Mr. Edwards' Demise

By Dr. Gerry Baughman - Director CAMP BIMI * SMART

I’m sure you have never heard of Mr. Edwards. Most of you were not here at the time. Mr. Edwards was my favorite teacher during my tenth year of high school. He taught Science and Math and had a tremendous ability to communicate his subject matter, as well as taking time with each student. One day Mr. Edwards didn’t show up for class. Moments later, we were informed that he had been electrocuted on his farm in the early morning hours. He apparently climbed a power pole in his barnyard to repair an old wire and crossed the wrong wire.

I was never fond of electricity, but I have enjoyed its’ benefits. That fateful day, Mr. Edwards’ accident etched a mark in my memory that remains to this day. That is not to say that I have not taken chances, or tried my hand at ‘hooking’ things up. I’ve welded a few screwdrivers together, blown a few breakers, and on one occasion I was hooking up a new oven with 220 volts and forgot to turn the breaker off. When the wrong contact was made, I welded a good pair of pliers, blew the circuit breakers, sparks flew, I landed against the wall, and my mother-in-law was certain ‘Geraldine’ (as she affectionately calls me) had killed himself. Much to her dismay, I survived the ordeal and thought of Mr. Edwards.

Electricity is a tremendous source of power. Where would we be without it? However, there is a greater Power Source that is available to you and me that we need not fear. There is the POWER of FAITH. With it, we can move mountains. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him…” Heb. 11:6a “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Rom. 14:23

There is the POWER of a CLEAN HEART. “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Brethren, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” I John 3:20, 21

There is the POWER of a FAITHFUL WALK. I am reminded of the incident in John 6. Jesus had just finished the tremendous discourse on the Bread of Life. In verse 61, Jesus said, “doth this offend you?” Then in verse 66 it is stated, “From that time, many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” Jesus turned to the twelve remaining and asked, “Will ye also go away?”

Last fall, I preached a mission’s conference in a wonderful church in Ohio. Their theme was ‘Plugged into World Wide Missions’. They did a wonderful job in carrying that theme throughout the conference and I had the joy of incorporating it in the messages that were brought. One night I placed an extension cord across the platform. The recepticle on the wall represented the Source of power, and that is the Lord, but the extension cord and plug is us. We can be an extension of the Power that lives in us. We can be the force that God has commanded to go and to be sent into all the world. However, to tap into the Source and to be a force for God, we must have the Power of Faith, the Power of a Clean Heart, and the Power of a Faithful Walk. Do you? If not, get plugged in!