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| Volume 21 Number 1 January 2019 | Page 10 |
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| Volume 21 Number 1 January 2019 | Page 10 |
Mark McWhorter
In Zechariah 5, the prophet saw a flying scroll. This is the type of book people had at that time. A scroll was material that had writing on one side and was blank on the other side. It was long and rolled up.
The scroll Zechariah saw was twenty cubits by ten cubits in size. There must be some significance for God to have given those dimensions. The Holy Place in the Tabernacle was these exact dimensions. The Holy Place was a symbol of the church in worship. That is where the table of showbread was. The priests ate it every seven days. That is where the candlestick and the altar of incense were located. When we worship today, those spiritual counterparts are there.
The scroll Zechariah saw had writing on both sides. This indicates that all that could be said or written had been done. Whatever could be said was settled. The scroll was flying over the whole earth. There are Christians all over the world. There are curses coming from the scroll. This is because those who do not accept and follow the commandments of God are condemned. These curses in Zechariah are said to be for those who steal and those who swear. It is possible that this is representative of adding to and taking away from God’s Word. Those two things basically cover all sins. Whatever one does in sinning is either taking away from God’s Word or adding to His Word. This is especially true for those who are professing to follow God.
The church has the responsibility to cover the world with God’s Word. Study the Bible. Learn all you can about the church, and if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
Simple Is Better
Donald R. Fox
Keep it simple! Why do we tend to make things complicated? As an example, our government regulations and laws, with their loopholes, are so complex that it takes a lawyer to interpret them. Why is this necessary? I do not know. You see, I am an uncomplicated guy. Notice two quotes concerning keeping it simple. “Simplicity and repose are the qualities that measure the true value of any work of art” (Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect). “The business schools reward difficult complex behavior more than simple behavior, but simple behavior is more effective” (Warren Buffett).
I have before me a three volume, sixth edition, set of books entitled, The Creeds of Christendom, edited by Philip Schaff and revised by David S. Schaff. The three volumes have a total of 2,547 pages, all dealing with men-produced creeds of Christendom. Further, I have an American Bible Society Edition, Kings James Version of The New Testament, before me. This New Testament has a total of 427 pages. Do we really believe that the works of men, which are additions to the New Testament of Jesus Christ, are, in truth, that helpful? I think not!
Dr. Philip Schaff writes, “A Creed, or Rule of Faith, or Symbol, is a confession of faith for public use, or a form of words setting forth with authority certain articles of belief, which are regarded by the framers as necessary for salvation…They keep alive sectarian strifes and antagonisms…” (Volume 1, Page 4). I would strongly suggest that creeds always divide believers of Jesus Christ and will never create harmony. This is sad because our Lord prayed for unity and that all believers would be one.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:17-23 KJV)
“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).
Friends, with this short essay, I pray you will think about and study to determine if simple is better. Simplicity, common sense and firm biblical moral standards are sorely needed.