By: Richard Berry
In church this past month, our pastor shared an illustration that was created by Adrian Despres, the chaplain for the USC Gamecock’s football team. The Principle of the Four Chairs really spoke to me, and my hope and prayer is that this story will cause all of us to honestly assess where we are in our lives.
The first chair is what a true disciple of Christ would be. He/she would be an individual who is walking by faith, praying and living by the very words of what Jesus calls us to do – Trust and Obey and to follow his precepts and to be totally and completely reliable on Him for our daily bread. In other words, the first chair Christian allows Jesus to be Lord over his/her entire life.
The second chair Christian is one who is more of a “pew sitter” instead of a “heavy hitter” for the Kingdom (aka “The first chair”). Remember what Jesus said: that He would rather have a Christian who is cold or hot, rather than lukewarm. He considers the second chair as puke in His mouth and would rather spit you out. Remember what Jesus said, that He would rather have that Christian be cold or hot, but as lukewarm, he considers the second chair as puke in his mouth and would rather spit you out. Adrian then skips the third chair and refers to the fourth chair as the unsaved chair.
Maybe he/she is someone who is seeking the Kingdom of God and wants a relationship with Christ, but because of the examples of the second and third chair he/she could become disgusted with the “body” of Christ (that church) and walk away calling chair number one and two – unloving, judgmental, hypocrites who practice Truth more than Grace. Now, chair number three, Adrian refers to as the most dangerous chair in the body of Christ.
In chair #3 sits someone who may have grown up in the church, knows Scripture better than most and has pretended to play church their entire life. This person may, at Judgement, say to Jesus, “Lord, Lord, save me” And Jesus will say, “Depart from me, for I never knew you.” This chair is a fake, and this life is not reflecting any of the Fruit of the Spirit that we find in Galatians, Chapter 5. Here is the thing: whatever chair you are in right now, that doesn’t matter to God, because He still loves you. He loves you so much that He gave His only Son for you. You have to make an honest confession right now with what chair you are sitting in and not only repent to God and give that up if you are in #2, #3 and or #4.
If you are in #1 then get serious, stay focused and work on changing the second and third and reaching the fourth chair. If you are #2, #3 and or #4, then repent. Confess your sin to God and move over to Chair #1. To God be the Glory forever and ever, Amen. (https://www.legacydads.org/magazine/the-doctrine-of-the-four-chairs)
If you would like to talk with someone about how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, please know that any of our Berry Financial Group Team Members are always available. Blessings to you and your family.