China Beach

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 109 -

A Place to Rest and Recover -- but only for a Season!

Back in the eighties, "China Beach"  was a popular television show.  It was a place where soldiers went to get medical treatment during the war.  There, they rested and recovered, often returning to active duty, after healing.  Sometimes their injuries sent them home to the United States -- sometimes into eternity.

Many Christians today are under the 

impression that their born again experience

 is about rest and relaxation -- here and now.  

Quite the contrary!  It's about enlisting in the Army of God to win the world to Christ!  It's about re-enlisting.  It's about serving your time, until God takes you Home.

Everyday, people are dying 

and entering an eternity without God.  

Your service is needed!  God wants You!

If my memory serves me, there was one character on China Beach nicknamed, "Boonie."  He had some emotional issues due to active combat and wasn't able to go back into the field.  Instead, he just stayed at China Beach, helping out any way he could.  He was the exception to the rule.  Although he was physically able, he was broken emotionally, never to fight again.

Unfortunately many Christians are 

 at China Beach without just cause.

Hey -- I understand that everyone needs a little rest and relaxation.  God, Himself, told us to keep the sabbath day holy.  (Exodus 20:8-10)  He's adamant about a weekly day of rest!  As healthy Christians, however, one must come home from vacation and go back to work in the Father's vineyard!  There comes a time when the rest and relaxation period is over! 

Too many are taking extended stays at China Beach!

No more!   The Beach is closed!

I recall a time when I was very sick with the flu.  I wasn't able to even lift my head from the pillow.  I couldn't fathom the thought of ever getting out of bed.  No way!  It was an impossible task.  Slowly, however, I began to heal.  In time, I recovered, and when I did, you couldn't keep me in bed.  I was up and about A.S.A.P.  The last thing I wanted to do was lie down.  When you're healthy, there's something wrong with staying in bed, as if you were sick!

The way of the world is to make as much money as you can so you can spend as much time as possible doing fun stuff.  I'm not against having a good time.  And I'm not here to proclaim a legalistic approach to Christianity that emphasizes how much time you can put in with God.  Here's what I am saying...

When God saves your soul, you become very aware 

of the lost world around you, 

and how you were once part of it.

It's normal to turn around and reach for the hands 

of others who are drowning and pull them out too!  

It's not normal to go on an everlasting vacation 

at China Beach when everyone is crying out to be saved.

Oral Roberts -- the great healing evangelist -- was once encouraged by a friend to take a little time for himself, to relax and have some fun.  He certainly deserved it.  He was a hard worker for the LORD!  But NO!  He wouldn't hear it.  As far as he was concerned, his vacation awaited him in Heaven.  Until then, he would be about His Father's business here on earth.

That said,  I'll be stepping out in these RED army boots of mine until the day I die!

Gail