By Billy W Moore
Some time ago I noticed an ad in Reader’s Digest entitled, “A Message For Daddies,” so naturally I read it. It was by the American Cancer Society and had some good advice:
“Get yourself a good, thorough examination once a year. Once a year, let your doctor really look you over. It’ll take a little time, and a little patience. And maybe he’ll poke around a little more than you’d really like. And so he should.
“The whole idea is to keep you healthy. If nothing’s wrong (and more than likely there isn’t), hooray! Come back next year. But if anything’s suspicious, then you’ve gained the most important thing of all: time.
“We can save 1 out of 2 persons when cancer is caught in time, caught early. That’s a good thing to know. All Daddies should know how to take care of themselves so that they can have the fun of taking care of their kids. Don’t be afraid. It’s what you don’t know that can hurt you.”
Yes, I think that’s good advice. In more recent years I have begun having regular physical examinations. (I saw my Mother suffer and die with cancer.) If I have cancer I want to learn about it in time to be one of those “1 out of 2 persons” who can be saved from it. I want the fun of raising my kids and my grandchildren.
When I read that article I thought how gospel preachers have a message for daddies and our message may be far more important than that of the American Cancer Society. Our message has to do with saving your soul. There are several similarities between our message for daddies and that of the American Cancer Society. It is personal. Indeed, each must examine himself whether he be in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). Each one must look into his own heart to determine whether he has obeyed the gospel of Christ, to see if he is saved. A friend may encourage you to take an honest look at yourself, but only you can do it. It will take a little time. It is true, a good thorough self-examination will take a little time. You will have to read what the Lord teaches one must do to be saved from sin and determine whether you have obeyed Him (Matt. 7:21-23), This will require a little patience. You will have to compare what you have believed and done in religion with what the Bible teaches you to do. This will not be easy, and will demand that you be patient in your searching and be honest with yourself. (Read-Acts 17:11). It may require more poking around in your conscience than you like, but it will be for your own good. The whole idea is to keep you healthy spiritually. Some are “weak and sickly” spiritually (I Cor. 11:30), while others are asleep or dead (Eph. 2:1). So, examine yourself by the teaching of the Lord; if nothing is wrong – hooray! But if you learn that you are lost then you have gained the most important thing of all: time. Time to do something about it before it destroys you for all eternity.
Modem medical science enables doctors to save “1 out of 2 persons” when cancer is caught in time. The Lord is able to save every person who learns of his sin and comes to God by Him (Heb. 7:25). The sad fact is that not even “1 out of 2 persons” who learns of his sinful and lost condition will even come to Christ that he may be saved. We believe that all daddies should know what to do to be saved. Jesus said, “Preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). We further believe that all Daddies should have the pleasure of teaching their kids and grandchildren how to be saved and obtain the hope of eternal life.
Do not be afraid to take the examination. If you are “in the faith” (saved), You will be happy to know it. An examination of your relationship with God will only strengthen you. However, if when you examine yourself you learn that you are lost, you will be glad that you discovered it while there is time to do something about it; many do not make this discovery in time. They go through life thinking they are alright, but in the end learn that they are lost. (Read Matt. 7:21-23.) Do not be in that number!
The Lord’s message for daddies is: “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:7, 8). “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). We could talk about many other messages for Daddies such as, “ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), but that would be another lesson. Many Daddies seem to think that being a Christian is just for the wife and kids. They need to get the message that salvation is for all! Daddies need it as much as anyone else.
Truth Magazine, XVIII:34, p. 10
June 27, 1974