Is man smarter than animals? I wonder sometimes, like when my friend Joe
got his new Vizsla years ago, he named him Ralph. Now we had never heard of any
dog named Ralph, but when asked why Ralph, he simply told us “when I got him as
a puppy, I asked him his name, and he said “rowf!” And so he was self
proclaimed Ralph. Good thing he didn’t say “woof” or start to whine. Another
dog story tells us of the man who claimed his dog knew math. Going on Johnny
Carson, Johnny was skeptical, but out came the owner with his proud pooch. Who
actually looked rather dazed. After Johnny and the owner talked, Johnny told
him to show him. Having the dog sit attentively, he asked the dog “what is two
minus two?” And the dog just sat there, saying nothing. After a few seconds
Johnny got nervous, and asked “is the dog going to answer?” To which the owner
replied “he did, two minus two is nothing, and he said nothing.” Gotcha Johnny,
bet your dog can’t do that. But my favorite animal story is from Red Skelton.
He claims his horse can add, and after assembling a group in the stable,
proceeds. He whispers something in the horse’s ear, then asks him “how much is
2 plus 2?” The horse hesitates a few seconds, then hits his hoof on the ground
four times, 1-2-3-4. The crowd is silent, they’re amazed, and then Red goes up
to the horse, hitting his foot on the ground, “c’mon boy, one more.” It seems
the horse could count better than Red. Maybe we just need to listen to the
answers better, they answered correctly all three times.
After raising two sons, I learned during the teen age years the power of a
one word answer. “Can I go out?” “No.” “Can you give me $10” “No.” “Can I
have a new motorcycle?” Well, I didn’t say it was perfect. But when giving one
word answers, it leaves no room to argue. But when you say “no it’s a school
night,” they can argue, just like you used to. “I don’t have $10,” could be
answered “that’s OK Dad, just give me $5 now, you can owe me the rest.” And can
I have a new motorcycle usually meant a ride to the bike shop to look. Without
telling Theresa, although after leaving in the truck, she learned to get
suspicious. One word answers, they still work today. Yet today I find that we
have a whole generation that cannot give one word answers, or won’t. Ask
someone a yes or no question, you get a small dissertation for the answer, but
not answering the question. Democrats are real good at this. “Did you see what
happened?” “Well I was busy driving, when the light turned red, and a dog
barked, and lost my train of thought.” You didn’t answer the question, was that
a yes or no? Even the subtraction hound answered better. “Do you ride
motorcycles?” “I had a friend who crashed, and after that I rather walk.” Is
that a no? “Were you in church Sunday?” “Well the Chargers were on.” Is that
a no? Why don’t you just answer the question? Why can’t people just say no,
yet rather perjure themselves even more? Yet I hear this everywhere, and when I
give a yes or no answer, catch the questioner off guard. He doesn’t have that
extra few seconds to program himself for a response. “What did you say?” And
again the same one word answer. Or does that make it a two word answer? Yet
when asked to give details about something, “I don’t know,” is often the
answer. I guess if you want details, ask it in the form of a yes or no
question. Invoke the Jeopardy rules, become the big winner.
So when asked are you saved, how do you answer? A simple yes or no
question, yet I get the story of the bad time in church. How they went to
Catholic school. How they don’t believe religion. Does that mean no? Why
can’t you just admit it? Saying nothing is still saying no, unless you are the
subtracting dog. But yet it is the one thing, the final exam between us and
heaven. And given in the form of an open book test, Jesus tells us “you must be
born again.” “I am the only way.” Yet many skirt the issue, thinking they
skillfully have avoided making a decision. Outsmarting God. Yet that is their
decision, they have not acknowledged Jesus. Well, maybe some will say he is a
great rabbi, but great teaching won’t get you to heaven. Study to find yourself
approved, not saved. But we give to the poor, and tithe at church. We even
talk to our kids about drugs, and make them go to church. Maybe not bad things,
but who is the impetus on, you or God? Where is Jesus in all this? The
answer is still no. For Jesus tells us “to be gone, you never knew me.”
Talking to a crowd, the church type, who did many things in his name, but for
their glory. But it was Peter, when Jesus asked him “who do you say I am?”
told him “you are the Christ.” And he answered correctly. So who do you say
Jesus is? Believing in God isn’t enough, even the demons do, and shake. They
know who Jesus is, and rebelled, and went to hell. Do you get it now? So many
call out to his name in vain, blaspheming it, yet he loves back in return. So I
ask, are you saved? Maybe a better question is “would you like to be
forgiven?”
Sometime in your life, you will be asked by the spirit who you say Jesus
is? Saying nothing will be saying no. No means hell, yes means heaven. God
will honor your request to not acknowledge him on earth, and he won’t know you
in hell. Yet you will worship him every day in eternity, but in utter pain, for
every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord. Even
under the earth. While the rest of us will worship in complete peace and joy.
Again I ask, are you saved? If the yes or no part is too hard, how about “would
you rather be in heaven or hell?” And you have just been given the answer,
right from the one who is the only way. Yet many will deny him, or put him off,
until it is too late. Today is the day of salvation for many, it is also the
day of damnation for those who deny Jesus. Inspector Clouseau before being
attacked by a dog in a hotel, asked the manager “does your dog bite?” And
bending down to pet it is viciously attacked. To which the manager answers
“it’s not my dog.” Another yes or no question. Is Jesus your Lord and savior?
Only two people know, you and him. Don’t kid yourself or deny yourself into
hell. Now you know, what is your answer? Are you saved? A simple yes or no
question, that has eternal ramifications. There are many excuses for losing,
don’t add yours to it. Jesus is Lord. Amen.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com