I do not know their names, where they were born, or where they died. The Bible only records one thing that they did. But the one thing which these four men did is the most important work ever performed by men. THESE FOUR MEN BROUGHT A MAN TO THE LORD. We read their story in Luke 5:17-26.
THESE FOUR MEN KNEW THE LORD. They had true faith in Christ. They believed him to be the Messiah. They recognized his power and authority as the sovereign Lord, the Son of God. They knew that he had power both to heal disease and to forgive sin.
THEY ALSO KNEW WHERE CHRIST WAS AND WHERE HE WAS DISPLAYING HIS POWER AND GRACE. He is God. He is everywhere present. But there are certain places where he meets with men and manifests his power and grace to them. These four men made it their business to know that place and to be there.
THESE MEN HAD A FRIEND WHO DESPERATELY NEEDED CHRIST. Their friend was a hopelessly, helplessly paralyzed man. They could not heal their friend, or forgive his sin. And they had no way of knowing whether or not Christ would do so. But they knew that if he would he could. Knowing Christ's power and grace, and knowing their friend's desperate need,
THESE FOUR MEN DETERMINED TO BRING THEIR POOR FRIEND TO CHRIST. It was not an easy thing to do. The room was crowded with people. But no one offered to assist them, or even to make room for them. But these four men were not deterred. "They sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him." At last they accomplished their desired goal. They got their friend before the Lord. They said nothing. They simply laid the poor helpless man before Christ.
AND AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR LABORS AND FAITH TOWARD CHRIST, TWO MARVELOUS THINGS HAPPENED. A Sinner was freely forgiven of all his sins and the Lord God was glorified.
THESE FOUR MEN HAD BEEN
VOLUNTARY INSTRUMENTS IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD, AND GOD USED THEM TO ACCOMPLISH
HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE!
I want to be like these four
men, diligently laboring to bring sinners to Christ, faithfully giving myself
to the work, allowing nothing to stand in my way. And I want you to be like
these men, EACH ONE DOING WHAT HE CAN TO GET SINNERS TO THE SAVIOR. We
cannot save men, renew their hearts, or give them faith. But we can get men
under the sound of the gospel. We can bring men to that place where Christ
reveals himself and manifest the power of his grace. AND WHAT WE CAN DO WE
MUST DO! It may be that the Lord will allow us to be instruments in his
hands for the conversion of sinners and the glory of God (James