“I Wish I Had” were some of my dad’ last words. When I asked him what he would have done differently in his life, his response was, “I wish I had told more people about Jesus Christ.” As I gave thought to these words, I was reminded of the many spouses who I heard utter these words as they stood at my pharmacy counter telling me they had recently lost their spouses. Most would preface their feelings with the statement, “I wish we had.” With this thought in mind, I think of the following. I wish I had accepted Christ in baptism.I wish I had been more faithful in my church attendance.I wish I had shared the Gospel with more folks.I wish I had pursued teaching Bible classes.I wish I had pursued mission work.I wish I had read my Bible more.I wish I had been more disciplined with my prayer life.I wish I had more benevolent with my blessings. I think you get the idea. What I listed only touches the fringe.

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied” (1 Peter 1:1-2 NKJV). The apostle Peter opened his first epistle to Jews who had been scattered throughout the Roman Empire and called them “pilgrims.” Pilgrims are displaced persons. They are strangers, sojourning in a land that is foreign to them. They are away from the home they love and from the place where they truly belong. Christians, too, are pilgrims, sojourning in a strange land. We often sing the song by Albert Brumley, “This world is not my home. I’m just a passing thru.” Paul wrote, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Our real home and citizenship is in Heaven. We live and work in the world with a view to going home with Jesus when He comes back for us. Since we are going home with the Lord someday, we must take care not to get too attached to this world. The Lord has created for us a beautiful world in which to live, work and grow. Yet, this is not our permanent station. Our place in this world only lasts for a few years (contrasted with eternity with God). If we lose …

Paul, in speaking of the salvation of the Jew and Gentile, said in Romans 3:22, “…There is no difference” (NKJV). There are many things in which there is difference, but it may be of value for us to consider the common lot of mankind and think of some things in which there is no difference. It may not only help us to sympathize with those in sorrow, help those in trouble but also to aid those in a search for salvation. There is no basic difference in the physical processes and needs of mankind, whether he be rich or poor, black or white, wise or foolish, old or young. We all have sorrow and gladness, hope and despair, fear and courage, love and hate. Those are common, although they may not be about the same things or to the same degree. Second, there is no difference in the fact of sin in every accountable person. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All mankind needs Christ as a Savior. Many times, we have heard persons say, “Sin is sin, and there is no difference in sin for it will all cause you to be lost.” It is true that sin is sin, and any sin for which one does not repent and for which he is not forgiven will cost him his soul. It is true that there is no difference in the fact of sin. It is not true there is no difference …

I’m sure most have heard someone make the statement, “Never say never,” and have repeated it ourselves. We may say, “I would never do such a thing,” and then find ourselves doing that very thing. Parents have confidence in their children so much so that they are guilty of saying, “My child would never…” only to have their child at some point do that very thing. Have we done that? Maybe we have come to realize that in taking a humbler view, such things seem to be less likely to occur as we refrain from confidently using the word “never.” As we view our “humanness,” the statements would be best couched in the words, “I hope it won’t occur.” However, is it true that we should never say never? In contrast, we should always remember the promises of God to help us through life. Titus 1:2 reads, “In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began…” The phrase, “God, Who cannot lie,” signifies being free from falsehood. God’s nature demonstrates that He never lies. The reason is that God is completely righteous. Everything God has declared is trustworthy. Some of the things we hope won’t happen might unfortunately occur. However, when it comes to the eternal life that is promised to us through our relationship with Jesus, we can keep hope because our hope is in the One Who never lies. While often even Christians should never say never because sometimes we falter, God is …

Recent studies indicate that Christians will be in a minority in the United States by the year 2070. There is already evidence that Christians forty years old and younger are in a minority in our nation. A recent paper reveals the following. The generation of millennials, which includes most Americans under 40, is the first one in which Christians are a minority. By the year 2070 as few as one-third of all Americans could be Christians according Pew Research Center projections. “Nones” – people without an allegiance to a religious faith, could be as many as 52 percent. (Cook) These statistics are alarming for assorted reasons. Sadly, a nation founded upon Christian values will no longer be Christian in its character and composition. If Christianity becomes a minority demographic, one wonders how long Christian liberties will continue – namely opposition to certain moral wrongs that have been embraced by United States culture. If Christians become a minority in our nation, it will be no one’s fault but our own. For far too long, we have ignored the clarion call to be about the Master’s business in doing personal evangelism. Mark 16:15 says, “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature’” (NKJV). Evangelism is the primary work in which the church should be involved, but the behavior of some would lead church members to believe it is on the fringes of what Christianity is about. Nothing could be further from the truth! …

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians “…recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). Paul gave the Thessalonians two initial imperatives. First, they were to appreciate their elders. The word “recognize” [“know” KJV; “appreciate” NAS; “respect” ESV] carries the meaning of acknowledging the true value of. That these were elders is seen by the description of their work as being “over you in the Lord” (cf., 1 Timothy 3:4-5; 5:17). Second, they were to respect their elders. The word “esteem” carries the idea of having regard for (cf., Philippians 2:3; 3:7-8). Note that elders are neither to be respected because of their personalities (though they should have respectable personalities, cf., 1 Timothy 3:1-7) nor for their outside interests. Rather, they should be respected for their “work’s sake.” The work elders do is very serious and sacrificial on their part (cf., Hebrews 13:17). When elders are appreciated and respected in love for their work’s sake, the church will be “at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:13). Disharmony in a local church is often the result of either elders not doing their work (and receiving no appreciation or respect from the members) or elders doing their work without the appreciation or respect of the members (because the members neither appreciate nor respect God’s will). Let us continue recognizing the good work of elders and keep respecting and …

It doesn’t take a prophet to look around and see a great nation heading for destruction. Solomon wrote, “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34 NKJV). The principle set forth here applies to every generation. Sin has always been and will always be the most destructive element in a nation. Notice the conditions of Judah, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush…” (Jeremiah 6:15). Our nation is in the same condition! Today, society has devolved to the point that sin is rampant and people in general have little respect for the Word of God. Over and over God has stated the punishment for sin, yet many openly live in those sins. Homosexuality is pictured in God’s Word as a sin worthy of death. “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:13). Yet, today, people argue that it is only an alternate lifestyle. God said they were to be put to death! Who are we going to believe, God or man? Satan does his best to get all to believe man. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul wrote, “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. …

An injury sustained in a car accident can be a good thing. Doctors taking x-rays to discover the extent of the damage can discover other lurking problems that might have remained hidden until they were too far developed. God can use problems to bring about good results spiritually. God uses problems to correct. The singer of Israel wrote, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word” (Psalm 119:67 NKJV). He also said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver” (Psalm 119:71-72). Our heavenly Father can use troubles to chasten us and to bring forth good fruit (Proverbs 20:30; Hebrews 12:5-6). God uses problems to bless. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4). God can use problems to produce maturity in the suffering individual, which is the meaning of “perfect.” Overcoming trials is a means of developing hope (Romans 5:3-5). That is why we need to focus on hearing God’s Word and doing what it says (James 1:21-25). God also uses problems to deliver. Joseph’s words to his brothers show how that works. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, …

The Bible fully equips Christians for every good work. The Bible provides us with the wisdom and the instruction to live for God in an ungodly world. When we read Scripture, we should remember that it teaches us how to be saved and how to spend eternity with God. However, the Scriptures also help us to navigate daily life. Scripture provides guidance and direction for every relationship that we have on Earth. This is true when it comes to relationships in our homes (Ephesians 5:22-32), our relationships with employers (Colossians 3:22-4:1), how we treat our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48) and also how we are to interact with our government (Romans 13:1-7). While it is true that the Bible will not spell out for whom we should vote or whether we should vote at all, the Bible does give us principles that guide in those areas. When it comes to how we as Christians should respond to our government, God is more concerned with making sure we do not ruin our influence and misrepresent Him than He is about anything else. Moreover, as we read the New Testament, we find Christians in an environment where the government was often hostile to them, and yet, they were still able to do the will of God and to be faithful (Revelation 2:10; 12:10-11). No matter what is going on in our world, whether we approve of the current government or not, we must be sure to allow God’s Word to guide our lives in …

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” (1 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV). At first glance, this passage seems to be at odds with the statement Paul made to the congregation in Rome, when he wrote, “In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel” (Romans 2:16). If God will judge the world through Christ (Acts 17:31), how then will the saints or faithful Christians judge the world? Perhaps the thought is similar to what Jesus said during His earthly ministry. “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here” (Matthew 12:41). Their lives stand as an affirmation of the truth Jonah preached, and the response was one of repentance, which validated the will of God. It seems clear what Paul emphasized is that those who live faithful Christian lives will affirm the righteous judgment of Christ, the validity of Who He is and the message He spoke. Those who live in and for Him confirm there is glory for the righteous and punishment for the wicked. He rebuked Christians in Corinth whose lives do not offer such a testimony to the truth, who were incapable of resolving issues and resorted to worldly courts to work out their differences …