John Egglen

Something i got while preparing for Sunday's Bible Study...



John Egglen had never preached one sermon in his life. That Sunday morning snow had placed a blanket of severe weather around Colchester, England. No one else would be in church. Why should he attend? But John Egglen got out of bed. After all, he was a deacon and should show some persistence and commitment. He put on his coat and hat and walked six miles through the snow and ice to church. Only twelves members of the church were in attendance. The rest stayed home, including the preacher. Someone suggested they go home, but John Egglen insisted that they worship God because they had walked so far to be in church. Besides, they had a 13-year old visitor. There was no one to preach but the only deacon present: John Egglen. For ten minutes, the poor deacon rambled and searched for something to say, but at the end, he focussed directly on the visitor and said, "Young man, look to Jesus. Look! Look! Look!" Did the challenge make a difference? Did John Egglen know that in his sermonette he had changed the course of history? Not at all. But the boy who became a man later confessed, "I did look, and then and there the cloud on my heart lifted, the darkness rolled away, and at that moment I saw the sun." The boy's name? Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers ever known to England, through whom thousands were brought to Christ.

A revival can begin with one sermon. A changed life can start with one prayer. A revolution can be sparked with one speech. A flood begins with one rain drop. An avalanche with one snowflake. A mighty oak sprouts from one small acorn. A new life can begin with one step in the right direction. This morning take that very step to Jesus. And who know's but God, you may be the next Charles Spurgeon, the next Lottie Moon, the next Mother Teresa. For it is through faith in Jesus Christ that God will grant you the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference. There's no family so mangled that God cannot mend it. There's no marriage so broken that God cannot rebuild it. There's no life so sinful that God cannot forgive it. "Have you not known? Have you not heard?" Jesus Christ died for you so that you wouldn't have to live without him!