Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2017

CHAPEL NOTES In Matthew 7:21, Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name? And in Your name cast out demons? And in Your name perform many miracles?’” Then Jesus said, “I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’” How can a person know all these facts, even do things for a person, but not be in a relationship with them? In college, I was on the honor guard for the governor of Texas. And after one event, they tell us, “Go to the buffet line before you go back to Texas A&M.” I’m reaching for a piece of cauliflower, and this huge hand comes in. I look up and it’s Nolan Ryan. I said, “You’re Nolan Ryan.” He looked at me and said, “Yes, I am.” There’s something I realized in that moment. I’d studied him as a baseball fan my whole life, but I did not know him. And he didn’t know me. If Jesus Christ walked into this room, would you know Him, and would He know you? You enter into a relationship with Him through faith. “Lord, I am trusting in You as my Lord and Savior; I’m offering everything to You.” Then, it’s an every-single-day, deepening relationship with Him. When Matthew 7 comes, and you’re standing face-to-face with Him, it won’t be an introduction. It’ll be a reunion with your best friend and the love of your life. Matt Carter is Pastor of Preaching and Vision at The Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas. In Genesis 22, God says to Abraham, “Take your son, whom you love more than life itself, and sacrifice him to me.” “Hold on, Lord. You said through this child my offspring would be as the sand of the sea. How’s that going to be?” The next day, with Isaac and two men with him, he began the journey to Mount Moriah. Taking the wood from the donkey’s back, he placed it on Isaac’s back, and the two of them journey to the top of the mountain. Isaac says, “Dad, didn’t you forget something? I don’t see a lamb for the offering.” “My son, God will provide a lamb.” Isaac stood there as Abraham bound him. With trembling hand, that old man is ready to do what he didn’t think he could do. There is a voice. “Don’t hurt that boy. You think you love him Abraham? You cannot appreciate the love I have for that boy.” There is a sound behind him. The ram is caught in the brambles. God has provided a lamb. Go with me to the bottom of the hill. Walk a little ahead of Abraham and Isaac. Who do you see? That’s your heavenly Father. And look at Isaac; you know that man. That boy. That only begotten Son of God, the Lord Jesus. And the wood is the cross of Christ. We see the Son placed there. This time, the ram and the boy are one. What is the cost of your whole life? More than you could ever pay. All to Him you owe. Please never stop being grateful to God the Father for His fabulous love. Paige Patterson is President of Southwestern BaptistTheological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Cedarville University Trustee. Do You Know Him? The Real Cost The following is an excerpt from a January 17, 2017, chapel presentation by Matt Carter. Listen to his full remarks at cedarville.edu/chapel . The following is an excerpt from a March 21, 2017, chapel presentation by Paige Patterson. Listen to his full remarks at cedarville.edu/chapel . 20 | Cedarville Magazine