John the Baptist had a unique and critical calling upon his life. As the forerunner of Christ, he began to thunder forth the message of biblical repentance after nearly 400 hundred years of heavenly silence. Multitudes left their bustling cities, quiet towns, and rural homes to travel to the wilderness area around the Jordan River to hear this powerful prophet. With such a diverse audience seeking to hear him, John may have been tempted to change both the style and substance of his messages to fit the expectations of his listeners, but he never compromised the truth that God had given to him. In fact, his preaching finally led to his imprisonment and untimely death.

Some could easily criticize this man of God for having such a brief ministry, or for his refusal to approach King Herod in a softer, user-friendly, and seeker-sensitive kind of way. Yet Jesus said about this man: "For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist." John fulfilled the ministry that God had called him to and equipped him for. The nation had responded to his preaching, he baptized the Lord Jesus, and he began to point others to Him as the ultimate fountain of grace as he said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!" In the sunset of his God ordained ministry, John said, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

There might be seasons of life that you and I encounter when we feel as if we are all alone on the pathway of faith. Two thoughts should occupy our minds and hearts during these kinds of experiences: One, Jesus said that He would never leave us nor forsake us, so we are not alone. Praise the Lord! And two, if it does appear that you are the only one in your workplace, family, neighborhood, school, etc. that sincerely loves Jesus and desires to live for His glory, then by the power of the Holy Spirit living in you as a Christ follower, be faithful to the One who has graciously and eternally saved you!

I often think of a popular song written by Squire Parsons, released way back on January 1, 1995, that reminds me of the faithfulness of John the Baptist when his voice was the only one declaring the way of the Lord. Listen, worship, and remain faithful to proclaim the gospel of Christ with your voice.

With recent current events surrounding the pending confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court, and his stated abuse of alcohol while in his teenage and college years, I decided to post a testimony that has been on my heart for quite a while. May the power of the risen Christ lift up those who struggle with any kind of ongoing addiction.

http://pulpittruth.blogspot.com/2018/10/my-last-drink.html
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