GOSPEL ACCORDING TO A TURTLE SHELL
Object
a turtle shell
__________
Well,
boys and girls, what do I have here? Yep, a turtle shell. Now, I think
that you have never seen one like this. What is so different about it?
Well, for one thing, there is no turtle in it. I wonder what is the story
behind this shell.
I think that we know that there is the Gospel according to Matthew; the Gospel according to Luke; the Gospel according to Mark and the Gospel according to John. But I would like to add the Gospel according to a turtle shell. How so. Well, listen up.
Can you imagine a turtle without a shell? What do you think would happen if the turtle decided to meet an enemy in his own strength - like, without a shell. Well, I suppose it would be "goodbye Mr. turtle". God has provided a protection for the turtles of the world.
You know, God has also provided that for you and me. He has provided some protection. I find in Ephes9ians 6:10-18 words, like, "Be strong in the Lord and His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes, or his entrapments or his devices."
That is something that we always need to remember. Satan, boys and girls, is going to tempt you to do things and if you do not use the protection of the armor that God has given you, you might really feel the force against you and be hurt. It is so true that none of us would have much power against Satan in our own strength. That is where Jesus comes in with his available strength for any and all who call upon him.
You might be tempted to do wrong, to steel or lie or be disobedient to
your parents. Satan will try to get to you, but if you put your armor
on you will be safe in Christ Jesus.
The Bible tells us that Satan throws his fiery darts at us. So when one
comes, what do we do? Well, we put up the shield of faith and stop the
dart.
You know, the turtle would never try to live without a shell and if tried, certainly would not get very far. So we can not hope to survive without the protection that God gives us with the armor of the Lord. It is like a shell....and that is the Gospel according to a turtle shell.
