ALL SAINTS

Tomorrow is All Saint's Day -- November 1st. It used to be called All Hallows or Hallowmas - hence, the day before was called All Hallows Eve, which eventually morphed to be called Halloween. We don't celebrate All Saint's Day in our circles so much because it is really a one-two punch. All Saint's Day is a feast day honoring those who have attained heaven - followed by All Soul's Day - November 2nd - remembering those faithful who have died but have not yet been purified and reached heaven - in limbo up to this point.

So, we depart from that way of thinking. However, it would do no harm to pause for a moment to remember those who have gone before us - those who fought the good fight - those who finished the race well - those who have already heard the words we wait to hear someday, "Well done, good and faithful servant" - those who have paved the path - those who have given their lives to the cause of Christ ... saints as well as martyrs ... Billy Graham - Jonathon Edwards - believers in China and other countries who have died for their faith - William Carey - Watchman Nee - George Whitefield - Charles Spurgeon - John Knox - most of the original disciples of Jesus - Peter Cartwright - Chrysostom - the Sunday School teacher who taught you when you were a kid but isn't with us anymore - Charles Finney - Adinorum Judson - William Tyndale - John Wesley - Martin Luther - David Livingstone - Billy Sunday - John Huss - Ignatius - Dwight Moody - William Tyndale - John Wycliffe - Polycarp - John Bunyan - your parents or grandparents who were models of Christ-like living - Stephen, from the Old Testament - the Unknown Christian - and so many more.

But really ... if we have a faith in Christ, then WE are saints NOW, aren't we? The word 'saint' ought not be reserved for that little 90-year old lady in church who is now too old to sin! "SAINT!" That's YOU ... right NOW. So, congratulations tomorrow ... on All Saint's Day ... and rejoice in your salvation, that God has made you a saint by your faith in Christ.

Philippians 4:21 - "Salute every saint in Christ Jesus." (KJV)

And be blessed.