ARE YOU ALIVE?

I just read an interesting story about a preacher who had inherited a “dead” congregation.  This preacher was warned by the preacher before him, that the people were “dead”.   This young preacher was full of the gospel and was determined that with God at the helm that the congregation would become alive.  He tried and tried, he created outreach ministries and he was constantly visiting the members.  It seemed nothing was going to bring him down.  It finally dawned on him that the congregation was indeed “dead”.  So the following Sunday, he said to the few “active” members that were there for service that he was holding a funeral for the “dead” church the following Sunday.   As the week was progressing, the town was talking about the funeral.  Everybody wanted know about the funeral that was happening.  Finally the Sunday arrived.  It was a packed house and there in front of the pulpit was an open casket.  The preacher started by reading scripture, he shared prayer; he even gave a very sad sermon on the demise of this over 100 year old church and congregation.  Then as he finished, everyone started to go by the casket and to their surprise all they saw was a mirror in the casket reflecting their image. 

Are you “dead”?  If you are a Christian and you are breathing right now…then you are alive, but are you really alive for God.  If I were to walk up to you, would you be beaming with the light of Christ or would you be beaming with a “woe as me” attitude.  How often are you looking to be served instead of serving?  I know we all have are share of ups and downs.  I know that sometimes we experience pain from a death of love one or financial struggles.  Sometimes we can just be overwhelmed in our own circumstances.  But if you belong to Jesus Christ, than you have hope.  NO EXCUSES!  Anyone can profess to be a Christian, but it’s those that prove it with their life.  If you are “dead” today it is because you choose to be because you want to be served rather than serve.  IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU.  God made you for his purpose and His glory; when you realize this, life makes sense.  “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4,5.  Is your worship “dead”?  Is your service “dead”?  What are you doing for God’s kingdom?  Maybe you need to look at the mirror in that casket.  Are you alive or are you “dead”?