Green Bananas and the Gospel

       George Burns lived to be quite an old man.  He used to make a statement, "I'm so old, that I don't even buy green bananas."  This, of course indicates that he may not have time to eat them if he waits until the get ripe.  I jokingly use the same expression along with feeling that I am older than dirt.  I pass all of the tests in social media about, "Do you remember this?" or "Do you know what this is?"  These silly questions always show something that was used 50 or more years ago.  I remember vinyl records, even those that were 78, 45 and 33 1/3.  I also remember the continual playing of the 8-track cassette, a pop bottle with a sprinkler in it for dampening clothes and candy cigarettes and wax miniature pop bottles with sweet liquid in them.  Yes, I am old and getting older day by day.  Upon realizing this fact, I usually narrow down my topic for gospel messages when I am called upon to preach.  What is the most important question?   First Corinthians 15:3-4 says, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" 
         One of the most important topics is the topic of the Gospel.  After all, what is the gospel?  The word means that is "good news."   Those previous verses give us that good news.  Basically, Christ died for our sins, was buried and He rose again from the dead having conquered death.  I could speak about the various forms of the Greek verbs or name all of the animals that were listed in the Bible or speak of occupations of Bible Book authors, but, what is the most important message.  If you had one message more to give, what would be your topi?  I would choose to speak about this great news.  Of course, when you speak about the good news, you need to establish the need for it in the first place.  If Christ died for my sins, what are my sins and as some might say, "so what?"  I would rather leave the rest of the world to split hairs over topics that have been debated for over 500 years.  I would rather spend my time speaking about salvation and the good news of the Gospel message.  As the songwriter said, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."  Praise God today that He sent His Son to die on the cross for my sins and then to rise again.