After posting that which is below on recommending both Jesse Johnson and Greg Morse....while on a drive....I booted up another Jesse Johnson sermon.....and couldn't wait to post on something that he said in it. Actually it was a chapel talk to Master's University students.....and the topic was more or less.....depression. Here is what hit home in a way that we all need to understand....
At the beginning of the talk....he told a story about his own matriculation to seminary. His pastor wasn't for it initially....so Jesse went in a different direction....and taught high school Spanish for two years....but was very dissatisfied with that vocation. A man....presumably from his church....this was in Albuquerque where he grew up....took an interest in his predicament....took him out to breakfast....and encouraged him on spiritual growth. Please bear with me on this....to see where I'm going.
This man introduced Jesse to the ministries of John MacArthur.....and also John Piper....something that I have done and continue to do all the time....introduce people to these two men. He gave Jesse a John MacArthur Study Bible....something that I also have done a number of times....as recently....believe it or not....as four days ago. He gave Jesse a specially chosen CD....and a book by Jonathan Edwards....both of which I have done many times over the past four decades.....giving away thousands of books and hundreds of CDs. In other words....this man was me.
Jesse Johnson went on to the Master's Seminary. Years passed....Covid came on....and that man who had taken such an interest in Jesse....after hurting his back....became addicted to pain killers. He lost his family over his addiction....and was in rehab in a hospital....this now in Oregon....got into a fight with nurses.....ran out of the hospital....crossed a freeway....and was hit be a truck and died! This happened two weeks prior to Jesse Johnson giving this talk.
Have you figured out where I'm going with this? We....all of us believers in our glorious Lord and Savior and coming King....are never to become overconfident. We are always to examine ourselves....to work out our salvation in fear and trembling....and to be vigilant at all times....knowing that wolves....and roaring lions....are out there....looking for us to slip up but one time. The following YouTube is that chapel talk....
