Jake's Place

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

My Uncle Gene was visiting the Northeast one time and he and his wife got up one morning looking for a place to eat breakfast.  They drove and drove along the roads and couldn't find a restaurant anywhere.  Finally, my uncle saw a small sign on a tree that said, "Jake's Place".  He looked at his wife and they decided to take the chance.  They drove and drove until eventually they saw a house that had a lot of cars parked in front of it.  When they entered the small building the folks inside just stared at them.  Uncle Gene was a big man who I imagine just stared right on back!  Well, he and his wife sat down and noticed a man behind the counter cooking and an older woman cleaning tables, so they waited for someone to come and take their order.  They waited and waited until finally my uncle leaned over to another patron sitting near him and asked, "What does a body have to do for someone to take their order here?"  The gentlemen replied that no one would wait on them, if he wanted something he had to go to the counter and order it from the old man cooking.  So, my uncle went up to the counter and the old man asked him what he would have.  Uncle Gene was ordering two eggs over easy when the old man stopped him and said, "No sir, eggs come only one way here, scrambled."  Seeing the writing on the wall, so to speak, my uncle agreed to the scrambled eggs and went and sat down once again to a long wait.  He leaned over to the same patron and asked, "How long does it take to scramble eggs in this joint?"  The man said, "Not long, but you have to go up there and get them, they don't bring your food to you."  In frustration, Uncle Gene got back up and sure enough, there was his breakfast cooked and waiting.  As he told this story to my dad he said, "Jake's Place, sure won't ever forget ole Jake's Place!" 

That is a cute story, but has a powerful illustration in it.  I have seen the same type of things happen inside a church house.  People who are seeking Christ and are hungry and thirsty for something to change their lives will show up unannounced at a church service and everyone just stares at them.  Maybe because they aren't in their Sunday best or maybe have a tattoo and piercings.  We look at them as if they are martians from another planet instead of asking them if they'd like a seat by us.  We let them sit there wondering what is going on instead of offering to introduce them to the Preacher or shake their hands.  We are guilty of hiding our lights and hiding the precious Gospel of the Lord.

Next time you see someone struggling to get to know the Lord, why not help them out?  Don't cower in your pew or wherever you may be and hide the LIGHT!  NO!!!  Shine it bright, show the way and lead someone to find the straight path and the narrow gate.  They are stumbling and looking for it, so don't just stare, HELP!

We don't want to be like ole Jake's Place and make the Gospel hard for people to find.  We need to proclaim it, show it and be an example of it. 

Until Next Time, Lord Willing,
Sheri