A man from the country was visiting his brother in New York, and they were walking near Times Square. The streets were filled with people, across multiple lanes cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, and sirens were wailing. Suddenly, the man stopped and said, "I hear a cricket."

His brother is astounded, "What? You must be crazy. You couldn't possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!"  "No, I'm sure of it," the man said, "I heard a cricket." "That's crazy," said the brother. The man listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His brother was utterly amazed.

His brother said, "That's incredible you must have super-human ears!" "No," said the man, "My ears are no different from yours." "But that can't be!" said the brother, "I could never hear a cricket in this noise." The man replied, "Yes, you could here, let me show you....."

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within 10 to 20 yards turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.

"See what I mean?"  asked the man. "It all depends on what you're listening for as to what's important to you."

What do YOU hear?  What’s important to YOU?

In the midst of the noise, distractions and cares of life.... there is an ALL-IMPORTANT message that each of us needs to hear.  It is the message of salvation from sin through Jesus Christ.  It is the Gospel, the "GOOD NEWS" that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Cor. 15:1-3). Those who HEAR and OBEY this message are saved from their sins. 

To OBEY the message, we must: place our faith in Jesus by hearing and believing God’s Word (Rom. 10:17), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men as the Son of God (Rom. 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).  Then we must CONTINUE to heed his instructions so that His blood can CONTINUE to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

“He who has EARS to hear, let him HEAR” - the Word of God (Matthew 11:15), and may he OBEY what He hears!  Because “blessed are those who HEAR the word of God and KEEP it!" (Luke 11:28).

Have you HEARD the Word?  Will you now OBEY it?