My Place and My Position

     Let me just say it right up front: I serve God because I want to. I know full well that nothing I can ever do will save me or earn me special standing with God. Having said that now let me attempt to elaborate on that point. I am just one of those people who is so grateful to my God for what He did for me that I can’t seem to thank Him enough. I do not serve God because of some kind of guilt trip (although I know my own guilt). Nor do I serve God because someone says I have to. I don’t have to. But I can’t seem to not want to serve Him. So I guess it might be a bit of a paradox; I don’t have to but I just have to. I am a firm believer in the Biblical idea that when we are truly “saved” or “born-again” the Spirit in us brings a change in our life. It is not a Spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7) but a Spirit of love, gratitude, and devotion. That is why I want to walk with God. And I don’t mean just to walk with Him. That is an understatement. I want to walk with Him the way Enoch walked with Him; the way Moses or Samuel walked with Him; the way Peter, James and John walked with Him. That might sound impossible to some, but I believe it can be done. And I believe that the first critical step to getting there is to accept our place before God and our position before God and know the difference. 

     We are created by our God to be perfect. But because of the sin nature inherited by everyone due to the fall of man we are now born into the world in a corrupted state. According to Romans 1:28-31 (and other passages) we are not worthy of God’s love but in fact we are worthy of death. So our place before God is that of a fallen, broken and condemned, sinful creature. We really need to understand that. We are not worthy. And God has never been or ever will be obligated to show mercy on us. Until we fully recognize that, we are walking into the throne- room of the King of kings with a chip on our shoulder. 

     But before we let that knowledge back us into a corner and cause us to fall into some legalistic guilt trip we need to understand point two; our position before God. As unrepentant sinners we are stuck with our place before God. However, if we have received Christ by faith (Ephesians 3:17) and are born again by His Spirit (John 3:3) then we are adopted into the family of God (Romans 8:15). So if that applies to you then you are a child of the Living God (John 1:12 & 1 John 3:1-2). This is a beautiful thing. Because God is patient and full of mercy He has offered to us salvation that equates to changing from a worthless fallen creature into His child. Our place before God may be as a fallen creature, but now our position before God is as His own child. And that is why, according to Hebrews 4:16 we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace”. Now that, to me, is a great encouragement to walk with my God. Because He moved me from my place to my position I will always want to walk with Him.

Be blessed my friends,

Rev. W. S. Caplinger C.E.

Revival on the Court Square

     Well we held the Second Annual (and last) Citywide Fall Revival on the Court Square on the 12^th of September. The turnout was less than last year, the Coshocton Rotary Club didn’t change the sign in front of the gazebo like they said they would (the playhouse was too important), and the guy organizing the first annual bacon festival was there blocking parking spaces for his event for the next day. His reservation didn't start until 9AM the next day but he was closing the streets as our event was starting and businesses were still open! So I do see a pattern. The rotary club put their priority on the playhouse. The business owners and the bacon man had bacon as their priority. But my wife and I, and a few faithful friends from our home church, and a brother from my Monday morning men’s prayer group had God as our priority. And ya know what? God showed up! Yep. Our little worship service of about a dozen people was blessed with God’s presence. He spoke to us, challenged us, and embraced us. Do I think revival is coming to Coshocton? Yes actually, it did. And we enjoyed it. Now we are back to work trying to share the Gospel of Jesus with the ones who will listen. Why was it our last “organized” citywide…? Well because my wife and I don’t expect to be there in September at least for the next couple years. And besides that, we did what God said to do. The city in general is rejecting God. We offered and they declined. That probably is connected to why the only Christian book store went out of business in August. Am I discouraged? No. I did what God said and His will was accomplished. Will I continue to pray for Coshocton? Of course! “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23 NASB). This is just a picture of the world condition. People for the most part don’t want God. But that is not my responsibility. The responsibility God placed on me was to offer them Jesus. And that is what I will continue to do as we travel the country seeking those who want to find Him.

Be blessed my friends,

Rev. W. S. Caplinger C.E.