The preacher sits at his desk, thinking of a way to illustrate his sermon.
What can I say that will bring the meaning of this to life for my hearers? What would really connect with their emotions?
After contemplating this for awhile, he comes up with a great idea while pouring coffee (because the best ideas come randomly).
I’ve got it! I’ll get my friend to marry a prostitute!
Now, if this preacher were married, he’d be protected from his seemingly terrible idea (married people, you know what I’m talking about). But he is single and is dead set on using this new idea.
But who would marry a prostitute?
A Sermon Illustration That Went Too Far
If God were your preacher, you’d probably try to fire Him.
If a prophet of God – you know a real prophet (not someone today who simply calls themselves a prophet, what’s up with that, anyway?) – were your preacher, you’d probably try to fire Him.
Why? Because they would go too far in their sermons. Their illustrations would go way past “the line.”[shareable cite=”Brandon Kelley”]If God were your preacher, you’d probably try to fire Him.[/shareable]
Oh, and they wouldn’t at all mince the truth about you and me.
Don’t believe me? Imagine your preacher announcing that he had finally met his fiance. He is excited and confident that she is the woman who God would have him marry. He then goes on to tell you about her line of work – she’s a prostitute.
Imagine the reaction! You’re marrying a prostitute?
Do you mean she used to be a prostitute and now has been completely changed by Jesus and is not who she used to be?
No. She’s still whoring it up (yeah I said it; the Bible uses this word so chill).
They end up getting married, having kids, but she continues her prostitution. Your preacher is clearly having a hard time dealing with it. He deeply desires her to stop and be faithful to him and only him, yet his love for her is never lost.
Eventually she leaves him and the only way for him to get her back is to buy her from her pimp. He doesn’t hesitate. He frees her from her day job. You can’t keep doing this, honey. I’m yours and you are mine. Be faithful to me.
And scene.
We’re All Cheaters and Prostitutes
God actually had someone marry a prostitute so that He could use it as a sermon illustration.
Don’t believe me? Read Hosea. Specifically read the first 3 chapters. The rest is really good, too.
God told Hosea to marry a prostitute so that He could teach Hosea and the people he spoke to about the nature of mankind and the lengths God goes for them.
The implications of Hosea is that we’re all cheaters and prostitutes, yet God pursues us still. We’re meant to be God’s own people, His church, His bride, but we cheat on Him all the time. We’re meant to be His and only His, yet we sell ourselves to an assortment of other things.
Some people choose Ashley Madison and have an affair because life is short. How stupid! Yeah, have an affair and ruin your short life. That’s a great idea!
Some people choose porn. Some people choose work. Some people choose drugs. Some people choose alcohol. Some people choose themselves.
There are an assortment of things that we as human beings choose above God.
We’re all cheaters and prostitutes, and, yet, God still pursues us. [shareable]We’re all cheaters and prostitutes, and, yet, God still pursues us. [/shareable]
Who Has Your Heart?
God pursues you, but are you still running from Him? Eventually your ability to run from Him will be no more and you’ll be left to the consequences of your marathon without Him.
Who or what has your heart today?
Does God or someone else or something else?
Here’s the truth: no thing and no one other than God is able to satisfy the yearning of your heart.
If someone else or something has your heart, you’ll always be desiring more and more because they won’t be enough.
Only a heart that is in God’s embrace is a heart that is fully satisfied.
[shareable cite=”Brandon Kelley”]Only a heart that is in God’s embrace is a heart that is fully satisfied.[/shareable]
So, does He have your heart? Does He have you entirely? If not, there’s a change you need to make.
