15/4 Faith: Recent Episodes

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INTRODUCTION TO SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Dempsey Collins

The beginning of the Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights - among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Perhaps the greatest quest of all mankind is the quest for happiness and, coupled with that, the desire for peace of mind. Rich or poor, young or old, regardless of nationality, everyone seeks happiness and peace of mind. It was one of the principles upon which this country was founded.

The fathers of this country left us a legacy of freedom which includes the right of every individual to pursue his own particular ideas as to what it takes to be truly happy. But, unfortunately, man left on his own in this matter has too often chosen the wrong paths and instead of finding happiness, has found only sorrow, regret and despair - many times eternal despair. This is because they were disillusioned as to what it takes to be truly happy.

True and lasting happiness can only be found in what a person is - morally- a standard of character, not a standard of living. True character is fashioned after the truths revealed in the Bible.

It is found by submission to a creator and not by pursuing your own peculiar ideas in life (Luke 12:15; Matt. 4:4; note especially Phil. 4:6-9). We can only have peace of mind when “the God of peace” is “within us”, and God is not with us unless we submit to what we learn, receive and hear from His word (Phil. 4:9).

Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone”, yet man has stuffed himself with bread of every description until he is sick, sick of many things, but especially sick of himself.

The only way to change this feeling is to change himself by submission to the designs of his creator. This is the purpose for which he exists, whether he recognizes it or not (Eccl. 12:13).

Let us look at what Jesus prescribes as the way to true happiness and peace of mind. Our text of scripture will be Matt. 5:1-12, a passage which is usually referred to as the Beatitudes.

Since true happiness can only be found in what you are inwardly, a moral character, Jesus, in this passage, prescribes some basic attitudes we are to have and develop to maturity.

Since true happiness can only be found in what you are inwardly, a moral character, Jesus, in this passage, prescribes some basic attitudes we are to have and develop to maturity.

The Beatitudes are part of a great whole - the Sermon on the Mount - which involves Matt. 5:1-7:29. Because the Beatitudes are part of the Sermon on the Mount, let us make a brief analysis of the sermon.

1. Date: Given during Jesus’ Galilean ministry (Matt. 4:12, 18, 23) 31 A.D.
2. Place: “He saw the multitudes, He went upon the mountain” (Matt. 5:1).
3. Audience: “He saw the multitudes…His disciples came to Him” (Matt. 5:1). “A great multitude of disciples and a great throng of people from all Judea…” (Luke 6:17). “…and turning His gaze on His disciples He began to say…” (Luke 6:20). Jesus, on this occasion, spoke to His disciples. At the time of the presentation, many had become His disciples, including the twelve (Matt. 4:18ff; Luke 6:13-17; Matt. 7:28).

4. Purpose: To proclaim the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4:23). Throughout the discourse, the kingdom is mentioned (Matt. 5:3, 10, 19, 20; 6:10, 33; 7:21). The sermon may be divided into three main parts.

   1. The citizens of the kingdom (Matt. 5:3-16).

      1. Their character and blessedness (vs. 3-12).

      2. Their relation to the world (vs. 13-16): salt of the earth, light of the world.

         1. The righteousness (teaching) of the kingdom, the standard of life demanded by the King in contrast with the misconceptions and false interpretations of the old covenant.

      3. The law must be fulfilled (Matt. 5:17-19).

      4. The righteousness of those in the kingdom must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 5:20ff). The scribes and Pharisees were models of righteousness in their own sight and in that of the people during this period.
      5. “You have heard it said…but I say to you…” appears six times in Matt. 5, in verses 21, 22, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 38, 39, 43 and 44.
      6. The essence of the righteousness of the kingdom with respect to man’s relation to God amounts to love and dependence upon God above all (Matt. 6, especially verses 6, 19, 20, 24, 25-34).

      7. The essence of the righteousness of the kingdom with respect to man’s relation to man is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 7:1-12, especially verse 12).

         1. Exhortation to enter the kingdom (Matt. 7:13-27).

      8. Enter by the narrow gate (verses 13, 14). Jesus presents two cities before us, one with a wide gate leading to destruction; the other narrow, leading to life.

      9. “Beware of false prophets” along the way (verses 15-20).
      10. Must be a doer of these words and not merely a hearer (verses 21-27).

The effect of the discourse upon Jesus’ audience is seen in Matt. 7:28-29 - “The multitudes were amazed at His teaching for He was teaching them as one having authority and not as their scribes.”

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The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.A Psalm of David.The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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Job’s ConfessionThen Job answered the Lord and said,

“I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
‘Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.’
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;
Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes.”

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THE CHRISTIAN’S WAR AGAINST DEPRESSION

By Paul Earnhart

Depression is an emotional experience which can grip the heart with a sense of hopelessness. It lays a dead hand on all effort. The struggle against problems is seen by the depressed as futile, and this perception leads to even deeper depression.

Matters are made even worse by the commonly held view that truly godly people never experience depression. The biblical evidence is to the contrary. How else can we explain the utter misery of Job whose calamities nearly overwhelmed him (Job 3)? And there is the godly Elijah whose glorious victory on Mt. Carmel was so seemingly nullified by Jezebel that he despaired of any purpose for his life (1 Kings 19:1-14). There is not a more righteous and noble figure in the Old Testament than Jeremiah, and yet the hatred which his message of doom stirred up against him, even within his own family and friends, brought him, at times, to the very edge of despair (Jeremiah 20:7-18).

But all these, it may be objected, lived before the revelation of the gospel with all its hope and assurance. True, but it is not difficult to extend our examples to the New Testament. Paul the apostle of joy himself, was no stranger to moments of depression. Of the exceedingly burden-filled years spent at Ephesus he wrote: “For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life” (2 Cor. 1:8).

Are we then saying by all this that depression is a settled part of the Christian’s life and ought to be accepted gracefully? The answer is a most emphatic “NO”! Our point is that you are not a spiritual reject because you experience depression. The question is: what are you going to do about it? We are all too often guilty of accepting depression helplessly, and even feeding it until it becomes despondence and despair. We have said that godly people suffer depression. Now let me add that godly people don’t yield to it. The onset of a severe case of “the blues” is not a time for acquiescence but for war! Paul assures us that the weapons for the battle are mighty enough to breach every stronghold of the mind which resists the influence of Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5). Depression cannot subdue us unless a weakening faith causes us to lose our grip on God’s promises. Paul never denied his own moments of discouragement, but he did fight them. “We are afflicted in every way”, he wrote, “but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing.” (2 Cor. 4:8).

Paul’s years of imprisonment were not easy to bear. The feet that had so long restlessly strode the world in pursuit of lost men were now fixed in place. He had always dreamed of coming to Rome, but never like this. Still, out of the most unlikely circumstances, Paul wrote to the Philippians the most triumphantly joyful of all his epistles. We can learn some important lessons from him on how to deal with disappointment. What were the weapons of his war against despair?

Among other things, Paul made effective use of God’s word and prayer. In the midst of his troubles, he was wholly set on knowing Christ more fully (Philippians 3:8-12). He urges the Philippians to “abound” in knowledge and discernment (1:9) and to meditate upon high and holy things (4:8-9). His letter is filled with a prayerful spirit and he calls upon his readers to battle anxiety “by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” (4:6). But he warned. Depression will disincline you to both the reading of the Bible and prayer. God will seem far way and all effort hopeless. You will not “feel like” doing it, but you must persevere with an unshakable resolve. In due season, your faith in God’s promises and love will revive you and your prayers will be transformed from mere words to earnest petitions. The depression will dissipate.

Another weapon against depression which Paul used was the comfort of faithful friends whose fidelity to God and love for him through the years now served to buoy his spirits. “I thank God,” he said, “upon all my remembrance of you” (1:3). Depression tends to cause you to withdraw from the company of others. This only makes conditions worse. Fight this inclination and seek the strength which being with fellow Christians who love you can bring. We are one body in Christ (1 Cor. 12:25-27).

The third weapon against depression which Paul used was activity. Despair with its hopelessness causes its victims to simply quit trying. Paul could have done that. He was the victim of numerous circumstances beyond his control. Things had not gone at all as he had hoped. Most people would not have blamed him if he had just turned his head to the wall in utter despondence. But he resolved not to do that. Not able to go to the men to preach, he preached to those who came to him, and consequently, to every praetorian guard whose duty forced him to stay and listen. Wonderful, unbelievable things happened! The elite troops of the emperor, virtually inaccessible by any other means, were influenced by the gospel, and the brethren in Rome were so stirred by Paul’s example that they preached Christ as never before (Philippians 1:12-14).

I learned some time ago that I might indeed get depressed, but by the grace of God I did not have to stay that way. The choice was mine. Of course, it has taken me some time to learn this lesson, and I am still learning it. But even the apostle said, “I have learned” (Philippians 4:11).

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The End of the Age - A STUDY OF MATTHEW 24 - Part Three

(conclusion)

Dempsey Collins

Verse 16 - “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” where there would be caves and other places of retreat. “It is a remarkable but historical fact that Cestius Gallius, the Roman general, for some unknow reason, retired when they first marched against the city, suspended the siege, ceased the attack and withdrew his armies for an interval of time after the Romans had occupied the temple; thus, giving every believing Jew the opportunity to obey the Lord’s instruction to flee the city. Josephus, the eye-witness, himself chronicles this fact and admitted his inability to account for the cessation of the fighting at the time after a siege had begun. And thus, it was left for Titus, the Roman general, to execute the siege, after the disciples left.” (Foy Wallace, God’s Prophetic Word, p. 252).

(The student should read Josephus Wars, Book II.6:7. These events were also recorded by Eusebius History Eccles., lib. IIIc. 5, 6 and Epiphanius, who tells us that during this time, all who believed in Christ left the city and fled to Pella and other places beyond the Jordan so that no Christians perished in the siege.)

Verse 17 - “let him who is on the housetop not go down to get the things that are in the house.” “The houses of the Jews, as well as those of the ancient Greeks and Romans, were flat-roofed and had stairs on the outside by which persons might ascend and descend without coming into the house. In the Eastern walled cities, these flat-roofed houses usually formed continual terraces from one end of the city to the other, which terraces terminated at the gates. He, therefore, who is walking on the housetop, let him not come down to take anything out of his house, but let him instantly pursue his course along the tops of the houses and escape out at the city gate as fast as he can.” (Clarke, p. 818)

Verse 18 - “And let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak.” A man’s garments are hardly worth his life.

There is no way these words can be fulfilled in anything but the literal destruction of a city. In this context, the city of Jerusalem. What nonsense it would be for Christ to encourage people to flee from Him at His final coming. Do Premillenialists actually think there would be time for one to go into his house and get his cloak? The words of Jesus are also meaningless for those who believe in the Rapture. If this was some kind of Rapture, why flee to the mountains? The warnings of Matt. 24 are for Christians. If the doctrine of the Rapture is true, saints will not need to flee for they will be taken into heaven! The words of Jesus only have meaning when we consider them in light of the destruction of Jerusalem.

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The End of the Age - A STUDY OF MATTHEW 24 - Part Two

Dempsey Collins

“Rumors of wars” = “wars declared or threatened but not carried out. Threats of wars against Jews by Bardanes and Volageses, Antiquities 20.34. Vitellius, governor of Syria, declared war against Aretas, king of Arabia, but the death of Tiberius prevented the war, Antiquities 18.5:3”. Especially was there the threat of war when Caligula (reigned AD 37-41) ordered his statue to be set up in the temple and the Jews refused. The Jews had every reason to expect a war with the Romans and were in such consternation on the occasion, they neglected to till their land. (Wars, Book 2.10)

Verse 7 - “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.” Premillenialists quote verses 6-8 every time there is an earthquake, war or famine and cry “the end is near.” But these things were all fulfilled in that generation:

Famines -

1. Acts 11:27-30 (AD 42-43)

2. Pestilence at Babylonia (AD 40) Antiquities 18.9:8

3. In Italy (AD 66) Tacitus 16, 13

Luke adds these were to be “signs from heaven” (21:11)

Earthquakes

1. In Crete (AD 46-47)

2. In Rome in the day Nero assumed the manly toga (AD 51)

3. At Apamaea in Phrygia (AD 53) Tacitus

4. At Laodicea in Phrygia (AD 60)

5. At Campania (AD 63-63)

Verse 8 - “But all these are merely the beginnings of birth pangs.” As the birth pangs which begin comparatively light, warn the expectant mother that her time to deliver is near, so these events which are like preliminary birth pangs are to warn that the event is coming.

Verses 9-13 reveal a time of suffering and persecution. Verse 9 - “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name.” The book of Acts furnishes abundant evidence for the fulfillment of these details:

1. Acts 4:3 - Peter and John imprisoned
2. 4:18 - warned not to speak these things
3. 4:21 - threatened
4. 5:18 - Apostles put in jail
5. 5:40 - flogged, warned
6. 7:59 - Stephen stoned
7. 8:1 - Great persecution arose
8. 8:3 - Saul ravaging the church
9. 12:1 - Herod Agrippa, I laid hands on some
10. 12:2 - James beheaded
11. 14:19 - Paul stoned
12. 16:19-24 - Paul and Silas beaten, thrown in inner prison

Other epistles reveal severe persecution (2 Cor. 11:24-27; 2 Tim. 1:8; 2:2; 3:11-12; Heb. 12:4).

Verse 10 - “And at that time, many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.” (compare Luke 21:16-17 - betrayed even by parents). “To illustrate this point, one sentence out of Tacitus (Annals 1.15) will be sufficient, who speaking of the persecution under Nero says, ‘At first several were seized who confessed, and then by their discovery a great multitude of others were convicted and executed.’” (Clarke, p. 817).

Verse 11 - “many false prophets will arise and mislead many” (see 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Gal. 2:1-4; 1 Tim. 1:20; 4:1; Titus 1:10; 2 Pet. 2; Jude; 1 John 4:1-6).

Verse 12 - “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” In view of such persecutions, Paul repeatedly exhorts Timothy in the second epistle (especially 1:8, 12; 2:1-13; 3:10-12; 4:5).

Verse 13 - “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Note the same instruction in Rev. 2:10).

Verse 14 - “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.” Other passages also show that the gospel was preached to the then known world before AD 70, the destruction of Jerusalem (Rom. 10:18 [AD 56-58]; Col. 1:23 [AD 60-62]).

The statement “and then the end shall come” does not refer to the end of the world, but to the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus said this preaching of the gospel in all the world would be for a witness among all nations. The custom of the apostles in preaching the gospel to the world was “to the Jew first and then to the Gentile” (Rom. 1:16). Wherever the gospel was preached, the Jews had the first opportunity to receive the word. God had allowed plenty of time and opportunity for the Jews in the then known world to accept the gospel of Christ. Thus, when the severe judgment which fell upon Jerusalem and the Jews came, it was in keeping with the justice of God.

Verses 15 - 26 - The Abomination of Desolation

“As they observed the general signs of that coming destruction, they were to be especially watchful for one definite sign. When they saw it, they were to know that the time was upon them and were to flee quickly into the mountains for safety.” (Connie Adams)

Verse 15 - “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, (Dan. 9:27; 11:31) standing in the Holy place (let the reader understand).”

The Scripture is always the best interpreter of itself. If only premillennial speculators would let it interpret itself, much harm could be avoided. Luke’s account at this point in the narrative reads: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand” (Luke 21:20). The “abomination of desolation” Luke tells us was the Roman army which encompassed and besieged the city; hence, the desolation.

Abomination - from Greek bdelugma: “denotes an object of disgust or abhorrence, a loathsome or detestable thing” (Vines, p. 14; Thayer, p. 99). Same word in Luke 16:15; Rev. 17:4; 21:27.

Desolation - eremosis: “denotes desolation in the sense of making desolate; to lay waste” (Vine, pp. 299-300). “To make wretched; to devastate or lay in ruin” (Webster).

What is it that was so loathsome and disgusting about the Romans to the Jews?

1. The fact that they were Gentiles or heathens which ruled over them…often with oppression.
2. “They carried the ensigns of eagles and images of the emperor whom they worshipped. For these idolatrous symbols to be displayed in the temple, or even in the city where God had been worshipped for so long according to divine order, was an abomination of the worst kind for the Jews.” (Connie Adams). Josephus tells us that when the city was taken, the Romans brought their idols into the temple and placed them over the eastern gate and sacrificed to them there. (Wars, Book VI. 6:1)

When the Roman army approaches to surround the city, the followers of Christ were to take that as a sign to flee quickly.

(We’ll conclude this study in a third and final blog update)

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The End of the Age - A STUDY OF MATTHEW 24 - Part One

Dempsey Collins

In vv. 4-8, Jesus warns His disciples about being deceived. If they could be deceived, so can men today. Verse 4 - “And Jesus answered and said to them, See to it that no one misleads you” (King James - “deceives you” - planao: to cause one to wander). The reason for this warning is given in vv. 4-8. These are only the beginning signs of the destruction. Verse 5 - “For many will come in My name (acting by or in the place of His authority) saying, ‘I am the Christ’, and will mislead many”

The Jews had been looking for the Messiah, to free them from Roman dominion and restore the kingdom of David (John 12:34; 6:15).

Because the desire for a political Messiah was so great among the Jews, many men took advantage of this as a means to popularity and power.

The Levite historian, Josephus, tells us that there were many imposters and deceivers which appeared among the people during this time. “And now these impostors and deceivers persuaded the multitude to follow them into the wilderness and pretend that they would exhibit manifest wonders and signs, that should be performed by the providence of God. And many that were prevailed on by them suffered the punishment of their folly; for Felix (ruled AD 41-54) brought them back and punished them.” (Antiquities Book 20, chapter 8)

Josephus also mentions an Egyptian “who came to Jerusalem and said that he was a prophet. He advised the multitude of common people to go along with him to the Mount of Olives. There he would show them how at his command, the walls of Jerusalem would fall down and he would then make entrance into the city for them. Felix, hearing of this, sent soldiers who slew 400 and took 200 alive, but the Egyptian escaped.” (compare Acts 21:38). (Antiquities Book 20, chapter 8, section 6)

Later we are told by Josephus that many “men deceived and deluded the people under the pretense of divine inspiration.” (Wars II. 13.4, 5). This was for the purpose of harming the Roman government. (See also Antiquities Book 20, 5:1 concerning Theudas and his claim to be a prophet; compare Acts 5:36)

Verse 6 - “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end” (the destruction of Jerusalem). Notice again that Jesus is speaking to His disciples (v. 3) and continually uses the second person pronoun “you”. Verses 4, 6 - these disciples, not men today. Verse 9 - “They will deliver you up to tribulation”, 15, 20, 23, 25 - “Behold I have told you in advance”, 26, 33, 34. This shows conclusively that the events in verses 4-34 were fulfilled in that generation.

A second beginning sign to that generation of disciples would be “wars and rumors of wars”. “It is recorded in the history of Rome that the most violent agitations prevailed in the Roman empire previous to the destruction of Jerusalem. Four emperors: Nero, Galba, Otho and Vitellius suffered violent deaths in the space of 18 months. In consequence of these changes there were commotions throughout the empire. Parties were formed; and bloody and violent wars were the consequence of attachment to particular emperors. This is the more remarkable, as at the time the prophecy was made, the empire was in a state of peace.” (Barnes Notes on Matt. 24:6)

Rome was at war with Syria, Samaria and others just before the destruction of Jerusalem. There were also wars among the Jews themselves agitated by zealots, and these intensified as the siege of Jerusalem commenced.

(Our study of Matthew 24 will be continued in succeeding blog updates)

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HELP THE RICH

by L.A. Stauffer

In our nightly family devotions, two of our daughters invariably pray: “help the rich and the poor.” It’s not unusual to hear someone pray for the poor; their needs are outward and are obvious to all. But I don’t think I’ve heard anyone ask God to help the rich, so it struck me as being odd when our children first offered this prayer. These seven and ten-year-old children don’t realize it, but they have hit on a very important need.

The rich do need help. The Bible often speaks of the deception of riches (Matt. 13:22) and their danger to the soul (Mark 10:24). The need of rich folks is inward and is therefore of much more importance than a poor person’s need for food or clothes. The rich need help so they don’t trust in riches and forget God (Mark 10:24). They need help so they don’t become high-minded and begin to look condescendingly upon their “common” brethren (I Tim. 6:17). They need help so they don’t make treasures on earth their master and idol rather than treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-24; Col. 3:5). They need help so they don’t become attached to their wealth and neglect the needy (Luke 16:19-30). They need the help of God who, through the Scriptures, can mold in them an attitude that does not “love money,” which is the root of all kinds of evil (I Tim. 6:10).

I’ve heard folks say that if a depression hits, we’ll just have to learn to live with poverty. What we need right now, though, is to forget the depression and learn how to live with prosperity. The apostle Paul, according to the NASV translation, says: “I also know how to live in prosperity” (Phil. 4:12). The Laodiceans who boasted of their riches and were indifferent toward the work of the Lord had not learned, as Paul did, the lesson of how to manage prosperity (Rev. 3:14-22). Just as the Laodiceans, every one of us needs the help of God to handle aright our prosperity.

Yes, I said, “our prosperity.” Brethren, according to the first century standard, we are wealthy. And we can handle our prosperity if, like the Macedonians, we first give ourselves to the Lord (II Cor. 8:5). God, help us.

L.A. wrote the above article several years ago, but its truths are as much needed today as when it was first written.

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LETTING HAPPINESS PURSUE US

by Ed Bragwell

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” so reads our Declaration of Independence. Thus, one of the great rights that most Americans cherish is that of being able to pursue happiness and strongly resist any efforts that would diminish that “unalienable” right.

Happiness is not easy to define, but to most of us happiness means a sense of well-being and contentment. We have no doubt that our Lord wants us to be happy. There are so many scriptural references to “joy,” “peace,” “contentment,” etc. in connection with our lives to conclude otherwise. Yet, in spite of this many spend a lifetime pursuing (chasing) happiness but never find it. Some jump from one marriage to another. Others jump from one career to another. Still others constantly move from one location to another. Even from one local church to another. All of this in an effort to find the happiness they think they deserve.

The irony of it all is that the best way to pursue happiness is not to pursue it at all. When one’s single-minded approach is pursuing happiness for its sake, he looks past those things of which happiness is a natural fruit. Jesus came to seek and save the lost - not to bring one happiness per se. When he gave the great commission, he told the apostles to go and “make disciples” of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20), not to go make happy folks of all nations. Yet, when they made a disciple (by baptizing them and teaching them to observe all things commanded), they made a happy, rejoicing person (Acts 8:39; 16:34).

A result of going to God in prayer in time of anxiety is the peace of God will guard our hearts (Phil. 4:6-7). And a result of concentrating on doing the apostolic teaching and examples is “the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil. 4:9). Concentrate on doing the Lord’s will as your primary focus in life and you may just be surprised by happiness.

When I was a youngster, we lived on a little plot of ground out in the country. We had our livestock and other things that farm folks have. We had a pony that my brothers and I loved to ride. But, he did not like being bridled. Once the bridle was on, he was gentle enough to ride. To get the bridle on we had to chase him down. One Saturday, I wanted to ride him to a store not too awfully far from our house. After chasing him nearly all morning, I gave up, and started walking to the store. I was not out of sight of our house when I heard hoofs to my back. There was that stupid pony following me to the store. I didn’t catch the pony, but the pony caught me. Happiness is kind of like that.

The problem with making happiness the pursuit of our lives is that we will follow any and every path that we think might lead to it. Our focus shifts from doing the right thing to doing that which we think will give us that sense of well-being and contentment. With this mind-set, even if one finds a measure of happiness, it will not last because his whole world revolves around his personal happiness. He is soon wondering if he might not be able to find even greater happiness and, becoming discontent with his present state, he goes off again chasing after that happiness pot at the end of another rainbow.

But, when our lives are focused on pursuing the kingdom of God and his righteousness, which involves obeying all things commanded which often brings sacrifice and hardship, the happiness desired will very likely find us. The early Christians found happiness or maybe happiness found them, even in the midst of their hardships as a result of following the Lord. Their happiness did not depend on external circumstance, but it was imbedded in their hearts by their knowing that they had hope in Christ Jesus. Paul could write of his contentment from a Roman prison (Phil. 4:11). The apostles could leave the Jewish counsel, after being beaten and ordered not to preach anymore in the name of Jesus, rejoicing and continuing to preach and teach in the temple and in every house (Acts 5:40-42).

My friend, why not cease your incessant pursuit of happiness and turn to the Lord in humble obedience to the gospel with a commitment to observe all things Jesus commands and let your life’s purpose be to “fear God and keep his commandments” (Eccl. 12:13)? Do that and let happiness take care of itself - let it find you rather than spending so much time and effort trying to find it.

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GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD

by Sewell Hall

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Gen. 50:20).

This statement is Joseph’s conclusion drawn after many years of observing God’s providence in his life. When his brothers sold him into slavery, he must have wondered, as so many good people do when things go wrong, “Why has God let this happen to me?” Now he knows.

Four Facts Revealed

1. The purpose and actions of Joseph’s brothers were evil. They did not “mean well.” Genesis 37 tells us that when Joseph was 17 years old, his brothers hated him (verses 4, 8); they “envied him” (verse 11) and “conspired against him to kill him” (verse 18). They stopped short of murder, primarily because they saw the possibility of profit from selling him into slavery (verses 26-27). Such attitudes and motives are Satan’s work (James 3:15)
2. God’s purpose was good. It was good for Joseph. It is always God’s purpose to be “a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). His purpose was also good for Joseph’s family. He had said to Abraham, Joseph’s great-grandfather, “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions” (Gen. 15:13-14).
3. God had involved himself in Joseph’s life in order to accomplish His purposes. He had intervened to help him and his family
4. Although Satan caused Joseph’s brothers to sell him, God was able to overrule the work of Satan and to bring good from evil.

Lessons for Us

When we are mistreated and abused, we must “not sin nor charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22). Satan is always the cause of mistreatment and there is much more reason to forsake Satan than to forsake God. Like Joseph, we must wait “patiently for the Lord,” confident that His purpose for us is for our good always, and that He is still in control.

It is not for us to take vengeance on those who mistreat us. Joseph’s awareness that God had used his sufferings for good was stated as an assurance to his brothers that they should not fear him even after their father was dead. “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).

When we are wronged and are in no position to bring the perpetrators to repentance, we will do well to remember the example of Joseph who named his first son Manasseh, a word meaning forgetfulness. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household” (Gen. 41:51). Nothing is to be gained by continually “licking our wounds” and brooding over our mistreatment. The sooner we can put such things behind us and get on with our lives, the better it is.

Such forgetfulness is made easier by remembering God’s power to use it all for good. If an experienced chess player can capitalize on every move his opponent makes, much more can God overrule every action of Satan. Satan not only caused Joseph to be enslaved in a foreign land, but he motivated Potiphar’s wife to lust after him, to try to seduce him, to lie when he rejected her, and to have him imprisoned. Satan produced the ingratitude that caused the butler to forget Joseph for two years after Joseph had befriended him. Yet it was these very things that God linked together to elevate Joseph in Egypt and to put him in position to save his family and bring them to Egypt where they could become “a great nation.”

This power of God to turn evil into good is even more dramatically demonstrated in the life of the One of whom Joseph was a type (Acts 7:9-18). Just as God used the evil actions of Joseph’s brothers to accomplish their salvation and that of all their family, so He used Satan’s crucifixion of His own Son to make possible salvation, not only for those who crucified Him but also for all mankind.

Our hardships may not turn out for our physical, financial, or social good as they did for Joseph. However, such temporal benefits are not the real good, nor are they God’s primary purpose for us. The real good is the molding of our lives into the image of Christ and the salvation of our souls and those of others. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Therefore, “we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance character; and character hope” (Rom. 5:3-4).

Not now, but in the coming years,

It may be in the better land,

We’ll read the meaning of our tears,

And there, sometime, we’ll understand.

Then trust in God through all thy days.

Fear not, for He doth hold thy hand;

Though dark thy days still sing and praise,

Sometime, sometime we’ll understand.

Maxwell N. Cornelius

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I FEARED THE PEOPLE

by Dennis Abernathy

When Israel became unhappy and demanded a king, Saul was appointed. He started out good, but his life was one of regression rather than growth. At first, he was humble and honored and glorified God, but it was losing sight of the fact that he was to honor God and not himself that led to his ruin. This change in Saul, from the humble man he was when first appointed king, to the self-willed man he became, occurred gradually over a period of time.

In I Samuel 15, Saul was instructed to totally destroy the Amalekites and all they possessed, period! Who were these people and why did God give such a command? The Amalekites were a nomadic people who dwelt in the Negeb, South of Israel. They were known for their vicious fighting ability. Their first contact with Israel was at Rephidim, in the wilderness of Sinai, where they made an unprovoked attack on the weak and struggling nation that had just escaped Egypt. Israel defeated them after a desperate conflict (see Exodus 17). This unprovoked encounter with the Amalekites would not be forgotten by the Lord (I Sam. 15:2; Ex. 17:14-16).

But Saul listened to the people and took Agag the king and the best of the sheep and oxen. These they were “unwilling to destroy completely” (I Sam. 15:7-9). The Lord was grieved because Saul turned away from Him and did not carry out His instructions (vv. 10-11). But Saul boasted of having “carried out the Lord’s instructions” and even set up a monument to himself for his accomplishments (vv. 12-13). How easy it is for one to insist that he has obeyed the Lord when, in reality, he has only partially done so. How easy it is for one to insist that he has obeyed the Lord when, in reality, he has followed his own will.

Verse 17 pretty much tells the story and pinpoints Saul’s character flaw. Saul began by being little in his own eyes (I Sam. 9), but when he became king he self-inflated. Being king didn’t make him self-willed. His was a gradual moral change, and his kingship only revealed his true character and what was really in his heart.

In verses 15 and 21, Saul said the people took and spared the best of the plunder “which should have been utterly destroyed.” But they had a good reason, he pleaded: they were for sacrifices to the Lord. My, my, isn’t it easy to cover up rebellion and disobedience with sacrifice and devotion? Samuel’s response was both swift and directed and straight to the heart of the problem. “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better that the fat of rams” (v. 22).

Saul and Israel knew that God was not concerned with just offerings and sacrifices, but that He delighted in obedience (see Jer. 7:22-23). If sacrifices are offered in apostasy, unbelief, and disobedience, they are worthless (see Jer. 6:13-20).God through Hosea said: “For I desire mercy not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hos. 6:6).

Saul was guilty of rebellion in rejecting the word of the Lord (v. 23). His pride and arrogant heart led him to listen to the people that he might obtain their honor. His true heart condition is indicted in verse 24: “Then said Saul to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. ‘”

Thus, Saul was influenced by the people rather than by the will of God. He was not the first or the last to do so. He sought honor and popularity through their approval. The desire to be popular and honored by people can have a tremendous influence on one. But the one who seeks honor and approval from people by keeping his ear to the ground and his finger in the air to see which way the prevailing winds of public opinion blows will not long listen to the will of God.

Saul was rejected by the Lord from being king, and he lost the respect and fellowship of Samuel (v. 35). The Lord had Saul pegged right, for in verse 30 Saul pleaded with Samuel: “I have sinned; yet honor me now I pray thee, before the leaders of my people, and before Israel.” Saul let the cat out of the bag, didn’t he? His appeal to Samuel was “Honor me” … before the people and before Israel. He had no interest in honoring God or in leading the people to do so. He even referred to God as Samuel’s God. He was not concerned about his sin as much as being honored before the people. His sorrow was not in the fact that he had sinned, but that he had lost his place and position as king.

Let us learn that:

1. Disobedience cannot be excused or covered up even when draped in the mask of religious devotion, or by placing the blame for it on others.
2. Partial obedience is disobedience!
3. Transgressing the commandments of God is rebellion.
4. One who seeks glory, honor, and praise from men and not from God has a spirit that is antagonistic to faith in God (John 5:44; 12:42-43; Gal. 1:10).

Our attitude should be to obey God’s will over our own or anyone else’s (Luke 22:42; John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38).

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The Pearl Merchant

by Dempsey Collins

(Adapted from Juan Ortiz)

First, read Matthew 13:44-46. A pearl merchant had been looking for an exquisite pearl. He came into a store that had a number of pearls on display under glass. Then he saw it!

“I want this pearl; how much is it?” he exclaimed.

“Well,” the seller says, “it’s very expensive.”

“But how much?” he asks.

“Well, a very large amount.”

“Do you think I can afford to buy it?”

“Oh, of course, everyone can buy it.”

“But I thought you said it was expensive?”

“Oh yes, it is very expensive.”

“Well how much is it?”

“Everything you have,” the seller says.

After thinking a moment, the buyer says, “Okay, I’ll take it.”

“Well, how much do you have?”

“Well, I have $10,000 in the bank.”

“Good, $10,000. What else?”

“Well, I have $60 in my pocket.”

“That’s fine, what else do you have?”

“Nothing, that’s all.”

“Where do you live?”

“In my house. Yes, I have a house.”

“The house becomes mine.”

“You mean I have to live in the camper?”

“You have a camper? That becomes mine, too.”

“Now I have to sleep in my car?”

“You have a car?”

“Yes, two of them.”

“Both become mine. What else?”

“You already have my money, my house, my camper, my two cars. I’m going to be in the doghouse when my wife finds out about this!”

“You have a wife?”

“Yes, and two kids.”

“Your wife and children are now mine. What else do you have?”

“Nothing, that’s it! You’ve got everything! What more could you want?!”

“Oh yes, I almost forgot - you, too, become mine. Here’s your pearl. Be careful not to lose it!”

The buyer, quite shaken by the deal, hobbles away, looking at his pearl.

The seller then says, “I’ll tell you what. You can have your things back on loan. But if I should ever need anything, you must give them back because now I am the owner.”

Now one of the biggest barriers to being a Christian is material things. If each of us took the attitude that our possessions were on loan from the Lord, then we wouldn’t mind so much when we lose them. Remember that many Christians have indeed lost everything they own in order to become a Christian.

Would you still become a Christian if you knew by doing so you would lose your house and car? If not, then you are not ready to become a Christian.

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THE GOSPEL - GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR MAN

by Dempsey Collins

What is the righteousness of God in Romans 1:17?

Righteousness is from Greek Dikaiosunḕ.

“It corresponds to the Hebrew tsedeq meaning rightness” (Zon., p. 723)

Right, Just, Justified, Righteous, Righteousness (same root word)

Right, Just, Righteous (Diakaiosis)

“A person who is what he ought to be; free of guilt, justified.”

Justify, Justification (Dikaios)

The act of pronouncing someone right; an acquittal; declaring free of guilt.

Righteousness (Diakaiosunḕ)

The condition or state of being justified; one who is righteous.

The Bible speaks of righteousness as something bestowed on man by God or from God as a gift. In other words, a person is declared righteous by God through faith in Jesus. This is the sense in which righteousness is used in Romans 1:17 and through most of the letter. Although we are sinners condemned to death, through faith in the blood of Jesus, God declares us acquitted of all sin, not guilty, justified, righteous through the merit of Jesus’ expiatory sacrifice. This blessed condition of righteousness is a gift from God and is revealed by Him in the gospel.

Proof of righteousness used in this sense is fourfold:

1. In Romans 1:17 Paul declares “the righteousness of God” to be “revealed in the gospel”. But the personal righteousness of God is revealed throughout Scripture from beginning to end. It does not begin to be revealed in the gospel.
2. The expression “from faith unto faith” reveals the way in which this righteousness is received. This righteousness is given as a result of faith in the redemptive work of Jesus. I am declared righteous by God on the ground of Christ’s work, not my own. Dana and Mantey’s Greek grammar render the verse “by means of faith” (D. & M., page 103). Thayer renders verse 17 “springing from faith (and availing) to (arouse) faith (in those who as yet have it not)” (Thayer, page 513).
3. Paul’s argument summary in 5:1, 2. “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” In these verses Paul restates in amplified form the theme of Romans 1:16, 17. Chapter 5 is the climax of Paul’s treatise on justification through faith, and he begins his summary by restating his theme.

Righteousness through faith is the heart of Paul’s argument in 3:19-4:25…19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even therighteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

FAITH RECKONED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

“The state acceptable to God which becomes the sinner’s possession through that faith…offered him in the expiatory death of Jesus Christ” (Thayer, page 149).

“The righteousness bestowed by God…This righteousness obligates the redeemed one to serve it faithfully (Rom.6:13, 16, 18ff) and assures him that he will have life (Rom. 8:10) (Arndt & Gingrich on Rom. 1:17, page 196).

“For the most part Paul uses this Greek term of that gracious gift of God to men whereby all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are brought into right relationship with God…The man who trusts in Christ becomes the righteousness of God in Him (II Cor. 5:21), i.e., becomes in Christ all that God requires of man to be, all that he could never be in himself” (Vine, page 298).

In Conclusion:

This is the message of Romans and the message of the gospel. We are saved by faith, i.e., declared righteous, justified, acquitted of sin by God - not by works of law but by faith in Jesus’ completed work of redemption.

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THE BEATITUDES

by Dempsey Collins

The first part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3-12) deals entirely with the citizens of the kingdom, their blessedness because of their character. This section is usually referred to as the Beatitudes (the English form of the Latin word beatus, meaning blessed or blessings) because each verse begins with the word “blessed”. Hence, it is a declaration of blessings.

Characteristics of the Beatitudes

The word “blessed” occurs nine times in the text; however, only seven characteristics or types of attitudes are given. In verses 10, 11 Jesus says that these things may occur to those disciples who exercise the preceding seven qualities (cf. 2 Tim. 3:12).

The first four Beatitudes look toward man and his relation to God; the last three look toward man and his relation to his fellowman.

1. Not completely new or revolutionary, these basic principles are found in the Old Testament (cf. Psa. 18:25-27; 37:11). However, compared to the empty, formalistic religion that prevailed among the Jews at that time, the Beatitudes did seem strange and unusual.

   • New significance is given to the spiritual truths placed in the context of the kingdom of heaven.

   • A description of the character of the citizens of the kingdom.

   • A description of each disciple, not just some. There is no “laity” or “clergy” concept. The Beatitudes describe character, not an office. All Christians are saints in the Biblical sense (Phil. 2:21; II Thess. 1:10).

   • The Beatitudes present an idea of what all disciples are to display at all times. Not a description of seven classes of people (one is mourning, another displays meekness, etc.), but seven characteristics to be exercised by all disciples at all times.

   • The Beatitudes make a clear distinction between a disciple and a non-disciple. The distinction is blurred today. The kingdom attracts only when it is different. We are to be:

     • Different in what we admire; i.e., poor of spirit in contrast to self-confidence.
     • Different in what we seek; i.e., righteousness in contrast to status, money, etc.
     • Different in what we do (I Peter 2:11-12).
     • The Beatitudes are a strong attack against Jewish legalism and any activity done without a pure heart.
     • Blessedness in Christ.

   • Each verse begins with the word “blessed”. The Greek makarios was originally used to describe the blessed happy state of the gods as opposed to the state of mortal man. Among the Greeks of Jesus’ day, only the gods were truly hoi makarioi, or “The Blessed Ones”. Later, it became a description of the “blessed dead” (makaron nesoi). Finally, it came to mean the supremely blessed, the fortunate, prosperous and wealthy in this world.

     • As used in the Beatitudes, “blessed” conveys the highest form of spiritual and moral prosperity. It is possible because lives are truly committed to the one who is supremely blessed (I Tim. 1:15).
     • “Blessed” was at first connected with outward prosperity and therefore synonymous with “rich” or “happy”. In the text of the Sermon on the Mount, it is the express symbol of happiness which stems from moral character.

     • True happiness is not found in circumstances, but in the proper reaction to circumstances. It is found in a standard of character, not in a standard of living. It is found in total surrender to Christ, not in the seeking of self.

       • Apart from Christ, all that man acquires to bring happiness can only bring a temporary state of well-being that will eventually add to one’s misery and problems (cf. Heb. 11:24-26). These things are but voluntary distractions to keep one from facing up to the guilt of his sin.

CONCLUSION: It is only by turning to Christ and following such teaching as given in the Beatitudes that we can hope to enjoy true and lasting happiness while living on this earth. Only by the molding of our character to the will of Christ can we be free from the guilt of our sin and enjoy the resulting peace of mind.

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“BUT GOD”

Ephesians 2 contains a phrase that changes everything – “but God.”

“You were,” Paul writes:

• Dead in your trespasses and sins in which you once walked
• Walking the course of this world
• Following the prince of the power of the air
• Living in the passions of your flesh
• By nature a child of wrath
• Separated from Christ
• Without God and without hope

“BUT GOD,” Paul writes:

• Is rich in mercy
• Loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, with a great love
• Made us alive together with Christ
• Saved us by grace
• Raised us up and seated us with Him
• Recreated us in Jesus for good works

“Now,” Paul writes, if you are in Jesus:

• You have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ
• You have been granted access to the gracious, all-powerful Father
• Jesus himself is your peace
• You are a member of God’s household
• You are being built into a holy temple, for God’s glory

“But God.” Just two words, but two words that change everything. Whomever you are, “but God” gives you the perspective you need today. Wherever you are, “but God” defines your purpose today. Whatever you face, “but God” gives you hope today.

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TEN ADVANTAGES TO ATTENDING BIBLE CLASS

The training of children in all things, physical and spiritual, is primarily the duty of the home. God always knows best (Deut. 6:4-7). The local church can, however, provide an excellent SUPPLEMENT to the Bible studies being conducted at home. Bible classes are offered for all age groups from toddler to adult. Teachers are well prepared and have excellent lessons to present to students. Consider a few advantages of this arrangement.

1. It affords systematic Bible study. These classes are structured so that each lesson builds upon another. This enables the student to cover a complete topic or book of the Bible systematically. Unfortunately, we seldom study in this manner on our own.
2. It provides a better understanding. The wise man said, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in abundance of counselors, there is victory.” (Prov. 11:14). When studying with others, I hear comments made that enrich my own understanding of the scriptures; or perhaps, as in Acts 18:26, explains more accurately that which I didn’t understand.
3. It helps us avoid error. Studying the Bible with others helps me to be aware of various false doctrines and how to expose them. Eph. 4:11-16 tells us that teachers were among the gifts given to the church in order that we would “No longer be children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness and deceitful scheming.”
4. Bible classes help provide a good balance of subject matter. Bible classes help us to be well-rounded in our knowledge and to avoid going off on tangents of some particular doctrine. The importance of keeping all of God’s commandments is stressed.
5. It allows us the opportunity to offer comments on Biblical subject to others.
6. Teaching of parents is reinforced by other teachers. Nine out of ten times, new information is given on a subject which parents did not know or had forgotten.
7. Students see their peers learning and accepting the same Biblical principles they have been taught at home.
8. It shows love and respect for others. Your presence and comments will be an encouragement to them as well as to yourself.
9. It helps the church grow and be united. Feeding upon the word can only result in growth and edification (Eph. 4:15). It helps the bond between Christians grow even stronger.
10. It will help our children’s decision to serve God be much more profitable. The more we are exposed to Biblical teaching, the more we allow that seed to be planted in our hearts. When the word is implanted regularly, it is much more likely that they will obey it (James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:23). A church in Baton Rouge made a survey and found that when parents occasionally attended Bible classes, only six percent of the children remained faithful. (From the bulletin of North Miami Avenue Church of Christ, Miami, FL)

Whether we have children or not, we all need the nourishment that Bible classes provide. We have provided ten advantages to attending Bible classes; i.e., ten reasons why YOU should be present at each study. For your soul’s sake, and for the souls of others, bring those children to Bible class. You are doing them and yourself an eternal favor.

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Cancelling Our Covenant with Death

by Dempsey Collins

Isaiah 28:18 – “Your covenant with death will be cancelled, and your pact with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, then you become its trampling place.”

God, through the prophet, has warned Judah. Her wicked days were coming to an end. God was going to judge and punish Judah for abandoning Him and chasing after idols. The lies that filled the hopes of Judah and deceived the nation were going to come crashing down. Arrogantly, the nation thought that they had an agreement with death, a covenant. They were so deceived that they believed nothing bad could happen to them.

The above verse is God’s response. Your deal with death has been cancelled. Your false gods, your idols, your lies, will not protect you from the wrath of God. The lies that you have surrounded yourself with and are standing on will crumble.

The statement found in the verse, “Your covenant with death”, is an interesting expression. It is well written. It speaks volumes for those today, who have surrounded themselves with lies and believe nothing bad will ever happen to them.

The Gospel of Goodness is the most popular belief today. If you are good, whatever that means, you will go to Heaven. Good people go to Heaven. Just be good. Mind your own business; don’t cause any trouble and you will go to Heaven. Nice neighbors, quiet co-workers, sweet grandmas, they all get to go to Heaven because they are good. The guy who opens the door for you at the grocery store. He’s good. He’ll be n Heaven. The person that points out something that you dropped will be in Heaven. He’s good.

This false gospel has deceived folks. They believe that they have a covenant with death. They are protected because they are good. Never mind that they may never worship God. Never mind that they are too busy to open a Bible. Never mind that they couldn’t tell you anything about the Bible. Never mind that they have no clue about what God expects from them. They’ll be in Heaven, they believe, because they are good. Good people go to Heaven. That’s it.

And the Heaven that they believe they are going to is a fanciful make-believe world of fun, happiness and pleasure. While the misguided Muslim terrorist believes he has dozens of virgins awaiting him in Heaven, our misguided folks believe that Heaven will be fishing and walking through parks with pets and theme parks and food and endless fun, fun, fun. The Muslim will realize too late that he has believed lies. There are no virgins awaiting him. Worse, there is no Heaven for those who kill others. Likewise, many in this land will realize too late that Heaven isn’t about our selfish dreams, but rather about God. Worse, there is no Heaven for those who have not walked with Christ.

Our covenant with death will be cancelled. We will not be protected by the lies that we have believed.

Jesus said:

• Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins (John 8:24).
• Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father, who is in Heaven (Matt. 7:21).
• He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day (John 12:48).

Lies can seem so true. They can make sense to us. They seem reasonable and logical. How could a good God send people to Hell? That doesn’t make sense. How can He be good if He sends anyone to Hell? Either He’s not good or He doesn’t send folks to Hell. That’s the thinking. It sure makes sense to us. Yeah, we say, we ought to cut back on our drinking some and we ought to get down to the church house one of these Sundays, and we will, but all in all, we are good people.

This is what we are facing when we talk to our family and friends about Jesus. Sure, they ought to know more about the Bible; however, they feel that they’re doing a fairly good job of being good. And, remember, good people go to Heaven.

There are three lies in those statements and beliefs.

First, we are not good. We are not righteous. We are sinners. All of us are. Good compared to what? Good compared to a thug? Good compared to a terrorist? Good compared to Hitler? How about good compared to Jesus? We have sinned. We have missed it. On the current path, we are not going to make it. That’s reality.

Second, God wants us to be righteous people who are walking with Christ. Faith in Christ changes us. It leads us to following Him and surrounding ourselves with godly choices and godly people. Forgiveness is found only in Christ and we must continue to journey with Christ all of our lives. God is more interested in our holiness that our happiness. Trials, dark days and hard times are not an indication of God’s displeasure with us. Often, it is through those things that we become stronger and more dependent upon the Lord.

Third, Heaven is a gift, not a right. No one earns it. No one deserves it. The police officer who dies in the line of duty doesn’t deserve Heaven. That’s hard for us to get. The lies are so thick that we feel certain people just ought to be there because of who they are and what they have done. One person told me, “I know I’ll be in Heaven, because my life here has been nothing but Hell.” She was wrong. First, she has no idea how terrible Hell is. There are no options in Hell. God won’t be found in Hell. She had options. She had the opportunity to follow God. Second, a person doesn’t “get Heaven,” because they had a hard life here. Heaven is not owed to anyone. Heaven is God’s home. We are invited there by Christ, through His grace and our faith.

A person can’t ignore God all of their life and think that they will be in Heaven just because they were good. You can’t be good enough for Heaven. We are to imitate Jesus. We are to love as God loves. We are to forgive as God has forgiven us. We are to be holy as Jesus is holy. We are to walk worthy of our vocation. We are to be diligent, alert, watchful, spiritual and hopeful. Christ is to be our life. Hand in hand with the Lord, following His word, we can have the confidence and hope of Heaven. It is because of Christ, not our goodness, that Heaven is possible.

Paul said that he had kept the faith, finished the course and fought the fight. There is a faith that we must have and keep. There is a course, a journey, that we must travel on and finish. There is spiritual fight that we must engage in. Can Heaven be ours? Absolutely. It will be because of Christ, not our goodness.

The covenant with death will be cancelled. Our only hope is in Jesus. Know Him. Obey Him. Walk with Him. Trust Him. Believe Him. Follow Him. He will take you to Heaven. Nothing else will, including your goodness.

The way of the Cross leads home.

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The Greatest Commandments (Mt 22:35-40)

Jesus was a Jewish prophet. His ministry was largely a Jewish ministry. As He preached from town to town, He was hounded by the religious leaders of His day.

At one point, Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” He answered immediately, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.”

Although He quoted the Law of Moses (Deut 6:5), Jesus’ answer was unexpected, after all, it was not one of the 10 commandments. Nor was His answer appreciated; it was not a physical work, like male circumcision or keeping the Sabbath.

Nevertheless, Jesus’ answer was definite. And He gave it without wavering.

Also, Jesus volunteered another answer—a freebie, as if to say, “In case you were wondering ….” The second greatest commandment, according to Jesus, was to “, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'

Like the greatest commandment, the second greatest was also from the Mosaic Law (Lev 19:10). And like the greatest, the second greatest commandment was not one of the specific 10 commandments.

So, what are the lessons we can learn?

First, note the order. We are to love God with everything we’ve got. Our love of others, as important as that is, must come after to our love for God. That means that there are times when “we must obey God rather than men.” (Ac 5:32)

Second, note that our love of others comes before love of self. The same is taught in the New Testament. Paul wrote, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Php 2:3-4)

Third, note that the love preached by Jesus had been commanded in the Old Testament. When Jesus stated the two greatest commandments, He was quoting Deuteronomy and Leviticus, two Old Testament books. So then, love is not exclusively a “Christian thing.” Yes, Paul taught that “the greatest of all is love.” (I Co 13:13) But it was taught by Moses 1500 years earlier. The love of God and love of neighbors are timeless commands from God.

In our follow-up posts, we will explore how to apply this command—how to be loving. This love is more than a good feeling. It is command that is obeyed by following other commands. As John put it, “Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” (1 Jn 3:18) And in another place, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” (1 Jn 5:3)

Stay tuned as we explore the “how-to” of these great commandments.

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Many great books have been written on the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Probably the most well-known is The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon (1737-1794). Gibbon was a militant agnostic for most of his life, but as he was nearing death he is quoted as saying, “All is now lost, finally, irrevocably lost. All is dark and doubtful.”

As Thomas Hobbes, the great British political philosopher (also an agnostic), was nearing his death, it is recorded that he said, “If I had the whole world at my disposal, I would give it up to live one day. I am about to take a leap into the dark.”

Sir Thomas Scott (1808-1878) was a free thinker who wrote over 200 books and pamphlets attacking Christianity. Nearing his death, he said, “Until this moment I thought there was neither God nor a hell. Now I know and feel that there are both, and I am doomed to perdition by the just judgment of the Almighty.”

Voltaire (1694-1778) a famous French author and nonbeliever was said to be a wealthy man. Near death he said to his doctor, Dr. Fochin, “I am abandoned by God and man; I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months of life.” The doctor replied that it could not be done. Voltaire then said, “Then I will die and go to hell.”

These men are like many others who serve their own selfish designs through life, but when actually faced with the dark valley of death were horrified, not so much of death itself, but of its outcome. It’s the thought of what comes after death that makes men tremble. But for many others, the sting of death has been taken away by the cross of Jesus, such that they can say with David, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.” (Psalm 23:4).

David could say this with confidence because the Lord was his Shepherd and had been throughout his life. Unlike the idolatrous neighbors, and some among his own people, David chose the Lord as his hope and purpose for living, hence when he faced the dark valleys of life, and eventually the dark valley of death, he feared no evil outcome.

David said, “Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” The rod and the staff were instruments the shepherd used to protect his sheep. As our Spiritual Shepherd, God uses and provides instruments and tools to protect His spiritual sheep. What we have available to help us in the valleys of life are the same things David had: the word of God (Psalm 119: 50, 105), and prayer and trust in God’s providence through times of sickness, sorrow, physical need, and danger (Phil. 4:6; I Peter 5:7). David alone did not kill the lion, the bear, and Goliath (I Sam. 17:35), but prayer and God’s providence did.

Just as God has been with us in this life, we must trust Him to escort us into the life to come. Perhaps the greatest fear of death is the loneliness of it. When we die, we must die alone. Family may be present to give what comfort they can, bur their help is very limited. When it reaches a certain point, they will fade from view and we must go the rest of the way alone. Alone, that is, unless the Lord has been our Shepherd through life. If we let the Lord guide us through time then He will be there with us when we pass into eternity. David said, “For Thou are with me.” Having never gone through the valley before, I would hate to face it alone, wouldn’t you? I would much rather face it with One whom Himself has gone that way before and will be at our side to bring us safely through (Rom. 8:35-39). Death doesn’t separate us from Christ; it only brings us closer.

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Never did a man speak as this man, and no one ever, will. When the multitudes heard Jesus, they were amazed at His teaching for He taught as one having authority and not as their scribes! Two millenia have passed and we are still in wonder and awe of Jesus. The apostle John wrote, "Those things are written that you may believe and believing have life in His name.” (John 20:31)

The words of Jesus are timeless and life changing, when Jesus spoke, lives were transformed forever. Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth and life, no man comes to the Father but through me" (John 14:6). He also taught, “I came into this world so that those who do not see may see.” (John 9:39). Putting our trust in Jesus according to His word, our eyes are opened and we begin to see what others do not see, our steps in life are altered and we begin to live in ways others can only imagine and enjoy things others can only dream about. Living this “way” in Jesus is real and is evident in the everyday life for His disciples.

Jesus invites everyone to come to Him. He said, “Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30)

Whether you are just beginning to seek His word or have been a disciple for many years, God's word provides all we need for life and godliness through faith in Jesus Chris. We would count it a great joy and blessing if you united with us and learned y is the way, truth, and life of the world's only the Savior, Jesus Christ.