ARE YOUR DUCKS ALL IN A ROW?

ARE YOUR DUCKS ALL IN A ROW?
By DR. GUY G. GOODELL,
Pastor

BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH
WEST AND FEEDER STREETS
HUDSON FALLS, NEW YORK 12839

As I was returning home after a series of hospital visits I was rejoicing that I had been able to witness to a friend in the hospital. I came down Main Street in Hudson Falls and saw a mother duck and six ducklings crossing the main highway in a painted crosswalk.

Head erect, steps deliberate, the mother duck pranced meticulously into the crosswalk; six little ducks assumed the same posture and accomplished the same task. Traffic was backed up on both sides of the walkway as THE DUCKS CROSSED ALL IN A ROW!

Have you ever read the Book of Leviticus? There are a lot of things spelled out like DUCKS ALL IN A ROW:

1. Rules for selecting priests. 2. Rules for worship services. 3. Rules for regular offerings. 4. Rules for special offerings. 5. Rules for priestly duties. 6. Rules for getting along with neighbors. 7. Rules for the year of jubilee. 8. Rules for property owners. 9. Rules for managing slaves. 10. Rules for obeying God

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

To be a good Israelite, you had to have ALL YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW! In the Church Age, serving Christ (Who is the fulfillment of all the types or shadows) should also be done with ALL OF OUR DUCKS IN A ROW! I get a little tired of sloppy shallow Christianity. I get a little tired of casual Christian Living.

The Old Testament prophets obediently predicted the Coming Christ. The Heavenly Father relinquished His Son for us. The Old Testament TYPES prefigured in miraculous detail every aspect of the coming of Jesus. The Son voluntarily lived in "the likeness of sinful flesh" through the Virgin Conception and Incarnation.

The Saviour bore my HELL on Calvary and rose victoriously to embarrass Satan, Death, and Hell at grave side.

As a result, like the duck in the crosswalk: I must set my face in determined Christian Living. I must high step the path God has given me, despite the dangers and disappointments. I must exemplify the right habits for those who would follow my example. I must persist to the other side, holding up the traffic of this ungodly world, if necessary. Let me ask you, "Do you have ALL YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW"? Is there a spiritual order to your life? Are the right things prioritized?

Bible Study

Get it together. Fight every possible intrusion to time in the book.

Praying

Get it together. Section out blocks of time deliberately to fellowship with the One Who inhabits The Holy of Holies.

Witnessing

Get it together. Name a day, and spend part of it soul winning. Give out tracts; phone a lost friend and invite him to services; knock on some doors for Jesus.

Tithing

Get it together. Don't get bogged down with TITHING. Go far beyond what the Law required. Give cheerfully and out of love.

Church Loyalty

Get it together. Never let anything interrupt attendance at the local church. GOD HONORS THOSE WHO HONOR HIS CHURCH.

Family Life

The family was created by God. He wants us to win our children to Christ and develop Christlikeness in them. Learn to play with your family as well as pray with them.

Personal Integrity

There are many who get the previous matters in a row, but the little duckling of honesty is out of line. HOW IS YOUR HONESTY? Can you be trusted? NEVER SURRENDER YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE TRUTH for any substitute offered either by the world or by peers in fundamentalism.

Do you have ALL YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW?