Put The Right Food Forward

Put The Right Foot Forward 

Have you ever wondered why the guy is supposed to carry his bride over the threshold? Blame the Romans. They believed that good and evil spirits fought for control at a home’s entrance. For good to prevail, Romans felt you must enter a room with your right foot first. Romans concluded that a new bride in a highly emotional state might be careless and forget about the “right foot” stuff. To prevent possible tragedy, they decided it best for the groom to carry his bride. [McHenry’s Quips, Quotes & Other Notes]

 

The real key to having a home filled with goodness is for the husband to put the right foot forward in guiding the home after he steps across the threshold. He needs to walk in the right path. “Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it” (Psalm 119:35). His steps need to be guided by the Lord. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand” (Psalm 37:23-24).

 

Headship of the home is commanded by God to be borne upon the shoulders of the man. The head of woman is the man but the head of man is Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3). Leadership in the home is guided by the man who loves his wife and cherishes her as Christ does the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). That first step across the threshold will never leave in anger (Ephesians 4:25-26; Colossians 3:19).

 

As the groom carries the bride across the threshold of the home he will also be responsible to carry his bride across the threshold of life. By his hand he will protect her, hold her, guide her and softly caress her with love (Proverbs 5:15-20). Together they will share in the blessings of being heirs in one of the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7). With understanding and honor the husband will dwell with his wife shielding her from the dangers of “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

In most cases when the groom carries the bride across the threshold, she is holding on (for dear life) with arms wrapped around his neck. She embraces his role and wraps her love around his life to help him be the man her heavenly Father wants the husband to be. By her example she wins his heart and secures a home built upon the trust and fidelity of righteousness (1 Peter 3:1-6). The conduct of the bride will help create or destroy the home as she submits to the leadership of the husband. This is contrary to popular views but in complete harmony with the will of God.

 

Together they step through the door of their home to create what God intended for man in the Garden of Eden. “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him’" (Genesis 2:18). They agree on the plan given to them by the Lord (Amos 3:3) and build a home of unity. He is known in the gate and praised by his family for his spiritual leadership in guiding the lives of his family to the throne of God. As Noah of old, the groom embarks upon a journey of helping his wife and children be found safely in the ark of salvation. Watch that first step – it is a big one!

Sometimes It Is Better To Suffer Wrong

Sometimes It Is Better To Suffer Wrong

The persecution of the early church was gradual but it took on an intensity that resulted in many lives being sacrificed for the cause of righteousness. At first the Jewish council warned the apostles to stop preaching in the name of Christ (Acts 4). The next time they beat them and warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus (Acts 5). Then it elevated to the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 and the “great persecution” by the hand of Saul of Tarsus. James the apostle was killed by Herod (Acts 12) and the apostle Paul spent many days in a Roman prison.

In modern America it would seem out of the question to suffer as the First Century disciples found themselves. Living in a land of “freedom” we have established a theocracy of rights that rejects the idea of having anyone walk on us or use us. Everyone is demanding their rights but never their responsibilities. Like the priest and Levite of the Lord’s parable of the Samaritan, the spirit of “what is mine is mine and I will keep it” pervades the attitudes and hearts of God’s people.

Corinth was blessed to have a “church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2) in the midst of idolatry but the influences of the world were impacting the attitudes of “those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2). One such problem is found in the sixth chapter. Incredulous to Paul, brethren were taking other brethren to law against one another. It was a shame because they were so carnal minded in their attitudes against one another. Admonishing them the apostle writes, “Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?” (1 Corinthians 6:7). Has pride caused us to view our rights before men over the righteousness expected by our Father? Is there anything in this world that is worth the soul(s) of any person just because we want our rights? Sadly the Lord reminds us that life is not about the things we possess (Luke 12:15) but rather the thing we possess (Matthew 16:26).

Peter reminds the people of God that persecution is a way of life. In his first epistle the apostle exhorts the pilgrims to look at persecution as a blessing to endure as even Christ suffered. “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17). This was said in the context that people will scorn the life of a Christian and denigrate the character of righteousness (1 Peter 3:16). But it is a better thing to suffer persecution for living holy lives than to demand our rights and not allow anyone to take advantage of me. Vance Havner suggested that while the early Christians wore scars we are more comfortable wearing badges.

A fiery trial will come upon all that name the name of Christ (2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12). It is better to suffer wrong by others if it is the will of God and it is better if it is the will of God to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. What sets apart those who live by the kingdom law of God (Matthew 6:33) is they serve a higher power and honor the “King of King and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16). Our hearts must profess with the early disciples of Jesus Christ: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Surrendered!

Tipping God

Tipping God 

“Behold a certain man went with a friend into a place to eat. After the lunch the waitress brought the bill and the man, in the sight of his friend, placed a sum of money beneath his plate. The friend was amazed and asked what this money is. The man replied that it is the customary thing to do to place 15% of the bill under the plate. The friend was confused. A waitress served the man for a few minutes and he gave her 15% of the bill. His Heavenly Father has served him all his life, given him every good and perfect gift and the man is offended when asked to give something to support the work of his Heavenly Father. Does the man think more of the waitress than he does of his Lord?” (Author unknown).

The eternal struggle of man has always been the ingratitude for what God has done for him every day. Jesus reminds us that God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Paul and Barnabas pleaded with the citizens of Lystra to know the “living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:15-17). Selfish man believes that he has the power and wisdom to produce crops, glean the fields and harvest the bounty of this earth without the help of the Lord. His technology gives him a smug feeling of security that falsely belies the reality that without God man is nothing (Isaiah 40).

When men exalt their own superiority they become unthankful and futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts are darkened by the pride of life (Romans 1:18-23). Like the man in the story above the view of God is degraded in contrast to offering to others a tribute of honor. What has God done for me? Why should I honor God with my life? While the hard-working individual can expect a monetary reward for their work how can we deny God His due? People of God are asked to return the bounty of their material worth for the glory of God and often a pitiful measure is begrudging torn from their hands.

How much should I give to the Lord? Tithing was a Jewish practice removed from God’s law under Christ but now giving comes from the heart (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). Here is the test of the heart and the hand: given a choice many people submit the scraps of their wealth and sometimes begrudge that and worry about how much to give. It is not a matter of how much we give it is a matter of how much we keep. In light of that comparison how can we view what God has done for us and we do so little? We gladly tip the waiter 15% and throw a few dollars before God’s throne.

It is often said that repaying the debt we owe Christ for His sacrifice is impossible and many give that way. The amount is not the question because the Lord sees the heart of man and what he trusts in (Matthew 6:19-21). Loving God so much and trusting Him so little to care for our earthly needs drives our motives for giving (or not giving). The fool of Luke 12 left all he had on earth when he died because he was not rich toward God (Luke 12:13-21). Life is not about the abundance of things we have because what we have is an abundance of God’s blessings if we trust in Him.

Which Church Did Columbus Attend?

Which Church Did Columbus Attend?

The year 1492 is indelibly stamped on the minds of all schoolchildren as they learned the history lesson of the voyages of Christopher Columbus with three ships: the Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Nina. While Columbus was not the first person on the continents of North and South America, his voyage opened the flood gates for discovery, conquest and settlement. Born around 1451 his life would change the face of the known world to a global understanding of our planet. He died in May of 1506 in Valladolid, Spain.

It was not until his latter life that Columbus looked deeper into matters of religion. Turning the pages of history to the year of his voyage to America would beg the question of which church would he be a member of in 1492? Pope Innocent VIII had just been elected head of the Roman Catholic Church in the year of his great voyage. Columbus was in fact Catholic and believed his mission of sailing the oceans was to spread Christianity. But were there other churches that he would have known about in his lifetime? The answer is there were no Protestant churches in existence during the lifetime of Columbus. Martin Luther would not begin the period of reformation until he nailed his 95 theses on the door of All Saints church in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517 (nine years after the death of Columbus).

From the simple act of protest Martin Luther began a time of reform that created every church that stands beneath the Protestant flag. Christopher Columbus could not have been a member of 99% of the churches we find on every street corner in America today because they did not exist while he lived. There were only two churches that existed in 1492: the Roman Catholic Church and the New Testament church. The Catholic Church was the apostate body of people who rejected the New Testament as authority. The New Testament church had been in existence since Peter (an apostle; not a Pope) and the other apostles declared the way of salvation on the Day of Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem (Acts 2).

The New Testament church has never failed to be in existence since the work of the early disciples. It was called by many names in the New Testament: “church” (Acts 2:27); “the Way which they call a sect” (Acts 24:14); “flock” or “church of God” (Acts 20:28); “saints which are at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1); “churches of Galatia” (Galatians 1:2); and “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16). Columbus was not a disciple of the New Testament church but was a Catholic. No Protestant church can trace their lineage to the First Century. Each one was begun by a man and is less than five hundred years old.

Christopher Columbus should have belonged to the church Jesus died for as well as each person today. There are as many flavors of churches today as there is ice cream in an ice cream shop. But Jesus only died for one church – His (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28). We must not believe that a ‘sign out front’ will make us the church Jesus gave His blood for. Our obligation to God is to follow the authority of the Bible and the Bible alone. Can I find the name of the church I am a member of in the New Testament? If not, then I am serving a religion of man and not of God. Is the Bible my only source of authority? If not, I am serving the will of man and not of God (Matthew 15:13-14).

Have You Been Resurrected?

Have You Been Resurrected?

The power of the resurrection was a central theme among the New Testament disciples. Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 affirmed that God raised Jesus from the dead. Later Peter appealed to the Jews to repent in Acts 3 when he declared, “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses” (Acts 3:14-15). In the city of Athens Paul preached the message of resurrection to a heathen world showing a day of judgment was coming by the assurance that God raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 16:31). When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth he gave a list of those who had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus from Peter to over five hundred disciples (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). All believers in Christ accept that he died and was risen the first day of the week (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20).

Because of the resurrection of Jesus all disciples of Christ live for the final resurrection when the mortal will put on immortality and the hope of Heaven is realized (John 5:29; 11:25; 1 Peter 1:3). However the resurrection to eternal life is not guaranteed to every person. As with salvation, conditions are determined by God that allows acceptance into His grace. The promise of resurrection will only be given to those who have been resurrected in this life.

This type of resurrection does not refer to a bodily resurrection like Lazarus (John 11) or the widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11-17). There is a resurrection that takes place in the lives of all those who obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul explains the means which all men enjoy this resurrection. “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5). The English Standard Version says, “We shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” To enjoy the resurrection of life eternal all men must be united in the likeness of his death.

Paul does not leave us without the knowledge of how to be united in the likeness of the death of Christ. “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). Edward Hiscox declared that “baptism is not essential to salvation” leading many to deny the power of the resurrection. The apostle Paul denies that by showing that without baptism there is no resurrection and without resurrection no man shall see God.

The essential character of baptism is when a person dies and is buried in water and raised to newness of life. The believer is a resurrected person. When Jesus returns He will not be looking for those who have only accepted an ideal but who have “obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which [they] were delivered” (Romans 6:17). Paul continues, “For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God” (Romans 6:7-10). Like Jesus we must be crucified, die, buried and raised! Only then are we saved!

The 44th President

The 44^th President

On April 30, 1789, George Washington took his oath of office as the President of the newly formed United States of America. Two hundred twenty-four years later the 44^th President took his oath of office. For the child of God the events of inauguration set a course defined by the will of Him who ordained the authority of governing bodies. What attitudes are found in the heart of Christians when a President is sworn in to the office of Commander-in-Chief and Chief Executive of this country?

First there is subjection.  The Holy Spirit said, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:1-2). The Christian’s role regarding the 44^th President is one of subjection. Refusing to be in subjection to the governing authorities will bring judgment from God (v2). In the text of Romans 13 Paul reminds the Christian to “do good” (v3), recognize the President as the “minister of God” (v4) and we must all “be subject” (v5). He concludes by saying, “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:7).

Secondly we recognize the need to honor the 44^th President. Peter uses the same language in 1 Peter 2:12-17 – “Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:12-17). Our conduct needs to show honor to those in authority by submitting to “the ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” so those in the world may see our light and know the salt of our influence (Matthew 5:13-16). The fear of God goes hand in hand with the honor given to the “king” (Proverbs 24:21).

Third, we are to pray for the 44^th President. Paul exhorted Timothy to offer “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks” for all men and “for kings and all who are in authority” for this is “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). These prayers are efforts to obtain good things through the mercy of God. Supplications seek to avert evil that may come; prayers invoke the blessing of good things on this land; intercession desires action on behalf of others; and giving of thanks. Jesus taught His disciples to “bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) and this includes those who sit in authority in this nation.

We know the President does not rule in the affairs of men – God does (Daniel 4:25). The attitudes of the children of God must be in accordance with His will – regardless of who is President. May our hearts be attuned to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16) as we subject ourselves to the 44^th President.

The Answer To Gun Control

The Answer To Gun Control 

The act of murder is as old as the world. Moses recorded the first murder committed by Cain against his brother Abel in Genesis 4:1-10. Lamech bragged about killing a man in Genesis 4:23. The world of Noah’s day was filled with wickedness “and that every intent of the thoughts of [man] was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Pharaoh murdered untold numbers of Hebrew babies in Egypt (Exodus 1). Moses himself killed a man (Exodus 2:11-12). The list continues throughout the history of man as lives are taken with evil intent and malice.

Our country is gripped with the fearful knowledge of murderous individuals killing innocent children, movie goers, high school students, families and fellow soldiers. The cry has been raised on the political stage of controlling guns and emotions run deep in defense of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” including the right to bear arms. What answers lay at the root of our headlong plunge into anarchy and death? The irony is found in the forked tongue of man’s wisdom that decries the murders of innocents yet forbids the knowledge of God to supplant the wisdom of men. A society that fills itself with the blood of the innocent is a society that removes the knowledge of God from its pages. The less God possess a people the more the people possess their own evil lusts as god.

Jesus explained the problem in Matthew 15:17-20.  “Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man" (Matthew 15:17-20). Murder comes from a heart devoid of righteousness. The wise man says, “Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:33-34).

Gun control will only have control when the heart is controlled by the Creator. The modern age is little different from ages past when the apostle Paul described the world filled with men who “will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:2-4). Sound familiar? The root of what Paul describes is the problem of the heart.

The more we remove the teaching of the Bible from the hearts of our children and build our society on the whims of man’s wisdom the more we will experience the failed policies of human wisdom compared to God’s wisdom. Man would rather worship himself and without fail every time he exalts himself as god he destroys himself. The President can sign into law all the bills the nation will stand but until the imprint of the Creator is impressed upon the heart it becomes an exercise in futility. As people of God we must change our hearts to show forth the light of the gospel to a world darkened by the ravages of Satan’s murderous power. The answer to the plight of man is found in the might of God through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:14-21).

Judas Changed His Mind

Judas Changed His Mind 

It was clear that what had been set in motion was not going to change. The verdict of condemnation was delivered and Judas realized that nothing was going to change the events of that day. His motives for betrayal amounted only to thirty pieces of silver; the price of a slave. Seeing that Jesus was condemned the apostle brings back the blood money to the chief priests and elders and acknowledges he sinned “by betraying innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4). His plea for intervention was unheard and throwing the money on the floor of the temple Iscariot went and hanged himself.

The text says that Judas was “remorseful” or “repented himself.” He realized too late that his betrayal brought his friend and rabbi to the blood thirsty hearts of the enemies of the Christ. In redemptive irony he brings the price of a slave to the temple of the Lord and throws it at the feet of the hypocritical leaders of God’s people who had long ago concerned itself more with paying “tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and … neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23).

Judas changed his mind but it was too late. There was nothing he could do. The money meant nothing to him now and the consequence of a ‘moment’s reckless folly’ brought the Christ, the Son of God to the courts of men to die on a cross. He had changed his mind but God had not changed His mind. Judas was a good man. He served in the inner circle of the Lord preaching, healing, performing miracles and hearing the teachings of Jesus first hand. His deep remorse shows how much he loved the Lord and because of allowing Satan to storm the bastion of his heart and opening the door he went and hung himself in despair. His mind was changed but his actions could not be taken back.

It is impossible to know what would have happened if Judas had not hung himself. Clearly the end result was suicide and a name held through history as the one who betrayed the Lord. Peter betrayed the Lord but recovered to preach with the eleven on the Day of Pentecost the redemption of man through the blood of Christ. But in the story of Judas changing his mind could not turn back the hands of time.

In contrast, the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21:28-32 shows what man can do when given the opportunity. "A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went” (Matthew 21:28-29). The second son told his father he would go but then decided not to go. The application Jesus makes is to show how the first son did the right thing by changing his mind from rebellion to obedience. Sometimes a change of mind brings a blessing. In the case of Judas his mind changed but the circumstance did not change.

Every decision we make has consequence. If we do nothing there is consequence. The challenge is to make certain the choices we make will not create events that are unchangeable. The sacrifice of Jesus is given to all men to obey the will of the Father but the decision to reject that invitation can have eternal consequences that will never be changed. Be like the son of Matthew 21 and change your mind to do the will of what God expects of you. Make that choice now before it is too late.

The Eternal Cliff

The Eternal Cliff 

The end of the year drama in Washington concluded with President Obama signing into law a deal averting the “fiscal cliff” which threatened the financial and political economy of America. Fear loomed in the early hours of the New Year if the House and Senate failed to find a solution to the gridlock of political wrangling and debate over tax increases and spending cuts. With the normal fashion of the rabid media blitz driving the fears of a looming disaster the country sighs a moment of relief before the continuing crisis of prosperity engulfs every home. America has pulled itself back from an uncertain future as described in falling off a cliff. But there is still another cliff that emerges on the horizon for all men – an eternal cliff.

There is a precipice that is more to be feared than a fiscal cliff, political cliff or literally falling off a mountain cliff. Death is the agent that carries one into a world where there is no return. When life is over and one falls over the cliff of time into the chasm of eternity there are greater consequences than whether taxes go up or down or money is cut from large budgets or small budgets. The certainty of this cliff is found in Hebrews 9:26, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” The “after this” is the eternal cliff.

The rich man and Lazarus fell over this eternal cliff in Luke 16:19-31. “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried” (Luke 16:22). This cliff is no respecter of person. You can wear expensive clothes every day and make incredible amounts of money living at the high end of prosperity and die just like the fellow at the front gate who is a beggar starving to death ill with the misery of humanity. The President can sign a bill into law averting the fiscal cliff but no man will change the reality of an eternal cliff that awaits all men.

If men were more concerned about life beyond the grave than living beyond the dollar bill what a difference the world would be. Sadly, the eyes of man are closed by the deceiver of this world. Paul writes, “Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan does not want man to see the pit he is taking most men (Matthew 7:13-14). There would be greater fear of falling off the eternal pit if we could fully grasp the reality of “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46).

Jesus “signed a bill” nearly two thousand years ago that extended to all men His Father’s grace to avert the eternal cliff of doom. With the blood of God’s Son humanity was offered the chance to pull back from the fear of death and punishment of a Just God. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). What Jesus did on the cross is not a temporary measure but an eternal promise that guarantees inheritance to all who will accept the terms of His law (Ephesians 1:14; Matthew 7:21-23).

Peter reminds us the world will come to an end (2 Peter 3). When that day happens (and it will) no one will worry about the fiscal cliff. Everyone will know there is an eternal cliff and the few (Matthew 20:16) will have joy (2 Thessalonians 1:10) but the vast majority of men who did not believe in the eternal cliff will know the fear of the Lord.

What God Hears Every Day

What God Hears Every Day

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). Trying to understand the nature of God is an effort of gargantuan measure and yet at the end of the day the hem of the garment has yet to be touched. Where does one begin to unravel the mystery of how completely overwhelming the presence of the Almighty is? Isaiah reminds us that we are mere dust in the presence of the Lord (40:15). What then can we imagine our Creator endures each day as He hears all the activities of man on the face of the earth?

The omniscience of God comes to His ears and with His eyes He declares His omnipresence. Every day people are murdered, raped, abused, starved, tortured, in peril, dying from disease or natural causes. Statistics are impossible to know the true number of human beings that are slaughtered on the altar of man’s inhumanity to man. And God hears every cry, every whimper of a hungry child, every moan of agony and every scream of fright that takes place every minute of every day on the face of the earth. The Lord hears every act of sin (Isaiah 37:17). One of the greatest acts of God’s mercy is that He does not destroy the world today for all the evil He hears.

Peter reminds us the Lord hears many other things. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer” (1 Peter 3:12). In the midst of such evil as it prevails the character of man the bright hope of righteousness shines forth as the ear of God hears the glorious chorus of the saints who worship and praise Him. Nehemiah begged the Lord to let His ear be attentive to Nehemiah’s prayers (Nehemiah 1:11). The Lord heard the words of a man who delighted to fear the name of Jehovah and granted the request of Nehemiah. Paul and Silas were in a Roman prison “praying and singing hymns to God” and He basked in their melody of praise (Acts 16:25). When the eunuch of Ethiopia made the good confession, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37) the angels rejoiced with the Father to hear of another child born into the Kingdom.

Every day people do kind deeds, express graceful words, sing songs of joy to the Lord, feed the hungry and clothe the naked. God hears all these acts of man’s greatest humanity to man in loving their neighbor as themselves. What God hears every day will be determined by what we do every day. He ponders our lives in every detail and knows all that we say and do and think (Proverbs 5:21). The omnipotence of God will bring every word to His throne in the judgment day as He has heard every word we have said “including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

The ear of the Lord is not dull that it cannot hear: it hears everything! How many things He hears that saddens His heart yet how many of the righteous lift His spirits with their prayers, petitions, expressions of love, and praise to the one that gave His only begotten Son for man to hear the ring of redemption. What a great God we serve. How wonderful to be part of a covenant that enjoys the richness of the ear of God. May our hearts be filled with the sound of the word of God as He speaks to us by His grace.

Great Beginnings

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

Great Beginnings 

As the year draws to a close and a new year dawns resolutions are prepared to transcend the bridge from an old path to a new beginning. There is something cleansing about the beginning of a new year. Views of yesterday are measured with success and failure, hopes attained and dreams forgotten. A new spirit of determination is made to be a better person and to overcome the challenges faced in the past year. This disposition is built upon the strength of will and desires to admit the frailties of previous resolutions and the resolute heart to settle in concrete the changes for tomorrow. Through the grace of God we are permitted each day to have a new beginning. The dawning of each sunrise is the promise of an unwritten page yet marred by the hand of man. Let us reflect upon what God says about new beginnings. 

The greatest beginning was when the world was formed by the hand of God (Genesis 1-2). From a world dark and without form the Creator began His work of transformation to the magnificent world we see today. “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech and night unto night reveals knowledge” (Psalms 19:1-2). The new year can be a time of new creation with the hand of God guided our world and creating in us a new spirit, a new love, a new hope and a new realization of His grace. If God can make the world to be such a beautiful place from something without form then he can take my life in the new year and transform it to His image. 

Three times in scripture the Holy Spirit scribes these words: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (knowledge)” (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).  A good beginning is to understand our relationship with the Lord. The Psalmist tells us to “do His commandments” (Psalm 111:10) and this will bring blessings in the new year. Fearing the Lord will help us see how important the word of God is in our lives in the new year. If we try to mold our lives without God we are foolish (“but fools despise wisdom and instruction” – Proverbs 1:7). “The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). This new year must be filled with the word of God. A daily meditation on His word is our daily manna to sustain us. Begin today to spend time in God’s word. 

One final beginning to think of in this new year. "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:6-7). The Lord is not bound by years. He was before time and will be after time. He is the completeness of all things as the Alpha and the Omega. Through His power He can offer the fountain of life and the promise of salvation to all who would come to the fountain. As this new year spreads its wings upon the sands of time we can know for true that the promise of eternal life is granted to all those who will fear Him, obey Him, keep His commandments and make this new year a time for God in every way. Thank you Lord for this new beginning.

 

Joshua's New Year

Joshua’s New Year 

With a new year dawning on the horizon there is a need to reestablish and reaffirm our lives to a new course with anticipation for the future. This desire is tempered by the reality that tomorrow is never promised and life is but a vapor (James 4:14). However a certain expectation remains of the possibilities of what lay ahead. The apostle Paul affirmed the practice of “reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13) with the goal of the “upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14) we press forward.

Following the death of Moses, the son of Nun (Moses’ assistant) was chosen to lead the people into the promised land. The Lord comes to Joshua to reestablish and reaffirm His promises made with Moses and to give Joshua a plan for the conquest of a new land. The first thing Joshua needed to know was that the days past with Moses were completed and this was the dawn of a new day. “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise” (Joshua 1:2). We can never conquer today to secure the hope of tomorrow until we have left the work of yesterday. Joshua needed to gather himself and the people and begin the new work ahead of them. With the passing year we should reflect upon lessons learned but leave the mistakes, failures and successes to the pages of yesterday. As the new year unfolds we should “arise” and go forth with a new determined spirit.

The Lord promised Joshua the land was his for the taking. “To the land which I am giving to them” (Joshua 1:2) shows the promise of what can happen when we take God into our lives and live by His will. No battles had been fought nor land traversed but with the Lord’s help the security of success was already granted. This new year brings many challenges to overcome and battles to fight. There is no fear in the outcome because we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me" (Hebrews 13:6)? Furthermore, the Lord assures Joshua that “No man shall be able to stand before you” (Joshua 1:5). If we seek to do the Lord’s will in the coming year it will be accomplished because if it is of God then nothing can overthrow it (Acts 5:39).

Three times the Lord tells Joshua to “be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 1:6-9). It takes strength of character to face the unknown and the heart needs to be fortified with good courage. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). Our love for the Father will give us the strength to endure the unimaginable, withstand the wiles of the devil and make the new year a “time of refreshing” (Acts 3:19). The source of strength Joshua needed did not come from himself but from the law of the Lord. Obedience to the will of God was paramount for success and the only way we can find blessings in a new year is through the power of God’s word. It needs to be our meditation day and night (Joshua 1:8).

The final exhortation by the Lord is for Joshua to know there was no reason to be afraid “for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). The Lord is our Lord when we obey Him. The Lord is our Guide when we follow Him. The Lord is our Light when we let His word shine in us. The Lord is our Promise when we believe in His word. May the blessing of a New Year be our resolution in the daily word of God.

The Christmas Story And The Wise Men

The Christmas Story And The Wise Men

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the land

Not a Bible was open in anyone’s hand.

The story of Jesus is told again and again

But the truth of His birth is confused among men.

 

They tell of his birth in a place called a stable

His mother and father were not even able

To find a room at a place for him at an inn

So they settled for a manger to place the Lord in.

 

With shepherds around him and wise men there

The story of Jesus is told with small care

A star is above the stable so high

As the scene of His birth is told in a lie.

 

We read of a story much changed from this

From the words of men who tell it amiss.

They celebrate Christmas as if Christ is there

But never see what the scriptures lay bare.

 

The Lord was laid in a manger so soft

And the shepherds saw angels singing praises aloft

They came and found Mary and the child in that place

And gave praises to God for His wonderful grace.

 

But the wise men were not there nor ever would be

They saw the star in the East and made haste to see

The one who was born King of the Jews

The one who would bring such wonderful news.

 

They found the young child secure in a home

With Mary His mother and Joseph alone.

There were no shepherds as told by men

There was no manger nor ever had been.

 

They gave Him their gifts and they parted away

Warned by God to go home another way.

Herod came and killed all the males

In his anger and wrath he made Rachel wail.

 

The story is told in the Bible for all

To heed the true words and the gospel call.

It matters much what the story will say,

We must obey all of He who is the Way.

The apostle John wrote down in his book

That every man must take time to look

At what he may add to the words of this story

Or what he may take from the divine glory.

 

The story of His birth is one story alone

And man must not change one word or one tone.

God’s word is true and will always stand

Through the passing of time and the shifting of sand.

 

Speak truth my friend and you will find

No other story and no other kind.

So wonderful and glorious as this story told

As the story of Jesus from the pages of old.

Thank You America

Thank You America 

Thank you America for giving us the land we live in that allows for God to be taken out of everything and the wisdom of man to be exalted above all else. We can no longer use God’s name in honor nor can we mention him in our schools, work place, community and sometimes in our faith. The Bible is viewed as anything but a ‘Holy’ book and the wisdom bound between its pages is scoffed at as outdated, outmoded, and out of touch with the infinite wisdom of man. Prayer is reviled because of its need to believe in a higher being that is more interested in His needs than the needs of man. The colors of red, white and blue no longer embrace the hue of a nation built upon the basic tenets of God. The red blood of the innocent now stain the nation that has white washed its moral code with the fading colors of righteousness.

Thank you America for giving us a land where innocent children are massacred in schools, movie houses and communities across the land. The land of the free gives us movies like “Hunger Games” that glorify children killing children and then wonder how it could be lived out in a Connecticut town. Television is saturated with the horrible depictions of murder and torture in the name of CSI this and CSI that and who would guess a show titled, “Criminal Minds” would give anything worthy to the moral consciousness of our people.

The agenda of homosexuals establishes the animal nature of man that glorifies the carnal lusts of man. “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever” (Romans 1:24-25). Since we are animals in our sexual perversions then killing, maiming, abusing children sexually or any such thing is acceptable. For decades abortion has murdered the innocents yet born because what is in woman is no longer viewed as life but rather a blob of flesh. Killing a blob is justified; killing a child is the next step.

Thank you America for giving us laws that no longer protect the innocent, the elderly, the needy and the common man. Everyone has a right to do what he wants to do and to challenge that right is forbidden. The moral code of right and wrong is built upon the whims of societies’ needs and the fluid opinions of men. Punishment is excluded because of rights. Consequence is never realized because of rights. Our hypocrisy allows sexual perversions among adults but forbids the same thing with children.

If our Creator allows the world to remain for the next one hundred years or more history will reflect the failed wisdom of man without God. Our country is not being destroyed from forces beyond our borders – we are doing too good of a job ourselves. We are a nation of the free – free to kill, free to lust, free to abuse, free to do what we want to do any way we want to do it. But know America that while the strings of immorality march across our land in growing chorus that the God of Heaven and Earth will have His day. Then you will know there is a God that REIGNS (1 Chronicles 16:31; Psalm 96:10). “The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved” (Psalms 99:1)!

Three Earthquakes

Three Earthquakes

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many … Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. (Matthew 27:51-53; 28:1-2)

The death of Jesus was remarkable in many ways apart from the death of the Son of God. Darkness enveloped the sky from noon to around 3:00pm. Upon His death, the veil of the temple was rent in two from top to bottom. The earth shuttered and moved in response to the death of the Creator. After the resurrection of Jesus many bodies of the saints arose from the dead appearing to many in Jerusalem. But the events of surrounding the death of Jesus did not end on that day. On the first day of the week there was another earthquake as the angel of the Lord descended from heaven rolling back the huge stone sealing the tomb of Jesus. “He is not here; for He is risen” said the messenger of God.

The first earthquake was the living earth responding to the death of its Maker. Throughout the ministry of Jesus He showed His power over nature but also showed His relationship to the world. He could walk on water because He had power of the forces of nature. Turning water to wine illustrated His working within the schemes of natural law to show forth His own power. Jesus and nature were one. When His body died the earth could do nothing but react in shock. The first earthquake shows the Jesus is Creator.

The second earthquake came when Jesus rose from the dead. Two earthquakes in three days had to rattle the nerves of everyone in the area. Did anyone connect the events of the first earthquake with the early morning quake on the first day of the week? It did not seem to sink in to the minds of the disciples as they were still hiding in fear. The Sunday morning quake was the greatest victory for mankind. Jesus rose from the dead and His power over Hades and sin was assured. Satan’s fate was sealed with that earthquake. The message of the gospel is powerful (Romans 1:16) and when allowed to touch the heart will move it like an earthquake.

But what of the third earthquake? This one has not happened yet but it will be the largest and most powerful quake since creation. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up … the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10-12). Jesus will come back when this quake happens (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10) and everyone will hear His voice (John 5:28-29).

The first earthquake honored Jesus as Creator. The second earthquake announced Jesus as Lord and Savior. The third earthquake will be when Jesus returns as Judge.

One Week Left For Man

One Week Left For Man 

According to the interpretation of some the end of the world will happen next week in accordance with a supposed prophecy from the Mayan culture long ago. The great event of 2012 will be another prognostication of the end of time. Like the Y2K fears and the myriad of religious leaders who have led many to believe in their own brand of “end-times” belief the Bible does tell us when the end of the world will be. If anyone would know when the earth will be destroyed it would have to be the One who created it and put it into motion. Since God is the sovereign power and authority to man’s existence (Daniel 5:23) He would be the one to tell us when the world will come to an end.

It must be understood in the beginning that man’s existence is limited. As life is characterized as a vapor (James 4:14) so the life of all things balance on the thin line of mortality. The earth itself is a living creature created by the will of the Almighty whose life is destined to end by the wish of the Creator. Genesis 6-9 is a testimony of the mighty power of how God can destroy all mankind (save eight souls) in one event. The grand scale of the flood and utter destruction pale in comparison to the final occasion of earth’s demise.

Peter describes the end of the earth in graphic terms. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up … the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10,12). No black hole, no meteor, no global warming effect and no nuclear holocaust. Man can never destroy his own world in a total event; that is left to the justice of the Lord.

The most important question of the earth’s end is when this will take place. The Bible clearly tells us the day and the time of the end of time. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is” (Mark 13:31-33). I know when the world will come to an end! Isn’t that great! How wonderful is that knowledge. The end of all time will be in accordance with the will of the Father alone. No man knows, no angel knows and not even Jesus Christ. I don’t have to worry about when that will be because it will be the decision of my Father.

Do you not feel relieved to know that as long as God knows we don’t have to worry about when the world will come to an end? What I get to do is to watch for the coming of His Son and what a wonderful day that will be (2 Thessalonians 1:10). My life is filled with the prayer of “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). Many people worry about the end of time because they know that if it happens at the wrong time it would be a tragedy for them. For those who live in the grace of God death has no fear (1 Corinthians 15:50-58) and the end of the world is a blessing. “They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:4-5). Maybe the Lord will come today!! Praise God!

Discipleship (Vance Havner)

The Great Commission bids us make disciples, not merely believers. Jesus was out for disciples, not "joiners."
 
The rich young ruler had morals, manners and money. He would be welcomed readily into many churches today, with no questions asked. He would make a good "joiner" but he would be a poor disciple.
 
We have put the demands of discipleship in fine print for fear we will scare away "prospects."
 
A beliver comes to Christ; a disciple comes after Him. He are long on membership these days, but short on discipleship.
 
The first item on our agenda is to produce a better grade of Christians before we go out to add more names to our church rolls when we already have too many of the kind we have.
 
WHAT OUR LORD SAID ABOUT CROSS-BEARING AND OBEDIENCE IS NOT IN FINE PRINT. IT IS IN BOLD PRINT ON THE FACE OF THE CONTRACT!

From A to Z (Revelation 22)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. (Revelation 22:13)

From A to Z

Whenever we want to suggest something as complete and lacking nothing, we may use the alphabet as an example that includes everything from “A to Z”. This is the same sense with which the Lord says that He has done all things, is all things and there is nothing lacking in how He has provided all things for man. The “alpha and omega” are the corresponding letters of the Greek alphabet that suggest all things complete. The conclusion of the Revelation is like its beginning. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8).

The Lord is now and rules at the right hand of the Father. He was as in the beginning with the Father (John 1). His coming is imminent at the bidding of the Father (Revelation 22:12). The Lord is everything from “A to Z” because He created the world, saved the world and will return for His saints.

He has given us all things (from “A to Z”) that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). There is nothing lacking. The needs of man are met on every level through Jesus Christ. All grace has been given that all our sins may be washed away that we may all find hope in the love of God who gave us all He had – His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Praise God for the “Alpha and Omega.”

He Preached Jesus (Acts 8)

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. (Acts 8:35-38)

He preached Jesus

The evangelistic mission of Philip is best outlined in his teaching of the Ethiopian Eunuch. We find four things that Philip shows in teaching others the good news of salvation.

1.    Philip began where the man from Ethiopia was. When he started his study, Philip began where the man was reading and taught him the gospel. It is always best to begin the journey on the road our friend is traveling where they are so we can take them where they need to be.

2.    Philip preached Jesus to him. What a powerful unwritten sermon that is. But the simple truth is that Jesus is the message and we do not need to invent special ways to teach people salvation. If they will not believe in Jesus, there is nothing to believe in. Teach Jesus.

3.    Philip brought the man to ask his own question. The eunuch is the one that asked the question about baptism. Whatever Philip taught the man we know that preaching Jesus is teaching the necessity of obedience in water. But Philip guided the man to examine is own self and act upon his heart of faith.

4.    Philip obeyed the pattern of salvation. He did not suggest the man could be saved by faith alone or works alone. The challenge of confession and belief was accepted by the eunuch and then obedience fulfilled the will of God as they both went into the water to wash away sin.

We can do no less than what Philip did in sharing the saving grace of God to our neighbors and friends. When we follow the will of God then truly there is great rejoicing.

The Nations Are But Men (Psalm 9)

The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O LORD, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. (Psalms 9:15-20)

The nations are but men

David had a great outlook on life and he understood the frailty of the power of man. In every generation there are powerful nations who seek to rule the world. With every nation that exalts itself the sands of time bear witness to their folly. When nations turn away from God the destruction is certain.

America has dug its pit and we are sinking into the mire of immorality. But the Lord wants to remind us that we have dug the pit ourselves and the chaos in our country is the result of our being snared by the work of our own hands. We are destroying ourselves.

As a nation we have forgotten God. There was a time in our young history that our country embraced a belief and recognition of the “Almighty” but no more. The Bible is banned not believed. Worship of a higher being is not accepted but rejected. Expressions of love is about self and not about others. As a people we have no knowledge of God nor the acceptance of life after death.

David’s final plea in Psalm 9 is to remind all nations they are mere men. He sees clearly the weakness of the nations of men as made up of clay. History is the master teacher showing the rise and fall of the nations of men “but the Lord shall endure forever” (Psalm 9:7). Our trust must not be in the politics of today or the economic hopes built upon Wall Street nor the passions of a mad-crazed world of entertainment. “Those who know Your name will put their trust in You” (Psalm 9:10).