BURNING OUT FOR JESUS
Text: Ezekiel 3:17-18
[17] Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
[18] When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
I recently read the biography of missionary Charles Cowman. He was used mightily of God to reach the Japanese. In the year 1913 God burdened his heart so much that Bro. Charles made it openly known that he wanted to reach EVERY person in Japan with the Gospel in the next five years. He was not able to rest until the entire population of 58 million Japanese had been reached, this seemed impossible. The first trip was to Tokyo, and workers were spread out everywhere distributing Bibles. During this visit, 3 million Bibles were delivered. From there, they spread out to every province, with the goal being to put a Bible in EVERY HOME. Bro. Charles in his tireless labor and work for our Lord, began to wear himself down, and his health began to fade. He went back home to America to rest and regain his health. While home in 1918, he received word that approx. 60 million people, covering 161k square miles had been reached with the Gospel, Hallelujah!
Charles Cowman lived his life IN FULL BLAZE FOR GOD’s GLORY! It was said that his life was literally burned out for God’s Kingdom. Bro. Charles had but ONE PASSION, and that was to reach lost souls with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He abandoned every other passion and embraced ONLY ONE, God’s call upon his life. His life bore the scars of service, the reproaches for Christ, and for his losses he gained a crown! He was willing to pay ANY cost that Christ may be known to all. I’m not able to write these words without a broken heart, without tears, and without being ashamed and convicted in my own heart. For all the years that I have wasted, and for all the times that I have allowed other things to come before what God has called me to do. The world has seen very few men like Charles Cowman, and when we do, we do not look long, because their lives burn away so quickly. After Bro. Charles died and went home with the Lord, a poem he wrote was found….
“When I am dying how glad I will be
That the lamp of my life has been blazed out for Thee.
I shall not mind in whatever I gave.
Labor or money, one heathen to save.
I shall not mind that the way has been rough
That Thy dear feet led the way was enough
When I am dying how glad I shall be
That the lamp of my life has been blazed out for Thee.”
We see in our text, that Ezekiel was made a watchmen over the house of Israel just as God had called Charles Cowman to be a watchman over the nation of Japan. Dear Christian friend, God’s love for the lost has not changed. We have been asleep too long and complacency has set in, while multitudes have slipped into eternity and separation from God. While our nation and our churches have been filled with laughter and pleasure, souls are filling the depths of hell. As we live our lives as if time is standing still, we are running out of time to reach the lost. Who will take the place of men like Ezekiel and Charles Cowman? Who will sound the Gospel cry and be a watchman for the souls of men heading to the portals of hell? It is my prayer today that you will take your stand. For the hour is NOW, Jesus will come as a thief in the night! May our voices be heard, heralding that wonderful name, the only name that can save, the Precious Name of Jesus!
Bro. Lawrence Longworth Isaiah 61:1 “the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
Comments