Visual Lesson

That morning as they arrived at church word drifted from person to person that the service would be a little different today. The children were taken to their own Sunday morning service and the adults wandered back greeting friends and guests along the way.
People wondered if there was to be a guest speaker, but when they saw the huge screen in front of the sanctuary they knew there would be some type of video presentation.
They were not really surprised since their church had begun to step out a little in the way things were being done on Sunday morning.
Settling back into their seats, they began to get their hearts and minds ready to hear the morning message. The room was cool and peacefully decorated-a nice change from the stressful world outside.
The music leader and the band began the service with a time of worship. People stood and sang, many lifting their hands to the Lord. As they sang the words, change our hearts oh God, many felt the atmosphere in the room begin to change. It felt good to them.
The pastor approached the pulpit and opened the rest of the service in prayer:

Dear God I ask you this morning to open our eyes and our hearts. I ask that you boldly show us the areas in our lives where the desires of our hearts and minds do not line up with Yours. God show us what you mean when You tell us that we are to come apart and be separate. We are to carry your light to the world--show us where we have been covering the light. Show us what we have allowed that is stopping the light from getting to our inner man. Shake us Lord. Draw the line. And then, I ask you this morning to show us which side of the line we are standing on. Give us the desire and the power to stand with You on Your side of the line.

After he finished praying- he gave a nod to the sound and video and left the podium to sit in the front row with his wife. People looked at each other in confusion. The pastor had not even explained to them what the service was about and he had not introduced the video presentation. A vague feeling of uneasiness filled the air. They were not sure they liked feeling that way- especially in church.
When the music started before the video, some began to realize that the music was familiar. One woman leaned over to her husband and exclaimed, "That is the theme music to the program I watch on Monday night while you are watching football". The screen lit up and many people could be heard saying, "this is my program, I love this". They were a little surprised that their pastor was using it for a demo-but how cool. Then the couple on the screen began to kiss. Remembering where this scene ended up, several began to squirm in their seats. Surely the pastor knew what was coming and that this was totally unacceptable to be viewing in church. But, when the video did not stop, you could hear the audible gasp as the couple began to remove one another's clothing. The screen went black but the sound continued. In the black of the sanctuary you could feel the tension growing as the sounds of moans and groans continued over the sound system. People were mortified and regretted admitting that they were fans of the two unmarried lovers.
The screen came to light once again- this time with a different scene. Again many knew the faces on the screen. Faces that graced their TVs each week. This time a detective looked over the mutilated body of a small child who had been raped and then killed by a serial killer. People in the room felt the vile filth on the screen like never before. They wanted it to go away. People felt sick.
Then once again they felt relief as the familiar figures were removed from their sight. More scenes followed. Comedies about gays and lesbians. Characters joking and using Gods name in vain. For fifteen minutes they watched, and then the screen went white. Not one person moved or spoke.

And then across the screen words began to flow.

YOU ARE MY PEOPLE-CALLED BY MY NAME.
I HAVE CALLED YOU TO COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE.
YOU ARE TO BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
WHO AMONG YOU WOULD PAY A GOOD PRICE FOR A LIGHT
AND THEN ALLOW IT TO BE BURIED UNDER A PILE OF TRASH?
I WANT MY PEOPLE BACK!
CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHO YOU WILL SERVE.
IF YOU EXPECT TO CARRY MY GLORY--YOUR HANDS MUST BE CLEAN.
CLEAN YOUR HANDS AND PURIFY YOUR HEARTS.
THEN YOU WILL SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD.
YOU MAY NOT SERVE ME AND SATAN

Luke 11:33-35

33No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or crypt or under a bushel measure, but on a lampstand, that those who are coming in may see the light.

34Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye (^[a]your conscience) is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound and is not fulfilling its office, your body is full of darkness.

35Be careful, therefore, that the light that is in you is not darkness.

Weeping could be heard all over the sanctuary.
The pastor moved to the front and said, the altar is open.
Revival began that day in the hearts of Gods people.