because they have been invited by someone they know!
Did I hear someone say, “Oh, I have asked my family members and friends a hundred times and they never come”? Do you remember how many times someone asked you to come with them to a gospel meeting before you gave in and went? Oh, you were one of those “raised in the church!” So your dad, or mother, just said, “Get up, it’s Sunday morning!” Or, “We are having a gospel meeting this week and yes, you are going!” How blessed you were to have such parents, or grandparents! They introduced you to God, Jesus the Savior, to the gospel which is God’s power unto salvation, and the church which Jesus purchased with his own blood! Well, your family members and friends have not yet really heard the pure gospel of Christ; so what does this mean to you? Is it worth one more try one more invitation from you?
So what if every effort fails? Have you ever read: “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66)? Think for just a moment, here is the Master Teacher, he has taught the truth, but “many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” Have you ever thought about how many times Jesus “failed”? When Jesus looked upon Jerusalem, he said: “… how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:37). If you can, look at the face of Jesus as he utters these words; can you see tears in his eyes? Have you ever “failed” like this?
Of course, right here is a good place and a necessary time to express the meaning of the word “failed” as used in this article. Generally, the word “failed” is used to express unsuccessfulness! We might say: “Having undergone failure: we have new economic policies intended to replace the failed ones of the past administration.” This means that the efforts of the past administration did not reach their goals; therefore, new economic policies were necessary! In the case of Jesus, his teaching was truth, not subject to change; therefore, it was not the subject that failed; it was not the teacher who failed, as Jesus was the Master Teacher; but the failure was on the part of those who would not accept, would not believe, the truth! So, no matter how many times you invite your family and friends, and they do not accept the invitation; it does not mean you have failed!
To help with this understanding, take the Apostolic Commission: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Now, were the apostles responsible for people “believing,” or not “believing”? Notice where Jesus put this responsibility: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Verse 16). It is the responsibility of the one who hears the gospel to “believe”; if he does not, then, he has failed! So, let me say once more, when you invite family and friends and they do not come; you have not failed, but they have!
“Yes, it is time” for you to personally invite family and friends to the “27th Annual Oklahoma City Lectures” on April 28th – May 1st!
Frank R. Williams