Critical Matters

       I have a busy schedule for the next few weeks which is a tad unusual for a person my age.   Almost everything in my upcoming schedule would be classified as "important."  Doctors appointments are important.  Preaching is certainly important.  Singing at nursing homes is important but none of them are what we might call, "critical."  What areas in life are the most important for you?  If you listen to the world, you will find a great number of things that are given the status of being "critical."  All you have to do is listen to the many advertisements that bombard you from the time you look at the morning paper until you finish with the evening news.  We find that it is critical that we don't eat saturated fats.  It is critical that we have a veterinary hospital for our pets.  It is critical we brush our teeth daily.  It is critical that we change our oil every 3,000 miles.  Everyone seems to have their own list of what is critical.  The sad part of all of this is that none of these things are really critical.  They are nothing more than preferences that we can take or leave.  What, then, is really critical?  Your destination after death is critical.  What you do with the Lord Jesus Christ in your life is critical.  First Corinthians 2:2 says, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." 
       Paul could have expounded on many different things when we went around from city to city.  But, he didn't talke about saturated fats, or how to take care of your pets or how we should brush our teeth or how often we should grease the wheels on the family chariot.  This verse tells us the most important thing in his message.  He wanted to make known the facts of the Lord Jesus Christ and His crucifixion and all that it meant.  Therefore, he preached the gospel.  He preached about the forgiveness of sins.  He preached on how having the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior would give you eternal life.  If they listened to Paul, they would know how to get to heaven.  He could have started out each message with the words, "Listen, folks, This is critical."  That would have been true of his message.  So, what's critical in your life today?  Is spending some time with God critical?  Is spending some time in prayer critical?  Is spending some time in the Scriptures critical?  Yes, these things are critical because they are speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ and all that it means in regard to your salvation.  Try not to be persuaded today about the world's view of what is critical.  Realize that where you will spend eternity is one thing that is really critical.  Praise God today for His filling of all of your critical needs.