It is always good to remember a godly mother. Jesus while on the cross of shame and suffering thought of His mother and instructed John to care for her after His death (John 19:26-27). One of the sweetest words in any language is “Mother.” A dictionary is not necessary to possess an understanding of such a meaningful term. Not all mothers are wives but they should be and not all wives are mothers, but God permitting, they can be. One of the primary purposes of marriage is the propagating of the human race (Genesis 1:27). The role of motherhood should never be taken lightly nor should the status of being a mother be made light of in this modern age. There is no greater relation for a woman to sustain in this life than being a Christian mother. Perhaps the crowning act of creation by the Lord God was the forming of woman from the side of man. God saw that it was not good for man to be alone, and thus, He gave to him a help suitable for him. Adam later named this woman “Eve” because she was the “mother of all living” (Genesis 2:18-25; 3:20). The wise man taught that “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing” and that “a prudent wife is from Jehovah” (Proverbs 18:18; 19:14). In the bringing forth of a child, the husband and wife truly become one flesh. There is the binding together of the two. Motherhood is the highest honor

This is a very sad but true story of a family of my personal acquaintance that was non-religious and that was afflicted with the curse of alcoholism. We lived in a very large old house on the ridge just out of town. Someone was building a new brick house on the road back of us. My younger brother and I, along with other friends were curious. We found a nice sand pile that tempted us to play in and to enjoy. One day the big man who was laying the bricks told us that someone was scattering his sand that he used in making the mortar and he asked us to watch out for the persons and warn them not to do it again. How wise he was. We never played in his sand again. This was my first acquaintance with Mr. Harold. He and his family soon moved near us and they became good friends with my family. He had a very attractive wife, two handsome sons and a very pretty daughter. The oldest son became a friend with my older brother. I liked the daughter, but she was older than me. I wished her and my brother would like one another. The youngest son and I became friends. We were in the same grades in elementary and Jr. High School. Mr. Harold’s wife died while I was a boy. I don’t remember this family attending any religious organization. I learned also that Mr. Harold had a very bad

As I look out the window and across the street, I see a beautiful Bradford pear tree in full bloom and a Redbud tree also in full bloom. God, the Creator of the universe, is causing the vegetative kingdom which has been dormant to come alive! The display of such beauty that we presently see and will be seeing for weeks to come as the trees bloom and the flowers and shrubbery break forth their radiant colors should cause the believer’s heart to praise and glorify the name of the Almighty God. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 19:1-4, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork, Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.” Someone has said that there are two books, nature and the Bible that declare there is a Supreme Being. The heavens and the earth in their splendor and magnificence should cause every person to have faith in God, but that is not the case. The apostle Paul in writing about the depravity of the Gentile world in his day mentioned this very thing in Romans 1:18-21. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). We often use this verse to contrast the old Mosaic Law with the new way of grace and truth through Jesus Christ. We emphasize to our religious neighbors that we are no longer under the Law of Moses but under a different system made possible by the death of our Lord. However, we must be careful that we do not leave the wrong impression in the minds of others, that is, the Law of Moses was void of God’s grace or that the system of grace excludes law. The grace of God preceded the Law of Moses and was included in it. Regardless of when a person lived in ages past, there had to be a response to the unmerited favor of God in order to receive the benefits therein. Paul declared in Romans 4:16, “Therefore it is faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all.” A person was never accepted of God simply because of his/her race or national origin. He/she had to possess that faith like Abraham had in order to be blessed by the grace of God. That kind of faith motivated one to obey the commands of God. “By faith Abel offered to

Perhaps the first thought that comes to your mind will be the beautiful hymn, “Blest Be the Tie,” but the title of this article is not taken from the song. It might seem odd but the ‘tie’ that I have reference to is the one that I wear around my neck on occasions. You see, the person who taught me how to tie a ‘half-Windsor knot’ was an older brother in Christ who influenced me greatly when I was but a lad and a member of my home congregation in Summerville, Georgia. Brother Julius Sprayberry was our song leader, and he often taught a Bible class on Sunday morning and/or Wednesday night. It was Christian men like him and brother Charles Cochran, along with several other Christian men and women, who influenced my life for good. The widows of brethren Sprayberry and Cochran (Thelma & Frances, respectively) still attend the South Commerce congregation in my hometown. When I was a boy growing up in this small church, there was no ‘youth minister’ as such, but the love and influence exerted upon the young people by the adult members guided us in the way of the Lord and gave us a real sense of belonging and security. We did not have a ‘full-time’ preacher for many years, but the men of the congregation would lead us in our worship assemblies. In fact, one of the members, brother Roland Hemphill, baptized me when I was a lad of thirteen. These brothers and

I arose early on Sunday morning because where I was scheduled to preach was over one hundred miles from my home. As I drove down the interstate highway, I could not help but to observe the beauty of the Lord’s Day morning with the sky so blue and the trees so full of green foliage. From time to time as I drove down a county road, I saw beautiful flowers and some promising vegetable gardens that soon would be laden down with fresh produce. The drive was most enjoyable and even relaxing at that time of the day. I eventually arrived at my destiny and went inside the church building in the south Alabama city of Brewton. I soon met old friends and was introduced to new friends who are members of this congregation. After the evening assembly, a young father introduced himself to me. I asked his last name again, and because I recognized not only the name but the city where he informed me he had lived previously, I asked him his parent’s names. Immediately, I knew who he was when he told me that their names were James and Linda Barron. I looked at him and told him that I not only knew his parents but his grandparents. Standing by him was his beautiful daughter, which I supposed to be about twelve-years-old. I moved alongside her and gave her a hug and said, “Let me tell you about your ancestors.” In actuality I was looking in the

The Psalmist declared, “What shall I render unto Jehovah for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of Jehovah… I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the name of Jehovah” (Psalm 116:12, 13, 17). It was said that the Lord sent two angels to earth to gather the petitions and thanksgivings made by his followers. Both angels returned to heaven in distress. The angel bearing the petitions was truly weighted down with his burden. The other angel bringing the prayers of thanksgivings was nearly empty handed. The lesson is obvious and clear. Most of God’s children are more apt to make requests, petitions and supplications rather than the giving of thanks. This is often the case in private and public prayers. We need to listen to our prayers and note that this is true. Our brothers who lead the public prayers during our assemblies should express gratitude to God for all the blessings we have in Jesus (Ephesians 1:3) on behalf of the congregation. It is sad to observe that this is not done very much. I remember hearing a fellow preacher lead prayers in two different assemblies during Gospel meetings wherein he never gave thanks for the grace and love of God. It is so needful that we all express our gratitude to our gracious heavenly Father for all of life’s blessings that flow so freely from His bountiful hand of grace (James 1:17).

There is this nice gentleman who often walks his beautiful dog right by my house where I can see him from my window. Also, there are two ladies who live in our small subdivision who walk together regularly where I can see them from my office. Further, from time to time, there are others who either walk or jog through our community. This is good exercise for one’s body and mind. After all, God formed our bodies in the beginning of time and He expects us to care for them. The problem area lies not in the exercise itself, but in the amount of time consumed, when it takes place and how much we spend on it. For example we often see individuals jogging on Sunday morning while on our way to the worship assembly. However, that would also be true of people who go to some place of recreation like the lakes and coastal area on the weekends where they can ride in their boats and go swimming. Great emphasis is being placed in our modern society as to what we should eat and the amount of exercise that we should engage in on a regular basis. Untold millions of dollars are spent on exercise equipment, vitamins and other products to make us feel and look better. No problem, unless we speak of extremes and exclusions. I can walk in my garage on a treadmill for thirty minutes and not move but a short distance. I can ride on

When we find the story of Aaron and the golden calf as recorded in Exodus 32, we are especially reminded of Paul’s statements in the New Testament. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:11, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” In Romans 15:4 he says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” We are shocked and amazed that any of the Israelites could have passed through the Red Sea as they did, and to have seen the love, the care and the power of God as they had, and be so faithless and rebellious. We are especially amazed that a man like Aaron, who was the spokesman for Moses and had been invited up on the mount with Moses when he talked with God, could do as he did in making the golden calf. His excuses and rationalizations would be funny if not so serious. “I cast the gold into the fire and there came out this calf” (Exodus 32:24) sounds more like a little child that was found with hand in the cookie jar than it does a statement of a leader of God’s people. However, it is no more difficult to understand than the kind of rationalization that we find among God’s people today. We have come to expect the people of the world

God is love and love is of God. God is more than love, but one of the great attributes of God is that He loves mankind, and He desires that all men and women be saved (I John 4: 9-11; 2 Peter 3:9). If the love of God dwells within us, we love one another (1 John 4:12). While love has many positive characteristics, there are some negative characteristics of this God-like love, and one is that love does not rejoice in the wrongdoing of others. In 1 Corinthians 13:4, 6, we read that “Love does not rejoice in iniquity” (NKJV). Other translations are now presented that will enable us to understand more fully this statement. The Revised Standard Version, “it does not rejoice at wrong.” McCord’s New Testament Translation, “does not rejoice in wrongdoing.” The New International Version, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Berry’s Interlinear Greek English New Testament translates 1 Corinthian 13:6 in this manner, “rejoices not at unrighteousness.” The church of God at Corinth needed this lesson concerning the characteristics of love. In Chapter Five, we read of a brother who was living with his father’s wife (stepmother), and the church was not doing anything about it. Rather, some were puffed up about the matter and seemed to enjoy the situation existing in the congregation. The apostle Paul wrote them a rather stern rebuke and instructed them to deal with the problem in a scriptural manner. This they did, and the brother was restored to fellowship

One unique aspect of the Bible is that the inspired writers pointed out the weak characteristics as well as the strong in various individuals. It is revealed that Peter, a pillar of the early church, denied the Lord (Matthew 27:69-75). David, a man after God’s own heart, committed adultery and had a man killed (2 Samuel 11:1-5, 14-21). Even the great man of faith, Abraham, spoke a falsehood regarding his wife Sarah (Genesis 12:13). Thus, it is not strange that the Holy Scriptures reveal to us the faults of Eli, a high priest of God, as well as his good points. Let us now consider the positive side and strengths of this great man. First, Eli was a descendant of Aaron through Ithamar, the youngest of his sons (compare Leviticus 10:1, 2, 12 with 1 Kings 2:27; 2 Samuel 8:17 and 1 Chronicles 24:3). He was the first of the line of Ithamar who held the office of high priest. Besides being a high priest, he was also a judge. In this capacity he judged Israel for forty years (1 Samuel 4:18). He took a genuine interest in the training of the young boy Samuel. It was Eli who told Hannah that her petition for a male child had been granted by the Lord God (1 Samuel 1:17). His submissive attitude toward the judgment of God against him must also be noted. When informed by Samuel he simply stated, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to

Yes, if you understand first of all that God desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4), that He gave His only begotten and beloved Son to die for the whole world that through faith in Him we could be saved (John 3:16), and Jesus, by the grace of God, died for every man (Hebrews 2:9). However, does the fact that “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11) mean that everyone will be saved presently and in eternity? Not according to the words of Jesus Christ as found in Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (NKJV). This is one of the saddest statements that Jesus made during His ministry. In contrast to the “many” who will be lost, there will only be a “few” who will be saved. However, the church of our Lord should preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world so that people from every nation, tribe and tongue can know of God’s love for them (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). It is the responsibility of each hearer to respond to the good news and believe in Jesus Christ and obey the commands of the

One of life’s greatest blessings and challenges for a man is fatherhood. This relationship involves the greatest joys and demands the best one has to give and often will include many sorrows. A godly father loves his wife and is loyal to his marital vows (Ephesians 5:25). He desires the best for his children. A father is industrious. He labors to provide for his family and the needs of others who lack the material things of life (1 Timothy 5:8; Ephesians 4:28). The greatest contribution a father can make to his family is leadership in spiritual matters. In every age, the head of the family has been required of God to provide the proper direction regarding religious training. Modern fathers are most likely to leave this responsibility to the wife and mother. However, Paul exhorted, “And you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). It is a tremendous requirement to make sure one’s children are taught of God, but the rewards are everlasting. A Christian father may not be able to give very much materially to his children, but the legacy of having a father who loved his family and the Lord surpasses everything else. The greatest inheritance a Christian father can leave is one that is rich in faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ. We should never underestimate the love that a father possesses in his heart for his children. His emotions may not

The devastating earthquakes that occur in various countries from time to time and destroy cities and kill thousands of people makes us realize more and more the uncertainty of life. The magnitude of destruction wrought by such force is overwhelming. There is a Scripture I want to mention presently that deals with a particular earthquake. In the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Acts, the account is given of the conversion of a Philippian jailor and his household. The jailor, a Gentile, was a non-believer in the deity of Jesus Christ. The day that Paul and Silas were beaten and cast into prison was perhaps an ordinary one for the jailor. While the day may have started out like any other day for this particular person, it certainly did not end in a common fashion. Something transpired that transformed the life of this Roman and the lives of his loved ones. Something drastically happened. An earthquake occurred in this man’s life. It was a literal tremor, a movement of the earth that the shook the foundation of the building that housed those people in the prison. The jailor was awakened by this event and was about to take his own life because he thought his prisoners had escaped. Paul prevented this tragedy by shouting, “Do thyself no harm; for we are all here!” It was at this time that the jailor sprang forth and asked the most important question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” After hearing and believing

The inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews gave an exhortation in Chapter Two, encouraging those early Christians to “…give more earnest heed to the things that were heard, let haply we drift away from them.” There is a constant need to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sound doctrine to every generation. There is the danger of the untaught not learning and of the taught drifting away from what they have learned. The apostle Peter felt it necessary to remind his brethren of those essentials that they already knew (2 Peter 1:13; 3:1). Paul warned Timothy about a time when certain ones would no longer “endure the sound doctrine,” thus the need to “preach the word” continuously (2 Timothy 4:1-4). There is presently a yearning among many in the church to learn ‘new things.’ Of course, we should not extol traditions to a position of inspiration; personally, I’m not interested in propagating mere tradition. However, there are objective truths revealed by the Holy Spirit that are essential and must be studied, examined and proclaimed. The desire to imitate other religious organizations in practice and teaching has caused many people to frown on the old ways of safety and security. Others, not studying the Holy Scriptures, are led away by “every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men in craftiness, after the wiles of error” (Ephesians 4:14). Often, when one expresses a desire for ‘new things,’ it is simply a rejection of ‘old truths.’ Presently, there is a

Well, many folk have prayed for rain because of the drought condition in the southeastern section of our country, and the good Lord sent it. The problem was that some areas were flooded. I am reminded of the story of some brethren in west Texas who became greatly concerned about the extreme drought conditions in their part of the world. They decided to obtain the services of a preacher to come and pray for rain. Finally, they found a city preacher to come out and pray for rain. He came and prayed fervently for the Lord to send rain upon the arid land. After a couple of days had passed, the rain began to fall. In fact, it rained until all the land was flooded, and the situation became very serious. The brethren became very concerned again because all their properties were inundated with water. They came together to discuss what they should do. One brother was heard to have said, “That is what we get by having a preacher to pray for rain who knew nothing about agriculture.” You know, life is much like that. There are times of peace, joy, happiness and good health. These are mountain top experiences. However, in a moment of time things can radically change. The prophet Elijah was successful on Mount Carmel, but in a short time he was to be found in a deep valley of discouragement, and he desired to die (1 Kings 18; 19:4). This mighty man of God was

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21). In the Lord’s Prayer, there are several things that are quite evident: 1. Jesus’ concern for His apostles. 2. Not only for His apostles but also for all who would believe on Him. 3. That this belief would come through the apostles’ doctrine. 4. That there would and could be unity among all such believers. 5. This unity would have a tremendous impact on the unbelieving world. One of the most difficult things for modern man to accept and understand is that God intended for all believers to be united in religious matters. If this is not the case, then our Lord prayed a deceptive prayer, knowing all the time that He was praying for something that was not possible. However, our Lord knew that men could be united if they followed the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42). Unity of teaching cannot help but to produce unity of believers. There cannot be unity in diversity of doctrine and beliefs. Each separate and distinct religious organization exists today because of a distinctive and different doctrine. This is in direct contradiction to the Lord’s sentiments expressed in His prayer to the Father. We can also know the mind of God

As I look to my left and across the street, I see the lights in my neighbor’s front yard. He has really worked hard this year to put up the ‘Christmas lights’ and decorations. It is the same as you drive through our small community and our entire city. It is indeed a festive time of the year. In fact, I really like this season of the year. Why? Because it is when most families can be together. The young father across the street is especially happy this year because his wife gave birth recently to baby boy. Now the older son will have someone to play with – in time. I have so many fond memories when our four children were all at home during this season of the year. There were occasions when the older boys and I would go to some friend’s farm and cut a ‘Christmas tree.’ Virginia and I would really enjoy seeing the children opening presents on Christmas morning. Virginia would have a delicious meal prepared, which would be consumed by our very hungry group. Those were precious years when the children were young and were at home. How fortunate you are if you have sweet memories of family gatherings. Now, we look forward to the children returning home with their families. It is something else when our tribe assembles in one place. It seems that we ‘wear the house’ because the space is so restricted. What a wonderful sight to see grandchildren opening

Trash and garbage bags everywhere! I know because I carried a dozen bags out from our collection. You see, there were grandchildren in the house on the 25th. It was a joyous occasion, but I am happy that it is now ‘Christmas past.’ No, it was not a white Christmas, but it was a wet one. I mentioned to my wife that the rain that God sent was truly one of the best presents we could have received on a dry and parched land. Other gifts were great because they were from friends and family who love me. The giver is more important than the gift. It is good to be remembered and appreciated. Life would indeed be difficult if it were not for those we love so much. Pity the poor person who is alone and without anyone caring. The Psalmist certainly felt alone when he wrote, “Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul” (Psalm 142:4). As we are now in the last days of this year, it is good that we dispose of some our ‘garbage,’ if such we have in our hearts and lives. The apostle Paul stated it in this fashion: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 the apostle Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” A preacher by the name of Martin Rinkhard wrote the lyrics of the song, “Now Thank We All Our God” to be used as an expression of gratitude by his family at meal time. The unusual background of this song of praise was that it was written during the “Thirty Year’s War” when the preacher was conducting as many as forty funerals a day, including that of his own wife. Yet in spite of war and plagues, he was able to give thanks to God for his blessings. This true story amazes me but it does not surprise me. It seems that in times of extreme and difficult circumstances, people who believe in God can find in their heart expressions of gratitude. In contrast when a nation is greatly blessed with a bounty of material and physical substances there is a tendency of man to forget the source of such blessings. It was said that the Lord sent two angels to earth to gather the petitions and thanksgivings made by His followers. Both angels returned to heaven in distress. The angel bearing the petitions was truly weighed down with his burden. The other angel bringing the prayers of thanksgivings was nearly empty handed. The lesson is obvious and clear. Most of God’s children are more apt to make requests, petitions and supplications rather than the giving

There were times while taking my morning walks on Saint Simons Island, Georgia that the sunrays could not reach me because of the beautiful oak trees with their overhanging limbs covering the street below. Trees are one of God’s most beautiful creations and especially these particular trees laden down with Spanish moss. The trees on the island are so respected that the streets are built around them. I have often thought of this poem we had to memorize in school many years ago. Trees By Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) I think that I shall never seeA poem lovely as a tree.A tree whose hungry mouth is prestAgainst the earth’s sweet flowing breast;A tree that looks at God all day,And lifts her leafy arms to pray;A tree that may in Summer wearA nest of robins in her hair;Upon whose bosom snow has lain;Who intimately lives with rain.Poems are made by fools like me,But only God can make a tree Psalms One is a favorite of scores of saints. Therein is a contrast between a godly and an ungodly person. It is of the believer in God that demands our attention in this article. Undoubtedly, David is the writer and he informs us that this man is blessed; that is to say he is happy and fortunate. This is one of several ‘beatitudes’ mentioned in this book. Please observe that the negative is first mentioned as pertaining to this man’s character. He “walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands

One of the historical sites to see on Saint Simons Island, Georgia is the Lighthouse which is located near the village. I have often walked by it while visiting there. The first lighthouse was built in 1810 and it was 75 feet tall. The second one that replaced the first one was erected in 1872 and was 104 feet tall. Not having the experience of a sea faring person, I have often wondered how much a lighthouse would mean to me if I was lost in a storm at sea and/or approaching land in the darkness of night. Surely the light beaming across the waters would be a lovely and thankful sight for the captain of a ship. And so this well known hymn came to mind: LET THE LOWER LIGHTS BE BURNING Brightly beams our Father’s mercy From His lighthouse evermore, But to us He gives the keeping Of the lights along the shore. Dark the night of sin has settled, Loud the angry billows roar; Eager eyes are watching, longing For the lights along the shore. Trying now to make the harbor, In the darkness may be lost. Let the lower lights be burning, Send a gleam across the wave! Some poor fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save. – Philip P. Bliss, 1871 The apostle John wrote in 1 John 1:5, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness

In an effort to understand a passage of Scripture, two questions among others should be considered, namely, who is the speaker and to whom is he speaking. This will contribute greatly to the right exegesis of a passage of Scripture. We have no problem in understanding that it was God who was speaking to Noah, instructing him to build the ark (Genesis 6). It was to Abraham that God directed to offer up his son Isaac upon an alter (Genesis 22). It was of the rich young ruler that Jesus required to sell all that he had and give to the poor (Mark 10). This principle would be true in the study of the epistles that men who were inspired of the Holy Spirit wrote to various congregations and individuals. Some of the most misunderstood passages in the New Testament regarding the Holy Spirit are found in the Gospel according to John, chapters 14-16. It is plain to see that the setting of these particular chapters in John is the occasion when Jesus was eating the Passover Supper with his twelve apostles. (See Matthew 26:20; Mark 14:17; Luke 22:14.) Therefore, Jesus was the speaker and the twelve apostles were the ones to whom Jesus was addressing when He spoke of the promise of another Comforter who would be sent to help and assist them in the preaching of the truth after His departure. Religious leaders of various denominations often apply what Jesus said to the apostles about the Holy Spirit

As I look out the window and across the street, I see a beautiful Bradford pear tree in full bloom and a Redbud tree also in full bloom. God, the Creator of the universe, is causing the vegetative kingdom, which has been dormant, to come alive! The display of such beauty that we presently see and will be seeing for weeks to come as the trees bloom and the flowers and shrubbery break forth their radiant colors should cause the believer’s heart to praise and glorify the name of the Almighty God. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 19:1-4: “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork, Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.” Someone has said that there are two books, nature and the Bible, that declare there is a Supreme Being. The heavens and the earth in their splendor and magnificence should cause every person to have faith in God, but that is not the case. The apostle Paul in writing about the depravity of the Gentile world in his day mentions this very thing in Romans 1:18-21: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in

“So, because I hold a place in this ministry and that because I have had God’s mercy shown me, I never give up” (2 Corinthians 4:1; Charles B. Williams Translation). I use various translations in my daily Bible reading and as I was reading this passage from the Williams translation, I was moved to write an article to encourage Christians never to give up on the Lord but to remain loyal and faithful while we live on this earth. The expression, “I never give up” is also found in verse 16 of 2 Corinthians 4. Other translations render these two verses that involve the other apostles in this manner: “We do not lose heart” (NASB & NKJV); “We faint not” (ASV); and “That’s why we never give up” (CEV). The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (NKJV). Steadfastness and perseverance is woefully lacking among many members of the church today. Seemingly it takes but a small amount of discouragement to cause a brother or sister to leave the Lord and His church. I am reminded of what the wise man wrote in Proverbs 24:10, “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.” The fact is you never know the strength of a man until you know what it takes to discourage him. When Paul stated that “I never give up” or “We do not

In September of 1995, I purchased a book written by Lynn Anderson entitled, Navigating the Winds of Change. It was and is a manual on “How to manage change in the church.” It is not to be understood by the author of the book that all changes would be acceptable to him, however, he does mention several changes that could be made that would be considered unscriptural by the majority of Christians. It is evident that many brethren are in the process of implementing the author’s suggestions and methods in introducing unscriptural practices to the various assemblies in their congregations. First of all, on page 150, brother Anderson writes: “Change things at an appropriate pace. William Bridges, who wrote Managing Transitions, says that ‘the real problem is not in bringing about change, but to keep too much change from happening too fast.’ The attitude of many seems to be: ‘If next year would help, immediately will cure everything.’ Sometimes the urgency of the convinced ignores the feelings of the unconvinced. This is both unloving and counterproductive.” An eldership would be wise in consulting with the local membership about some changes that would affect the entire congregation. For example, it would be best if the elders would suggest a period of trial concerning the changing of the times of the Sunday morning assemblies before implementing the change suddenly within a week’s time. I know personally of a case wherein the elders arbitrarily changed the times and did so immediately, and some of

We all need to realize that our assemblies when we come together as a corporate body of believers to worship God are very sacred gatherings. While we live in the presence of Jehovah God at all times, our periods of worship are the occasions when we come before God in reverence through prescribed avenues of worship coupled with hearts filled with sincerity, praise and love. The apostle Paul, in dealing with such assemblies, gave some regulations regarding the leadership of men and even the dress of women (See 1 timothy 2:8-15). It is the last point I want to discuss in this article. In 1 Timothy 2:9 Paul wrote, “In like manner that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety…” The word modest (kosmios) refers to that apparel which is orderly, well arranged and decent. While the Holy Scriptures do not regulate fashion, the principle of modesty is considered by the inspired writer. A real problem seemed to have been prevalent relative to dress, especially a woman’s dress, when Paul wrote 1 Timothy. He specifically mentioned that women were not to emphasize the outward appearance in the extreme, that is, the wearing of gold or pearls or costly raiment when the most important aspect of a person’s life should be godliness and good works (1 Timothy 2:9-10). In other words, the problem in Paul’s day in the matter of apparel in the assemblies was that of over-dressing. Generally speaking, the problem in our congregations today is the opposite,

The lines were very long as we waited for our groceries to be checked. The Hispanic family right in front of us consisted of a lady with two of her children and a nephew who she was raising. The small girl sitting in the buggy was so cute. The boys were ages eight and nine and were fine looking children. The older boy looked me straight in the eye and said, “I don’t speak English,” and then he smiled from ear to ear. He was so cute and his beautiful smile and his childish humor reminded me so much of one of our grandsons who lives in North Carolina. While we were waiting we also did a lot of visiting with this family. Of course the boys spoke good English. They said that people just assumed that they spoke Spanish instead of English because of their physical appearance. In just a few minutes our hearts were touched by these beautiful children. The mother said that they were moving back to Houston, Texas. The chances of seeing this family again is very doubtful. I could not help but to be moved emotionally when I contemplated that they might not be taught of Jesus Christ. Upon arriving home, I prayed a short prayer for them and for all the children of the world that they might learn of Jesus. All of God’s children are beautiful and precious in His sight. Even in our own city you see children of various races and nationalities. It doesn’t

I had thought that I might enjoy having one, but I never dreamed that someone would give me a GPS, yet they did. Much to my surprise, some of my children gave me a GPS for a Christmas present. A son took charge of getting the thing ready for me to use in my car. He put the address of a local business into the GPS, and this lady’s voice instructed me when and where to turn in order to get to my destination as I looked at a map where I was to travel. In case you might not be familiar with this gadget, here is a brief definition: “The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.” Theoretically I should never get lost while traveling when I use my GPS. In the beginning of man’s existence on earth, he was in a safe place and in a perfect relationship with Jehovah God. In a sense, man was not saved because he had never been in a lost condition. However, he became estranged from his God and in a lost condition because of his disobedience to the commands given to him from God (Genesis 2:15-17; Isaiah 59:1, 2; Romans

When I look out my office window, I see this stop sign in my yard right at the intersection. It is a constant reminder that this sign is important because it has been placed there by our city officials and for an express purpose. Even if a driver cannot read, the sign itself exclaims something when one recognizes it and that is, you need to stop your vehicle. It may be that some people do not understand the various signs along our highways and streets or even in the parking areas of the various shopping centers. For example, my wife and I were leaving a department store, and we were walking in a lane that was painted there for reason. There were signs on either side of this lane that read “Yield.” We felt relatively safe walking to our automobile. I say ‘relatively’ because you never know what a person may be thinking or doing while driving an automobile. I saw this car approaching us very slowly, and at the same time I saw the driver talking into her cell phone; yet, I felt rather sure that she would stop for us—but she didn’t. I pulled Virginia back and the car went right in front of us. The ‘red-necked’ side of me yelled out, “Can’t you read that yield sign?” She stopped her car a short distance from us and got out and shouted back to me, “It didn’t say stop!” I wanted to say, but I didn’t, “Here’s your sign.” You

In Genesis 32:28, we read that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. The fleshly descendants of this great man became known as the twelve tribes of Israel, the Israelites, the children of Israel and the nation of Israel. We can read in the book of Joshua when these offspring of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob entered the land of Canaan, which was promised to Abraham by Jehovah God (Genesis 12:1-3, 7). This people constituted Gods’ chosen race through which eventually the promised Messiah would come. However, Israel fell out of God’s favor, except a remnant, and never again stood before the Lord with acceptance as a nation. The question might be raised for our consideration, is Israel God’s people today? The answer is to be in the positive, but with some clarification. The Israel that is acceptable to God today is not fleshly, but spiritual. We learn in Galatians 3:29, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Those who are in Jesus Christ are the seed of Abraham. They become such by being immersed into Christ as taught in Galatians 3:26-27: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Even Nicodemus, a fleshly descendant of Abraham, was instructed to be born of water and the Spirit in order to be a citizen of the kingdom of God (John 3:3, 5). Both Jew and Gentile have to obey Christ in order to be a part of spiritual Israel today. Please observe the following passages that clearly teach that

Among believers in God, there is a misunderstanding regarding the true heart of a person. When asked what the heart is, most people would place their hand over their chests and say, “This is my heart.” Some religionists have been known to say, with hand on chest, “I had rather have the feeling that I have in my heart than a stack of Bibles.” Others have accused members of the church of our Lord of not believing in a ‘heartfelt religion.’ Certainly, a religion that does not touch and control the heart is worthless. It is cold and lifeless. It cannot and will not save. However, heartfelt religion is not just placing your hand over the organ that pumps blood through the body and saying, “I know that I am right because I feel it in my heart.” The real problem relative to this subject is the misconception as to what the heart of a man truly is and what the definition of ‘heartfelt religion’ is all about. Actually, we could summarize the whole matter by saying: “Heartfelt religion is the Christian religion cordially received into the heart, accepted by the heart, felt in the heart, enjoyed in the heart, producing the change of heart and purifying the heart and causing it to be holy.” Now, let us turn our thoughts to the Bible definition of man’s heart. First of all, let us notice the unconverted heart. Jeremiah wrote that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is

Our blessed Lord taught, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ‘For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened’” (Matthew 7:7-8). The apostle wrote in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made to God…” As children of God, we have the words of Jesus and the Holy Spirit (through Paul) informing us that we have the wonderful privilege of asking, making supplications and requests, and our God will hear us. The fact is we probably ask more in our prayers than we do in the giving of thanks for His infinite grace through which He bestows an abundance of blessings upon us. For example, brethren often fail to give thanks for the food that is about to be eaten. A brother is usually requested to “ask the blessing” or to “bless the food.” So many times the brother will ask the Lord to “bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and our bodies in your service” and there is nothing wrong in that request. However, what we fail to do is to express our gratitude for the food that we have received as a blessing from God. It is on this point that I would like to emphasize in this article so that we all might be mindful of our need

In the Montgomery Advertiser, dated Friday, June 13, 2008, there was an article about a date palm that had been growing since the year 2005. While this alone would not have been noteworthy, the real story was to be found in the fact that it was growing from a seed that was estimated to be 2,000 years old! “The little tree was sprouted in 2005 from a seed recovered from Masada, where rebelling Jews committed suicide rather than surrender to Roman attackers. Radiocarbon dating of seed fragments clinging to its roots, as well as other seeds found with it that didn’t sprout, indicate they were about 2,000 years old—the oldest seed known to have been sprouted and grown.” Dr. Sarah Sallon said that “She hopes there’s a chance to use it to restore the extinct Judean date palm, once prized not only for its fruit but also for medicinal uses.” This is an amazing story worthy of our sincere consideration. Think about it. A seed preserved in that arid area of the world and planted 2,000 years later and the same results occur—a tree, a date palm began to grow. How can that be? Believers in the Genesis’ account of creation understand the natural law of propagation in the vegetative kingdom. Moses wrote in Genesis 1:11-12: “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind whose seed is in itself, on the earth,’ and it was so.

I had gone by to see a friend of mine who is a chaplain in a major hospital in our Capitol City. This gentleman is a very kind and compassionate individual and is well suited for his profession in giving guidance and counseling to the sick, their families and those in times of grief. His demeanor is such that we can discuss most any subject and especially regarding those of a religious nature. In the course of our recent conversation, I mentioned that I serve on a Board of Regents for a local Christian University and that our president was having difficulty in finding qualified professors to teach in our doctorate program because so many of the men who would be academically qualified had been tainted in their education with modernism. I then began to illustrate what I meant by that statement and mentioned that some scholarly individuals understand that the first ten chapters of Genesis as being a myth, and they would deny many of the miracles that occurred in the Old Testament. I observed that when we deny much of the Old Testament, it will come down to whether or not we could accept the virgin birth of Jesus, the resurrection of our Lord and other cardinal doctrines of the New Testament. I also related how that the very inspiration of the Old Testament has been challenged. Though not so surprised, I was disappointment at his response to my thoughts when he said, “I believe in the Old Testament but

One unique aspect of the Bible is that the inspired writers pointed out the weak characteristics as well as the strong in various individuals. It is revealed that Peter, a pillar of the early church, denied the Lord (Matthew 27:69-75). David, a man after God’s own heart, committed adultery and had a man killed (2 Samuel 11:1-5, 14-21). Even the great man of faith, Abraham, spoke a falsehood regarding his wife Sarah (Genesis 12:13). Thus, it is not strange that the Holy Scriptures reveal to us the faults of Eli, a high priest of God, as well as his good points. Let us now consider the positive side and strengths of this great man.     First, Eli was a descendant of Aaron through Ithamar, the youngest of his sons (compare Leviticus 10:1, 2, 12 with 1 Kings 2:27; 2 Samuel 8:17 and 1 Chronicles 24:3). He was the first of the line of Ithamar who held the office of high priest. Besides being a high priest, he was also a judge. In this capacity, he judged Israel for forty years (1 Samuel 4:18). He took a genuine interest in the training of the young boy Samuel. It was Eli who told Hannah that her petition for a male child had been granted by the Lord God (1 Samuel 1:17). His submissive attitude toward the judgment of God against him must also be noted. When informed by Samuel, he simply stated, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him” (1 Samuel 3:18). In so

I heard the siren and I knew that the rescue squad vehicle was near. I opened the blinds at the window here in my office and sure enough there it was, and it stopped across the street from my house. I knew the elderly lady and her son who lived down the street, so I hurriedly dressed and went over to see how she was doing. She is ninety-seven years old and was not doing well at all. She was taken to the hospital by the rescue squad. Her son was emotional in expressing his concern for his beloved mother, and I can understand why he would feel that way.     I have mixed feelings when I hear the sound of a siren. In this case, it was the rescue squad coming to the aid of someone in distress. First of all, I am thankful that such help is available. One of the reasons we live where we do is because of the availability of medical assistance. It is encouraging to know that when one needs help in a hurry, it is there. On the other hand, when I hear the sirens of such vehicles, I know that someone is in need of medical care, or even it might be indicative that someone has died.     Life is like that. Each day we involve ourselves in our work and our family affairs. The sun is shinning, and life goes on. Though we might have some aches and pains, we go

“And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified” (Acts 24:25). The preacher on this occasion was the great apostle Paul. We all have to admire his determination and courage in preaching the Gospel of Christ regardless of the circumstances. This man of God felt indebted to all men since he possessed the inspired message of salvation (Romans 1:14-16; 1 Corinthians 9:16). To speak boldly the truth to an assembly of dignitaries that would assuredly disagree with the message requires more courage and fortitude. Because of such faithfulness, Paul could truthfully say, “But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me” (2 Timothy 4:17). Preachers of this caliber are in great demand today in the church of the Lord.     The audience was made up of people like Felix and Drusilla, among others. Felix and his brother Pallus had been slaves in the household of Agrippina, mother of the emperor Claudius. Thus, he had come from a lowly slave to become a ruler over a province. Felix was a corrupt individual. He was guilty of selling justice for bribes, among other vices. Drusilla was a daughter of Herod Agrippa, who murdered the apostle James and who miserably perished soon afterwards (Acts 12:1-2, 20-23). Her first husband was Azia, king of Emesa. It is believed that Felix, with the aid of one Simon a sorcerer, lured her away from her husband. Felix and Drusilla lived in open adultery.     Let us now observe the sermon

Her name was Birdie Miller Sixkiller. She was born on November 26, 1903, and died on October 16, 1988, at the age of 85. She lived on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina. She became an educator and taught Primary grades on the Qualla Boundary in Cherokee for 30 years. During her later years, she also taught in the Cherokee Indian School in the state of Oklahoma. She was politically active for the progress of the Native Americans. Because of her contribution made for the betterment of her people, an artist painted a portrait of her that can be seen with other Native Americans on the artist’s website.     Brother Bob Rigdon, now of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and an associate minister with the church there, related to me some important information regarding this gracious lady. Bob was a well-known Gospel preacher and educator in Western North Carolina for nearly a half century. While he preached for the church and taught at Western Carolina University in Sylva, North Carolina, he taught and preached often for the congregation in Cherokee. John Harlan was baptized during a Gospel meeting when Chester Hunnicutt and Bob were working together at that time. John told Bob about his mother, Birdie Miller Sixkiller. She was then teaching in Oklahoma and would often visit with her son. It was during those visits that Bob became acquainted with sister Sixkiller and became a great admirer of this Christian lady. This is what Bob has written concerning our

The television commercial portrayed a young family looking wistfully at a pleasure boat. The problem was that enough money to purchase the boat was not available. It was at this point that a particular bank was put forth as the institution that would provide the needed money to the family through a generous loan. The next scene depicted the happy family driving off in their car pulling the newly purchased pleasure boat. Then the statement was made that “more is better” and for one to come and borrow the money from this bank in order to buy whatever one desired. But is more better?     In his effort to fight inflation, the former president Jimmy Carter made a statement in a speech that “we have learned that more is not better.” Have we in fact learned that more is not better? The evidence is to the contrary. It seems that we all have been adversely affected with the disease of materialism. Webster defines materialism as being “the doctrine that comfort, pleasure, and wealth are the only or highest goals or values.” The philosophy that “more is better” permeates our society today. However, it is not peculiar to the twenty-first century. It seems that in every age there are those who equate happiness with material possessions. Yet, Jesus warned against this idea when he said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). In the Parable of

Several years ago, there was an article in the newspaper about a schoolteacher in a city in Alaska who lost his job because of his lengthy record of being tardy for his classes. It was revealed that the teacher had a real problem about being hard to wake up in the mornings. His wife related that it was nearly impossible to awaken her husband. Instead of one alarm clock, several were used, but to no avail. Various methods were also used to arouse him from a deep sleep, but such were generally unsuccessful. This individual stated that his problem was inherited and was actually a sickness. One could not help but have some sadness in learning about his plight. But on the other hand, the story could be considered humorous except for the seriousness of the matter. I am reminded of the passage in Proverbs 20:13 that reads, “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.”     The ‘sleeping teacher’ is not alone. The church is blessed with many ‘sleeping brethren’ who are very difficult to arouse out of slumber. I speak not simply of physical encephalitis. Spiritual sleepiness is quite often manifested by the outward actions. Take for example members who drag in late for the periods of Bible study on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening (that is if they come at all). If they treated their employers in the same manner that they treat the Lord, they like the teacher would

The apostle Paul, in writing to Timothy, gave this young man some timely advice which is sorely needed in this 21st century. In 1 Timothy 5:22, we read, “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.” It is the last statement of that verse that I want to emphasize presently. Jesus taught, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Christians are exhorted in Hebrews 12:14 to “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” It must be inferred from these latter two passages that a pure heart and a pure life are essential in order for one to see God. A pure life is the outgrowth of a pure heart. Solomon declared, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). It is impossible to think evil continuously and live a good life; likewise, it is impossible to think pure continuously and live an impure life.     It is important that we all understand that our thought process controls our actions. That is why Paul instructed the Philippian brethren to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report and things that would be worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). To do such would prevent evil thoughts and evil deeds. Jesus taught, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come for the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed

During the years that I worked with one congregation of the Lord, there was a group of brothers and sisters that sang for a local nursing home once a month. The residents enjoyed singing with us some of the old favorites songs found in the book we used that was published by our brethren. One of the most requested hymns was Amazing Grace. One of the stanzas of this song is as follows: “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed.” However the publishers of this particular song book we were using took the liberty to change the last phrase of that stanza to “The hour I first obeyed.” Now I understand perfectly the reason for this change and I do not doubt the motive of these brethren. We have heard so much from our denominational friends that we are saved by “faith only”; however, we must not avoid scriptural terms simply because of the misunderstandings regarding the biblical theme of justification by faith. There is a vast difference between the doctrine of “faith only” and the Bible based doctrine of salvation by faith. In fact, the expression that these brethren wanted to avoid is actually found in Romans 13:11: “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Emphasis added). The apostle Paul asked the disciples of

 Recently, I had cataract surgery on both eyes. The doctor removed the cataract from my right eye first. There was a week interval before he removed the cataract on my left eye. During this time I began to observe that things like the wallpaper in the bathroom were not as dark as I thought previously. One day I received a flyer announcing a Gospel meeting. The vision in my right eye showed me that the paper was blue; however according to the vision in my left eye, the flyer was a dirty looking light green. Or you might say a coffee stained shade of green. It was then that I asked my wife what color was the paper, and she replied that it was indeed blue. It was then that I realized that over a period of time my vision had been discolored without my realizing that I was not seeing things as they really were.     Another example of how that I was not seeing things as they really were was when I looked at the address of some friends and saw the opposite of their true address. Ironically, I thought their address was on Summer Street when actually my friends lived on Winter Place. You see, I had already made up my mind that these Christian friends lived on Summer Street so when I looked up their address in the church directory I read Summer Street instead of Winter Place. I don’t usually do that, but this time

 No, it wasn’t a young husband who had just learned that his wife had given birth to their first child, and he was so excited that he proudly exclaimed to all in the waiting room that he was the father of a baby boy. No, that was not the case at all; rather, it was a young man who stood in front of TV cameras, raising his right arm and with glee in his eyes announced to the whole world that he was the father of child born to a former Playboy Bunny. His supporters shouted with approval. You see there had been a question as to who the father was of this baby that had been born out of wedlock. The mother had died suddenly, and she had not revealed which man had fathered the child. It may have been the case that she really did not know herself who the father was.     A famous movie actor divorced his wife and began to co-habit with another movie star. There was a mixed feeling about these two well known actors. What about the hurt that his ex-wife was experiencing over their marriage breakup, but soon the ugliness was forgotten and now the unmarried couple is interviewed on national television and is praised for their involvement in the making of another movie. Forget about the fact that they are unmarried and are living in violation of the marriage laws given by the Creator of mankind.     Then there is the

It is suggested that we have our eyesight checked at least every two years. The ideal vision is 20/20. Most of us, as we grow older, need some assistance to enable us to see. Thus, we are fitted with glasses from time to time.     In the matter of evangelism, we often suffer because of the lack of spiritual vision. That infirmity is called “myopia,” which has to do with nearsightedness. So many Christians can only see that which is near. We are not looking far enough. We are confined within the walls of our church buildings. We are in need of having our eyesight improved by the Great Physician who can heal our partial blindness. We desperately need some “eye salve” to anoint our eyes that we may see the fields “that are white already unto harvest (Revelation 3:18; John 4:35). He whose eyes are as “a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:14) has written us a prescription that will give us 20/20 vision. It is recorded in Acts 20:20: “how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house.”     First of all, it is needful that we teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Second, note the methods used by Paul in the proclamation of that which was profitable. He said that he taught the Gospel of Christ both publicly and privately. The persecuted prisoners of the Lord had earlier utilized these avenues in preaching Jesus

I can vividly recall a statement made by some members of the Lord’s church during my high school days at a Christian school that went something like this: “You shouldn’t send your children to a Christian school because you will isolate them from society.” And I suppose that some amount of isolationism was practiced in that day among the students and teachers, but there were enough ‘outsiders’ and worldliness around the place to equalize the situation. I know that Christians are not to be isolated from society, but to live in such a manner as to be ‘insulated’ from carnality and ungodliness (Romans 12:1-2). We must permit our salt to savor and our light to illuminate in order that we can be a proper influence among the people of this world (Matthew 5:13-16). The church is to be a fort on the front line of a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:10-12). We must radiate Christ in our lives in this world of darkness in order to bring others to our Lord (Philippians 2:15). In this manner, we must ‘mix and mingle’ with persons who are not disciples of Jesus Christ. I believe that most Christians would agree with this premise. However, I believe that some Christians practice isolationism in reverse. Please correct me if I am wrong. Some members cannot be found except for one hour per week. They would be highly insulted if you should ask them why they don’t come around more often to the various periods of Bible

Just suppose that you receive an invitation to attend a series of religious meetings that is to be conducted by this writer. The meeting is to be for five nights, beginning on a Monday and concluding the following Friday. On the first night an exhortation is given relative to salvation from sins. Emphasis is given to the teaching that everyone will be saved eternally, thus the doctrine of universalism. Tuesday night at the conclusion of a Bible-centered lesson stress is given to the point that there isn’t anything that one can do regarding salvation, that is, some are chosen to eternal life while others are chosen to eternal damnation. The teaching of John Calvin, that is, the doctrine of predestination is preached by this writer. Again on Wednesday night you return and hear this scribe instruct people in the way of redemption by teaching sinners that the only way to be saved is to believe in Jesus Christ. This could be classified as being the doctrine of faith only. Somewhat confused, you are still determined to learn more of the Bible so you come to the meeting on Thursday night. As the lesson is being concluded, sinners are urged to come down to the ‘mourner’s bench’ and pray through. By this time you must have some doubt as to the stability of the speaker since you have heard him teaching differently the past four nights relative to salvation from sins; yet, in spite of this confusion you decide to return for the final session of

On the occasion of calling Levi to become his disciple, Jesus associated with the publicans and sinners present, eating and drinking with them. This invoked the wrath of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees. In answer to their criticism Jesus replied, “They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:29-32). Luke, the physician, wrote of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. Jesus had to be great because of the nature of the disease called sin. There are times when a general practitioner is all that one needs; however, there are occasions when a specialist is required because of the seriousness of the disease. In combating the malady of sin, there is no other one to whom man can go except Jesus Christ. We can best understand how effective Jesus is when we view the horribleness of sin. First of all, the seat of this sickness is the heart. This is where sin originates in the individual. Jesus knew this fact and stated it in this fashion, “For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: these are the things which defile the man” (Matthew 15:19-20). The wise man wrote, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). We can readily see the need of following Solomon’s admonition to “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the

Several years ago the congregation I was working with conducted a Gospel meeting during which there were fourteen baptisms. The following Sunday, I preached a sermon regarding what it meant now for these new converts as they began their life in Jesus Christ. This was a lesson to encourage these babes in Christ to grow “in the grace and knowledge” of the Lord and to inform them of some of the spiritual blessings and of their new relationship they now have as children of God. This means that you have been born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5). It means that your sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God (Acts 2:38; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5). It is now a time of rejoicing (Acts 8:39; 16:34; Ephesians 4:4). You are now a babe in Christ and should desire to grow in the knowledge of your Lord (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18). God is truly your heavenly Father (Galatians 3:26-27; Matthew 6:9). All spiritual blessings in Christ are now yours (Ephesians 1:3). You have the wonderful privilege of conversing with your Heavenly Father in prayer (Matthew 6:9-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12). God will grant you strength in the time of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Peter 2:9). God can and will use your talents in His kingdom (Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). You can cast all your cares and worries upon the Lord knowing he cares for you (1 Peter

Jesus Christ, on the night of his betrayal, instituted the Lord’s Supper. In reference to the fruit of the vine, he said: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Jesus spoke in prospect, that is, his blood was to be shed for the remission of sins. It is declared in Hebrews 9:22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and, without shedding of blood is no remission.” It is plain to see that Jesus shed his blood in order that man might have the forgiveness of his sins. Jesus did not shed his blood because man was already saved. His blood was “for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28, Emphasis mine, RE). Now, by understanding this expression, “for the remission of sins” in this light, it will not be difficult for one to perceive the meaning of the same expression in another passage. The apostle Peter preached Christ and him crucified on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22-24). He instructed those people to “know assuredly” or believe confidently that Jesus was “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). We know that many believed in Christ because “they were pricked in their heart” and inquired of Peter and the rest of the apostles as to what they should do to be saved (v.37). By the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Peter commanded them to “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). In a beautiful poem about the Bible, there is a particular line that goes like this: “It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter.” While I have never had the experience of a navigator’s use with a compass, I have used one in other activities. Several years ago, I was hunting with a Christian friend in unfamiliar territory. The weather was terrible. The sky was darkened and the sun was hidden from human view. The rain descended. The trees were unusually tall and massive. As I continued to seek game, I became aware of the fact that I was ‘temporarily confused.’ I thought I knew the way back to the location where I entered the forest but the more I walked, the more I realized that I didn’t know. It was then that I took out my small compass and began to follow a certain course, however, after walking some distance, I looked at the compass again and it was then that I realized I was following the wrong end of the needle. I was actually traveling the opposite direction from the way I wanted to go. So, I began to walk in the right direction by following the compass in the correct manner. After some time I arrived at my desired destiny. Perhaps this experience is not completely parallel with the lessons I

“Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). The usual connotation of the term ‘vision’ in this verse coincides with a definition given by Webster: “The ability to perceive something not actually visible, as through mental acuteness or keen foresight (a project made possible by one man’s vision); force or power of imagination (a statesman of great vision).” The understanding of the word ‘vision’ colors one’s interpretation of this verse. Thus, many suggest that when the leaders of a congregation have vision, projects and programs will be introduced into the work; otherwise, where there is a lack of such, the church will suffer greatly. This may in fact be true in principle; however, this is not the correct meaning of the passage under consideration. Let us examine carefully the scriptural exegesis of this verse. The New King James Version renders the first part of Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no revelation.” The Revised Standard Version reads: “Where there is no prophecy.” The Douay Version has: “When prophecy shall fail.” The Hebrew word for vision as used in this verse is haza. It is defined in the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, as follows: “The revelatory vision granted by God to chosen messengers, i.e. prophets. Such apparently was the experience of Balaam the son of Beor (Numbers 24:4, 16). This vision of the prophet took place sometimes in the waking state, but also in ‘the spirit’ (Numbers 24:2). Sometimes the experience of seeing a revelatory dream

First of all there was the news of the deaths of eight students in Enterprise, Alabama when a tornado destroyed their high school building. Then there was the bus accident in Atlanta, Georgia that took the lives of four college students as well as the bus drivers. Later, it was learned that the fifth student died due to the injuries suffered in the terrible accident. One of the greatest fears that parents have is the possibility that a child might be killed in some accident or that some disease might take the life of a beloved son or daughter. I remember well when the telephone rang late one night and a close Christian friend informed me that his fifteen year old daughter had been killed in an automobile wreck. It was not an easy task to face the parents who were dear friends of mine and members of the local church where I was serving as a preacher. I went with the father so he could identify his precious child. It was a heart-rendering experience. It was thirty four years ago that I had to go alone to identify my baby brother, age 35, who had been killed by a car so I would be able to tell my mother that it was indeed her precious son. My mother had already lost her oldest son in World War II at the tender age of 19. Most parents would be willing to precede their children in death. It seems so unnatural

Several years ago while viewing the Today Show on television, I became quite interested in an interview that the host was having with a noted author who had written a book about the civil strife in Northern Ireland. The author’s wife, who was a professional photographer, had taken many pictures in the city of Belfast and the surrounding areas that depicted the physical destruction caused by the bombings. One scene was of a building that had only one wall standing. I could not help but be overwhelmed with a sign painted on the wall. It was painted in large letters and asked the question, “Is there life before death?” Such a question reflected the remorse of a person’s heavy heart. It is difficult to imagine circumstances being so deplorable that one could not enjoy life, at least to some degree. But here was a person asking if one could live before one dies. How sad! This so different from the usual question asked by the masses of people, and that is, “Is there life after death?” This is the all consuming inquiry of persons seeking hope beyond this earthly pilgrimage. But the question remains in our minds, “Is There Life Before Death?” First, one must understand that all people outside of the spiritual relationship with Christ are dead (lost) presently. The basic meaning of death is the absence of life. Physically, death occurs when the spirit of a man departs from his body (James 2:26). And in the moral and spiritual realm, a person

I read the obituary column in the local and area newspapers (online) practically every morning. This is a habit I developed over the years because my family and I have lived in various cities in the state and we know people in every location. In a humorous fashion I might say that I read the daily obituary column to make sure that mine is not listed there. In the past two weeks I have observed that two different families made the choice to use pictures of their departed loved ones when they were young. The pictures of the two ladies depicted the beauty of their youth. However, at the time of their deaths they both were in their 80s. The obituaries detailed the various activities and accomplishments of these two ladies during their lifetimes and both were very impressive. You know when you have a picture in front of you and reading the obituary of the person it really comes home to you that regardless of the beauty of youth and the achievements attained in life, death will eventually come to each person. The inspired writer informs us in Hebrews 9:27: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (NKJV). The Preacher in Ecclesiastes 9:5 wrote: “For the living know that they will die.” In Ecclesiastes 12 the writer details the aging process from youth to old age and eventually death. I often relate to people who are growing older that “I have

There is the tendency among many people to equate morality with being a Christian. While it is true that every devout Christian is a good moral person, it does not follow that every good moral person is a Christian. The moralist, separate and apart from Christ, is a sinner. The apostle Paul, quoting an Old Testament passage, stated that “There is none righteous, no not one.” He further declared, “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23). It isn’t that a man is born a sinner; he simply becomes one through violating the commands of God (1 John 3:4). The moralist may be known for his sweet disposition, his kind words, his charitable deeds, his good citizenship and his participation in community affairs. But, if he has never obeyed the Gospel of Christ he is in a lost condition. When a person as previously described passes from this life, his peers are apt to say, “Well, he was not a member of any church, but he certainly was a good man, worthy of salvation.” The basic difference between a moralist who is not a Christian and a Christian who is morally clean is found in their relationship with God. The moralist exclaims that he deserves to be saved upon his own meritorious goodness. This attitude was found in the Pharisees “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others”; and, is found in the words of a self-righteous individual as recorded

There is a sense in which the church of the Lord could be classified as being Catholic, Protestant and Jewish. This may seem rather strange to a society wherein all ‘Christian’ organizations are quickly placed in one of the aforementioned categories but hardly to be found in all three of them. First, the church of Jesus Christ is Catholic in nature because of the Lord’s design of his called out people. The word catholic simply means universal. The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the “house of God,” which is the “church of the living God,” would be inhabited by people from “all nations” (Isaiah 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:14-15). Since the Gospel of Christ is to be preached to every creature in this world, it is clearly seen that the church is also universal in nature (Mark 16:15). Especially is this understood when we learn that the Lord adds the saved to his church (Acts 2:38, 41, 47). Jesus died for the sins of the entire world (John 3:16; Hebrews 2:9). He also shed his blood in order that the church might be established (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25). There is to be no restriction placed on the universality of the Gospel and the church of Jesus Christ. Second, the church is Protestant in that the members thereof are to protest and speak against all kinds of sin. The church and the world are opposed to each other. There can be no peace between the two, no more than between Christ and Satan,

The true strength of a congregation is not found in the large number of people on the roll, the amount of money in the treasury, the host of prominent citizens found among the membership nor the beautiful and expensive building that might be owned by the local church. Such could be in evidence because of a strong, spiritual group of saints, but would not necessarily and always be true. You can read the history of the early church and learn that this statement is accurate. The kingdom of God is manifested in such qualities as “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). Please observe that the word “fruit” is singular. This means that all the qualities mentioned are aspects of single life, that is, one that is committed to living for the Lord and governed by the Spirit. While we sometimes pride ourselves in the fact that our attendance has increased and our monetary contributions are at an all time high, we must understand that true strength is to be measured in the spiritual development of individual Christians. Such growth is not necessarily reported in our brotherhood papers as progress reports. For example, a Christian lady related to me that if she worked two days in a week, one day’s salary would be given to the Lord. That’s just wonderful! A brother

In many relationships in life, extremes can be detrimental to one’s happiness. The writer of Proverbs petitioned God to prevent him from two opposites in life, riches and poverty. He knew that there were dangers involved in both extremes such as forgetting God and/or stealing and profaning the name of God (Proverbs 30:7-9). The homemaker has a very difficult task in planning and preparing a balanced diet of food for the family. She knows that such is needful for good health. Our public institutions of education emphasize the need of physical exercise along with the academics to meet the needs of both the mind and the body. In our Christian schools, the Word of God is taught in order that the young person may also become even better suited for life (1 Timothy 4:7-8). This type of instruction makes for a complete person, balanced in every respect (Luke 2:52). I can remember very well a statement made by the late Rex A. Turner as he remarked to a class of young men “that preachers should retain a proper balance in their teaching of the Bible.” He would also say that “every man needs a balance wheel.” There is a tendency to overreact to the erroneous teachings and habits of others. There are many individuals and even congregations that seemingly cannot keep a good and proper balance in the teaching of doctrinal and moral matters. Some congregations are very strong in preaching against denominationalism but are lacking in love. But on

The world in itself and of itself is not getting any better. The truth of the matter is mankind, without God, is becoming worse. God’s wonderful creation, the human race, had lost its golden glow with the introduction of sin into the world. With the passing of time, it repented God that he had made man in his image because of the terrible blight of sin that had tarnished the golden innocence of his creation (Genesis 6-7). Think about it, only eight souls were saved from the vast multitude of people who lived on this globe when God deluged the earth with water. There was a new beginning but it was not long before the sins of those who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah were guilty of sexual perversions caused God to destroy those cities with fire and brimstone (Genesis 19). Societies over the centuries that have forgotten God have suffered the inevitable consequences. The Psalmist wrote, “The wicked shall be turned to hell, and all the nations that forget God.” The populace of our great nation has not learned the lesson that we eventually reap as we have sown in moral issues (Galatians 6:6-7). The devil has an agenda and it is slowly but surely being carried out by influential individuals and organizations. In fact the television and movie industries are doing what they can to influence the citizens of our country to accept the lifestyle of the homosexual, bi-sexual and transsexual. I might also mention that many major

Recently, the main discussion in most conversations has centered on the theme of politics. It seems that everyone is talking about his or her favorite candidates for the various local and state offices. One cannot help but to wonder how much good could be achieved in the cause of the Lord if the same amount of time, money and influence were exerted in the spreading of the Gospel. Nevertheless, the freedom to vote as one pleases is certainly a great liberty offered by this nation of ours. The Lord God made man to be a creature of choice. From Adam on down, man has had to make choices, morally and otherwise. But, the greatest decisions are to be made in the spiritual realm and not in the political circle. We mention now some of the momentous occasions wherein decisions had to be made, either for the Lord or Satan. First of all, we read in 1 Kings 18 where Elijah the prophet met the prophets of Baal in a direct confrontation on Mount Carmel. Elijah was set to prove who was truly the God that all people should serve and worship. The party of indecision, of all nations, was Israel. The great prophet inquired of the double-minded congregation, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him. But the people answered him not a word” (V. 21). Israel as a whole had held Baal to be Lord and God,

I customarily read the obituaries in the local newspaper and one morning I observed something unusual. A lady who recently died and in mentioning her kindred, the point was clearly made that she was the great, great, great granddaughter of George Washington. It was evident that her family members wanted the fact of this lady’s ancestry known. It seems that a basic need we have is to know who we are and where we came from. Alex Haley’s deep desire to know his family’s ancestry led him over an extended period of time to do much research and travel. He then wrote the book, “Roots.” We have known individuals who were adopted as children who made every effort to know the identity of their biological parents. While these people loved and appreciated their adopted parents, there was a real longing in their hearts to learn of their family background. Even in biblical times, we learn of the Jews’ great pride in being the offspring of Abraham. They would proudly exclaim that “Abraham is our father” (John 8:39). They seemed always to be involved in tracing their lineage back to the great patriarch. Paul warned Timothy not to give heed to “endless genealogies” (1 Timothy 1:4). The most important family relationship, however, is not the physical but the spiritual. Most of us cannot gloat in a ‘blue blood’ ancestry. By faith, having been baptized into Christ, we are the children of God (Galatians 3:26-27). “And if ye are Christ’s, then you

“King Agrippa, Believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said to Paul; ‘Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian’” (Acts 26:27-28). The apostle Paul is an example to all Christians in his dedication to preach the Gospel of Christ to every person. He felt indebted to the human race because he possessed the knowledge of the truth and was ready always to preach the good news of salvation (Romans 1:14-16). He proclaimed that Gospel as a free man, and according to the context of this passage, as a prisoner for the sake of the Lord. Thus, before King Agrippa, he expounded the glad tidings that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament (Acts 26:22-23). Paul’s sermon was so convincing that Agrippa exclaimed, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Let us now observe some of the pertinent messages contained in this statement of the king. “ALMOST” Paul, in asking Agrippa if he believed the prophets (concerning Jesus), mentioned that he knew that he believed. Yet, Agrippa was not a Christian. A believer has the right to become a child of God, but faith alone does not save a person (John 1:11-12; James 2:24, 26). Almost is not all the way. Here you have a believer who was not yet a Christian. “Almost cannot avail; almost is but to fail: Sad, sad, the bitter wail, almost, but lost.” “THOU” Agrippa said, “Almost thou…” that is to say, he was addressing the apostle Paul, the preacher. This

Several years ago we lived in Savannah, Georgia. It was a new experience for us to watch those huge freighters entering the mouth of the Savannah River and traveling some fifteen miles inland to the state docks. It didn’t seem possible that the massive ships could achieve such a feat. However, we learned that a channel had been dredged in the middle of the river for a safe passage for these huge ships. And as long as the captains of these ships steered their vessels in the channel there was safety. It was not necessary for the men on these ships to know where all the hidden dangers were beneath the surface of the water; but it was essential to possess knowledge of the safe way to travel. This principle is very applicable in the study of the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught men to enter the “strait gate” and walk in the “narrow” way (Matthew 7:13-14). “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” declared the wise man in Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV). We should therefore seek out the way that is infallibly safe and cannot be wrong in religious matters. We suggest the following aspects of this way that are revealed in the Word of God. Accepting the Holy Scriptures as being the inspired Word of God cannot be wrong (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3, 21). It cannot be wrong to believe in God and in

One of the frustrations experienced by preachers is knowing that the Gospel has been taught, yet there have been no responses by the hearers to obedience. This may occur when sinners refuse to obey the Gospel of Christ and/or when members of the church fail to comply with the teaching of Christ to mature in the faith. There can also be puzzlement in the teacher’s heart when one family obeys and another family rejects the same teaching while being instructed privately in their homes. The same Gospel is being taught but is bringing different responses. It is easy to become discouraged, blaming oneself for the failure to convert all the people being taught the way of salvation. We must understand and come to realize that all who hear will not believe and obey the Gospel. The hearer has a responsibility in the process of conversion. This principle is clearly taught in the parable of the soils presented by the Lord and recorded in Matthew 13:1-23. In the usage of the words of Isaiah, Jesus mentioned that there were those who would hear but not understand. The apostle Paul referred to this prophecy of Isaiah on various occasions in his work when the Jews would not respond to the teaching of this inspired man (Acts 28:25-29; Romans 10:16-21). While it is true that faith is produced by the hearing of the Word of God (Romans 10:17), there are times when the Gospel is heard but obedience to Christ is not the

It is not uncommon to hear a brother mention in his prayer that “we are thankful to be able to come out to God’s house and worship.” Also, you will hear from time to time a member of the church referring to that part of the building where the assembly of worship is conducted as being the “sanctuary.” If you were to bring someone to visit our buildings, most likely the person would refer to the place of worship as being “a beautiful sanctuary.” To some degree, most of us have been affected by Judaism or Catholicism whether we realize it or not. The Lord God had Moses to erect the tabernacle. This portable tent of meeting was to be the center of worship until many years later when Solomon would build the temple in the city of Jerusalem. In Exodus 25:8, we read that the purpose of such a place was “that I may dwell among them.” In this verse, the whole of the tabernacle was referred to as the “sanctuary.” However, in Exodus 25:22, we learn that it was at the mercy-seat between the two cherubim, atop the Ark of the Covenant and located in the Most Holy Place that God said, “I will commune with thee.” In short, the sanctuary, whether speaking of the tabernacle as a whole or the Most Holy Place, was a dwelling place of the presence of the Almighty God. In contrast, the place of worship in the Christian age is of no

The Lord God provided abundantly for his children while they were wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In Exodus Chapter 16, we learn that God instructed and informed Moses of the manna that he intended to give the people. And for six days of every week while Israel journeyed in the wilderness, God rained manna from heaven until they came into the promised land (Exodus 16:4, 35). After Israel crossed Jordan, they encamped in Gilgal and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month. The Holy Scriptures clearly state that “the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the produce of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year” (Joshua 5:10-12). Therefore, we know definitely and beyond a shadow of a doubt that manna ceased. No need to speculate about the matter. The Bible informs us that manna ceased when God stopped providing Israel with manna. That should be evident enough for all to understand. And yet, I can’t help but to wonder if years later while Israel dwelt in the land of Canaan that a group of young folk didn’t approach the elders of the people and make some inquiries about this miraculous matter of manna being supplied to the previous generation. You can just about hear them saying something like, “Why, brother, the Lord is the same today as he was yesterday.” Or, brother elder,

The title of this article was the caption under a picture in a comic strip. The scene depicts a young girl sitting at her desk with a pencil in her hand. She had made a mistake in spelling a word and had erased it. At this point she asks her teacher: “Where do mistakes go when you rub them out?” That is a very good question to be considered. My thoughts immediately turned to the mistakes we all make in life. Some mistakes are not always sinful; however, all of our sins would indeed be mistakes. Sin is a transgression of God’s law; sin is unrighteousness; sin is a failure to comply with the commands of God (1 John 3:4; 5:17; James 4:17). Sin is universal in scope: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23). When a person complies with the terms of pardon presented by Jesus Christ, forgiveness of sins can be obtained. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). When sin appears as a debt, an unfilled obligation, then pardon is spoken of as a canceling. “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.” “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” (Isaiah 43:25; Acts 3:19). Jesus cancelled out our debt of sin

This is not the usual question one asks relative to such an important matter. Often the question is raised, “Who should be baptized?” However we can, by dealing with the question, “Who should not be baptized?” give answer as to who should be baptized.  First of all, infants should not be baptized. Children, while being born in a world of sin and being subject to sin, are not born sinners. There is a difference. Sin is not something one inherits but rather it is something one does; “For sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). While a child inherits the consequence of Adam’s sin, he is not born totally depraved as per the teaching of John Calvin. The prophet Ezekiel explained it this way: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father” (Ezekiel 18:20). Second, young children who are not mature enough mentally to grasp the teaching relative to Jesus, his coming, his purpose for dying, his sonship and an awareness of right and wrong in their lives should not be baptized. The age of “accountability” varies with individual children. There must be the acceptance of God’s grace in this matter. God does not impute sin to those children who are in the years of innocence. This is the time for parents to teach and train their sons and daughters in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4; 2 Timothy 3:14-15). Brethren should be careful about

In Acts 17:11 (ASV), we read; “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica.” Why would such a statement be made regarding the people of Beroea? What is involved in being noble? One definition of the word ‘noble’ is. “having or showing high moral qualities or ideals, or greatness of character; lofty” (Webster’s Dictionary). This understanding has nothing to do with one’s birth or ancestry. This is dealing with the moral fiber of an individual. There are many noble people from various backgrounds simply because they possess a worthy heart that is honest, fair, understanding and receptive to new and lofty ideals. The same writer that declared the people in Beroea noble also informs us why he did so. In the remainder of Acts 17:11 we read “that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The first important ingredient in one’s being noble is to possess an open heart, a receptive mind. That is basically what Luke means when he wrote that the people “received the word with all readiness of mind.” There is a great need today for people to be intellectually honest with themselves and the Word of God. A person may be honest in his dealings with others yet refuse to have that integrity of heart that is needed to receive the teachings of God. It is easier sometimes to be fair and honest in business dealings than to be open-minded when it comes to a

In this question, we are not presently concerning ourselves with the ‘when’ as in learning the steps of obedience to the commands given by the Lord when one has heard the Gospel of Christ and desires to give oneself to Jesus. Certainly, we would all agree that a person who becomes a believer in Christ and is penitent of sins should be baptized without further delay. This is brought out by the fact that we have no promise of another opportunity. The ancient writer declared by inspiration, “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1). We have always encouraged a person to obey the Gospel when it is first learned. There is always the danger of the devil hindering one’s obedience by delaying a decision. Our main thrust in this article is to observe that the Bible nowhere asserts that there is a specific day of the week when one is to be baptized. It is surprising to learn that some feel the only time (and day) when a person can be scripturally immersed is during a period of worship on the first day of the week. It may be that we have not made it as clear as we should in regards to the ‘when’ a person can be baptized. The only time some members witness a baptism is during worship on Sunday. Young people may therefore conclude that this is the only scriptural time for one to be

“The church ain’t doing nothing!” How often have we heard that statement from a brother in Christ? And it is to be admitted that we often fail in fulfilling the many obligations that God has given to us. But there are some pertinent observations that need to be made relative to this broad statement. First of all, we could say that the brother who makes such an accusation has taken to himself some of the attributes that are considered belonging only to God. In Psalms 139, we learn that God is omnipresent and omniscient. Thus, for a brother to be absolutely correct in saying that “The church ain’t doing nothing” (a double negative which means that the church is doing something) he would have to posses all the knowledge of what all the brethren may or may not be doing. Otherwise, where he could not be and what he could not know, some brethren could be doing some work for the Lord. It is humanly impossible for a mortal man to have a complete knowledge of every good deed done by Christians. One may not know: of a marriage saved because an elder or a preacher counseled with the husband and wife in privacy. A letter of encouragement written to a friend. A family providing transportation to worship for an elderly person. A sister caring for a loved one who is an invalid. Members visiting those who are shut-ins and/or sick. A young person carrying a gift to an aged

“And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call thy name” (Acts 9:14). These words were spoken by the disciple Ananias to the Lord in reference to Saul, the former persecutor of the church of Jesus Christ. Saul had authority to cast into prison “all that call thy name,” that is, the name of the Lord. But what was it and what is it to “call on thy name”? We can believe with confidence that it is not a mere repeating of the name of the Lord. On one occasion Jesus stated, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). In Luke 6:46 we read, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” One can readily see that whatever calling on the name of the Lord is, such is more than saying his precious name. The two passages noted previously greatly emphasize the need of obedience to the commands of the Lord. The first instance wherein we find an inspired man using the prophecy from Joel 2:32 was Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:21). That prophecy was, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Peter continued preaching to his audience that Christ had died and had been resurrected by the power of

There are many individuals who think that the churches of Christ do not have music in our periods of worship to God. However, that is a misconception. We do in fact have music always in our homage to the Heavenly Father. In fact, this writer has never attended a worship period wherein there was no music. But, you must understand that the word ‘music’ is generic in usage. The specifics of music are ‘instrumental’ and ‘vocal.’ Vocal music is an integrated part of acceptable worship. In Hebrews 13:15, we read, “Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name.” Also, the general populace would be greatly surprised to learn that the churches of Christ use an instrument in their worship to God. This, of course, will be rather difficult to believe since those individuals who have visited our assemblies have never seen an instrument with the visible eye. The New Testament clearly demands that an instrument be used in the praising of God in our songs. If this is not done, such will not be acceptable to God. Christians who desire to please God have no choice in this matter. They must use an instrument in church music. In short, the New Testament requires the usage of the instrument, and, the specific instrument is mentioned in the Word of God. But, let us observe that the word “sing” in the New Testament comes

“I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5). There are various speculations expressed relative to the setting of this well-known parable spoken by the Lord. Some have suggested that Jesus saw a vine growing on the side of a wall. Others think it may have been the vineyards nearby, while others mention that Jesus had just instituted the supper that contained fruit of the vine. Nevertheless, he uses something very common to bring forth some vital lessons to his disciples. The Bible is replete with nature’s symbolisms and made applicable in spiritual matters. Jesus has been referred to as being the rose of Sharon, a rock, a stone, a pearl, a lily and presently in our study as being the vine. Basically speaking, this Parable of the Vine and the Branches in John 15 deals with the various relationships of Jesus with others. First of all, we observe Christ’s relationship with his Father. The Lord said: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). This would indicate that God is the proprietor as well as being the vinedresser. It is God who is spoken of as being the one who does the pruning and the purging of the branches. The prominent and prevalent attitude of Jesus toward his Father is always a submissive one (John 6:38). Jesus is the “true vine.” Israel of old had been “a noble vine” of God in ages past, which was only a figure of the true vine,

But, the two wrongs do not make one right. The reason being, the wrongs are not right, singularly or collectively. Now permit me to explain what I mean by all this jargon. On Sunday, October 17, 2004, the Montgomery Advertiser carried an article pertaining to a protest led by an extremist group from the State of Kansas that occurred in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday, October 16, 2004. The group was comprised of some of the members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Their basic message in sermon and in songs was that God hates the homosexuals. They also “Thank God for Ivan,” believing that it was punishment sent from God for the immorality that exists in our country. Also that “God hates America.” A daughter of the preacher of this church explained that the signs and slogans are “about the United States’ enabling of the homosexual lifestyle.” Some of the songs and comments expressed the belief of this group that “the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were God’s wrath on homosexuals.” The beliefs of this radical group are not representative of the religious community in our nation. In fact, such extremism is injurious to an understanding of the nature of God and an acceptance of the Bible as being divinely inspired of God. Such ignorance and misguided zeal give fuel to the secular society to ridicule believers in Jesus Christ as being the only Savior of mankind and God the Father being the Creator of heaven and earth. But, these

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines the word “denominate” to mean, “To give a name to: designate.” And according to the same source, one definition of the word “denomination” is “A class of units having specified values, as in a system of currency or weights.” I want to notice first of all the problem of endeavoring to be just the church of our Lord without becoming a denomination. Bible students are acutely aware that Jesus Christ promised in Matthew 16:18 to build (establish, found, begin) his church (ecclesia, the called out assembly). This he did as recorded in Acts 2. From Acts 2:47 the church of Jesus Christ is always spoken of as being in existence. It was Jesus who died on Calvary in order to purchase the church with his precious blood (Acts 20:28; Ephesus 5:25). Jesus is its builder (Matthew 16:18), its foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11), its head and its Savior (Ephesians 5:23). The church was often referred to in the Book of Acts as simply the “church” (Acts 5:11; 8:1). Some of the other scriptural terms are “church of God” (KJV, Acts 20:28), “church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23), “church of the living God” (1 Timothy 3:15) and of course “the churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16). Because there is a diversity of terms used in the New Testament regarding the church, it is safe to conclude that one term should not be used to the exclusion of others. To ensure that we do not “denominate,” that

Our Lord Jesus Christ instructs us in this important matter as recorded in Matthew 7:1-2: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” This passage of Scripture is often referred to by many who endeavor to prove that we should never condemn the actions of others. Usually this is the case when teaching is being done against doctrinal error and/or immoral living. A person may be guilty of fornication and efforts are made to correct such sin in a person’s life and the response is generally something like this, “You ought not to be judging your fellowman.” Especially is this true in our pluralistic society in which we presently live. Relatively to the varied doctrines of different denominations, many religious leaders/authors will teach that we should let everyone alone in what they teach and practice in the field of religion. It is sad to note that this liberal attitude has even permeated the church of our Lord. One preacher in a large metropolitan church prayed to God following his sermon on worship in song and asked God to forgive us of our being so critical and judgmental of those churches that use instrumental music in their worship to God. Often such reasoning is based on what Jesus said in the passage that we are now discussing. But, is this really what Jesus was saying? One rule of biblical

This is a popular doctrine being advocated presently by some brethren who no longer accept scriptural baptism as being the consummating event when a believer is saved from past sins. They do not totally reject baptism but they do teach that while baptism is a command to be obeyed, it is not the ‘event’ at which time a person is saved. They teach that salvation from sin is a ‘process’ throughout life and one cannot say that salvation from past sins comes at a certain ‘event’ on this lifelong ‘journey.’ This false doctrine is clearly taught in the book “The Jesus Proposal,” co-authored by Rubel Shelly and John O. York. Brother Shelly writes that he was baptized when he was twelve years old. He speaks of this act as being “baptismal regeneration.” He then writes, “How much more confused and wrong-headed could a baptismal theology be? How much farther from the truth of Scripture could I have been when I was immersed in that cold water on a hot July night? When I get to heaven, maybe I’ll want to ask God when I was really saved. Was it when I got clear on the Holy Spirit at about twenty-one or two? Was it when I finally grasped the grace-nature of the gospel in my thirties? I suspect he will tell me there was no “moment at which” I was saved-but that he sought and found me through the entire process” (page 130). It is difficult for me to understand

There are times when an individual has to be steadfast, not giving ground but remaining unmovable in doctrine and in morality (1 Corinthians 15:58). The writer James (1:6-8) condemned the double minded man, unstable in all his ways and compared him to the surge of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. Jesus, in praising John the Baptist asked the question, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?” (Matthew 7:11). The apostle Paul encouraged spiritual maturity and that Christians should no longer be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:11-16). There is a great need for stability among saints in this present age. However, there are times when an individual needs to bend with certain winds of circumstances. If he doesn’t, he is liable to break. Some people are so set on being stern, no matter what, that they have become miserable in life. Confucius wrote, “The grass must bend when the wind blows across it.” We have to learn to be flexible concerning things that we cannot control or change. There are disappointments that we must accept in life. Most of us have planned a trip at one time or the other and something happened that prevented us from doing so. There is the example of an individual who seemingly was in perfect health but contracted a crippling disease that prevented him from participating in sports. Either he learns to bend or

Our nation paid tribute recently to a very popular former President of the United States of America who had passed from this life into eternity. There was much pomp and ceremony surrounding the various funeral services from our nation’s capital to the state of California. Several years ago, a well known singer and performer died suddenly and unexpectantly at the age of 42. Many responded with a “I can’t believe that he is dead.” He was in the prime of his life and it seemed that he had many years ahead of him to continue in his profession. Here were two well known individuals known to the world, yet separated by age and influence due to their varied relationships to mankind. But both experienced that which is common to all–death In this life, men are often separated from each other due to such factors as race, economics, social and educational status, but there is a common denominator that unites all men, and that is the grim reaper called death. The Holy Spirit reveals in Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (NKJV). Death is no respecter of persons. It matters not whether one is young or old, rich or poor, a king or a peasant, popular or unpopular; death eventually comes to every man and woman. Moses, in referring to the rebellious Israelites, stated, “if these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate

In Luke 23:39-43 we read of two men, along with Jesus Christ, being crucified. One man died in rebellion and in deep despair. The other individual received a promise from the Lord before he died. The difference between the two men was in the disposition of the heart. One was stubborn and steeped in sin. The other possessed a broken and contrite heart. One died without hope. The other died with a great expectation based on what the Lord said to him. However, the example of the penitent thief on the cross has been abused, misused and misunderstood by so many people. In hope of a better understanding of this situation, please study carefully the following observations: 1. One man was penitent. He had committed a crime against society worthy of death. However, he manifested a penitent attitude. Of course, God has required repentance in every age. The Psalmist declared, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and contrite heart– These, O God, You will not despise” (Psalms 51:17; Acts 17:31). 2. Jesus Christ had all power to forgive this penitent person of his transgressions. In response to undue criticism by the scribes, Jesus asked, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.” He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up

I often grow weary over the labels we place on one another in the church of Jesus Christ. I am not sure where I belong at times. Brethren refer to one another as belonging to either the “grace oriented” or the “work oriented” groups. Could I not belong to both at the same time? Do I have to be a part of only one group? After all, I truly desire to associate with all my brethren, if possible. I sincerely long for and pray for faithfulness and peace among my brethren. It seems that we are people of extremes. It is either one way or the other. It just could not be both at the same time. Where is the balance that is sorely needed in a time of doubt, disbelief and disunity? I have no problem in understanding that we are saved by the grace of God, for the Word of God clearly teaches such as is found in Ephesians 2:5. Yet, in verse 8 of the same chapter, we learn that we are saved by grace through faith. There is a sense in which I do not contribute anything to my salvation since it is a gift from God; nevertheless, if I do not manifest my faith by doing what God wants me to do, I will not benefit from the unmerited favor of the Lord in the matter of salvation from sin. No, the works of the law or the meritorious works of man’s devising cannot and

The responsibility of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and pleading with sinners to obey this call belongs to the church of our Lord (Mark 16:15; 1 Timothy 3:15). We are to be persistent in our efforts in leading others to Christ. The body of the Lord is to continue this great work that our Savior began while he lived on this earth (Luke 19:10). We should never grow weary in this tremendous challenge. However, there is also a need to recapture the saved that have become lost. That is indeed strange but it is a perpetual problem that plagues and perplexes the spiritually strong members of any congregation. Interested Christians spend a great deal of time and effort in bringing a lost soul to Christ and at the same time become disturbed when they witness the losing of the saved. In other words, we win a few and lose a few. If we could retain all those who have been baptized into Christ, our church buildings would be filled to capacity. Elders, deacons, preachers, teachers and all faithful Christians become frustrated with the loss of members and often ask, “Who is to blame?” While there may be the case in which many are to blame if the proper care has not be shown to the erring, the Lord himself dealt with this serious problem in the parable he gave regarding the sower who went forth to sow the seed, as recorded in Luke 8:4-15. The seed (Word) was not

The reason why the conversion of Simon is questioned is due to his actions following his baptism. Previously he had deceived the people of Samaria by his practice of sorcery. He was esteemed highly by his followers. They said: “This man is the great power of God” (v. 10). However, the people could distinguish between the genuine miracles of Philip and the so-called magic of Simon (vs. 6-7, 12). In fact, Simon was greatly impressed with the miracles done by Philip (v. 13). When the apostles Peter and John came from Jerusalem and prayed for the new disciples, laying their hands upon them in order for these Christians to receive the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, Simon sought to purchase this power “…that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit” (vs. 14-19). Of course, he sinned as is pointed out by the apostle Peter. Simon stood in a condemned condition (vs. 20-21). This action by Simon the Sorcerer is the basis of much disagreement as to his sincerity in responding to the preaching of Philip. The advocates of the Calvinistic doctrine of the perseverance of the saints (once saved always saved) insist that Simon was insincere at the time he was baptized. The reason being, a true Christian, they claim, would not and could not have committed such a sin. The religionists who propose a second blessing of grace would declare that a true convert to Christ is given power to live above sin. Thus,

A friend of mine made the statement that if one does something in religion and one’s conscience doesn’t offend him, that religious act is acceptable to God. No doubt this is the general belief among many people today. Most of us have seen the scene of an angel and a devil vying at the same time for the control of a person’s conscience and actions. It is agreed that the conscience is a guide in religious matters. Even in the realm of opinions a person must not act contrary to his/her conscience, otherwise it becomes a sin. This would be the understanding of what Paul wrote in Romans 14:23, “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” While the conscience is recognized as a guide, the question is, can it be trusted as the acceptable authority in religious matters? The “Conscience is the testimony and secret judgment of the soul, which gives its approbation to actions that it thinks good, or reproaches itself with those which it believes to be evil; or, it is a particular knowledge which shows us what is good, or evil; and conscience tells us when we have done the one or the other” (Cruden’s Complete Concordance). We should note carefully that the conscience does not make laws and regulations but rather it simply abides by what it has been taught, whether good or bad. The conscience simply informs a

Luke, the inspired historian, records the conversion of Saul in Acts chapter nine. In chapters 22 and 26, Paul reviews his conversion while making a defense of his character and work. When someone is asked when Saul was saved, they usually respond, “When he saw the Lord on the road to Damascus.” A famous country singer released a song during his life entitled, “I Saw the Light.” No doubt, many have claimed to have ‘seen the light’ while asserting that they were saved at that moment in time. But, was Saul really saved when he saw a light on the road to Damascus? You are urged to read again these three chapters in the book of Acts to learn the truth of the matter. Please study carefully the following observations: If Saul was saved on the road to Damascus, he did not know it because he asked, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:6). There is no denial that Saul, at this time, became a believer in Jesus Christ. But, was he saved? If so, what was the significance of the question, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” If Saul was saved when he saw the Lord on the Damascus road, the Lord himself did not know it because he told Saul to “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Certainly, this would have been the opportune time for the Lord to inform Saul of his salvation

Frequently we hear radio and TV evangelists encouraging people to “Join the church of your choice” and to “Attend the church of your choice.” Protestant preachers often make the statement that “One church is a good as another.” Certainly, as free moral agents, we have the right and freedom to affiliate ourselves with the religious organization of our choice. But, does God’s Word encourage a person in this matter, that is, to “Join the church of your choice”? In the book of Ephesians 4:4, Paul teaches that “There is one body…” That declaration is so clear that one should have no problem in understanding it. Regardless of what the body is, the fact is evident that there is “one body.” To further substantiate this great truth, please observe the writing of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:12, 20: “For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.” “But now they are many members, but one body.” Christ is the head of the body explains Paul in Colossians 1:18. There is but one head over the body. A plurality of heads would make for a freakish situation. We must understand there is not one head in heaven and another one on earth. The question arises, “What is the one body?” Please permit Paul to answer that question by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: “And he (Christ) is the head of the body, the church…” (Colossians 1:18). Again, “And he (God) put all

“Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned” (Hosea 7:8). Or, as the Geneva Bible has this verse, “Baked on one side and raw on the other, he is neither through hot nor through cold, but partly a Jew and partly a Gentile.” Ephraim (or Israel) was mixing with the uncircumcised and unclean Gentile nations and was the worse for such social intercourse. Hosea illustrated such a condition by depicting a scene wherein a person was cooking a circular pancake over the scorching heart of red-hot stones. The cake had to be quickly turned or else the cake would be burnt on one side while still moist and raw on the other side. The bread would be neither fully cooked nor raw. It would be unfit to eat in such a condition. Israel seemed to be plagued with the perpetual problem of a divided allegiance. Joshua exclaimed in the long ago, “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). In the days of King Ahab, Elijah the prophet asked the children of Israel on Mount Carmel, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if

It must have been a very emotional scene as the Marine Commandant visited the young men who lay wounded on their hospital beds following the terrible truck bombing of their barracks in Beirut on October 23, 1983. One young marine, who was critically wounded and could not talk because of the tubes in his throat, made a sign with his hands as the General visited him. It was soon understood that he wanted a pen and pad in order to write something. Upon receiving them, the marine wrote the words “Semper Fi,” short for “Semper Fidelis.” The message, “Always Faithful” is a motto of the Marine Corps. In the face of death, in pain and discomfort, here was a person loyal to the cause, faithful even unto death. Our hearts are filled with admiration for young men with such courage, fortitude and faithfulness. My mind was filled with exhortations from the Holy Scriptures regarding the faithfulness of Christians to the Captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:10). The encouragement in Revelation 2:10, “Be thou faithful unto death…” must be understood in the light of the context. Many of the saints in Smyrna were being imprisoned and not a few were being killed because of their love for and their loyalty to the Lord. Regardless of the severity of the persecutions, Christians were urged to be faithful to Christ even if it cost them their very lives. If they would not recant but die confessing Christ, the Lord promised them “the crown of life.”

I know personally of an unfortunate incident wherein some family members were mistakenly informed that a loved one had been found dead in her home. A daughter was nearly in shock by the time she reached the house and ran in crying, “Mother, mother” and she was truly surprised to see her mother walking into the room to meet her. Confused about the emotional upheaval of her daughter, the mother in turn came to an unwarranted conclusion that someone else in the family had died. Eventually, the whole matter was solved. There were tears of sadness and joy. Tears of sadness in that it could have been true that the mother had died and tears of joy that the mother was alive. I thought seriously concerning this bizarre incident and considered some important lessons that should be learned from this experience. 1. We must understand that life is very frail, brief and uncertain. Death can come so swiftly and when least expected (Hebrews 9:27; James 4:13-14). 2. While we live on this side of eternity, we should all prepare ourselves to meet the Lord in the judgment (Hebrews 3:7, 15; Romans 14:12). 3. When the ‘grim reaper’ comes to call on us, it will then be too late to prepare for eternity (Hebrews 9:27). 4. At death, our eternal destiny is forever determined (Luke 19:26). We will be judged individually according to our abilities and opportunities by the Word of God (2 Corinthians 5:10; John 12:48). 5. Sin will be not be overlooked

It was during the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign in Judah that the king became “sick and near death.” Isaiah, the prophet of God, instructed him to “Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live” (Isaiah 38:1, NKJV). King Hezekiah prayed to God to permit him to live. By the grace of God, he was granted an additional fifteen years to his life. The king was approximately forty years of age at the time of his illness and the pronouncement of his impending death. This must have been a tremendous shock to him. Death is common among infants and aged men expect to die; but a man in his prime and vigor of life is reluctant to face the reality of dying. There is a great truth and fact held in common by all men and that is, death is inevitable. The Preacher wrote in the long ago, “For the living know that they will die” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The inspired writer declared in Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” In view of this fact, man should set his house in order, that is, prepare for the final act that will remove him from among the living. But, what is it to set one’s house in order? It is stated that after his counsel had been rejected, Ahithophel went to his house, “Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died” (2 Samuel

One day while driving my automobile, I came near enough to the car in front of me to be able to read the sticker on the back bumper. It read, “Don’t follow me, I’m lost.” I was reminded of a personal experience of mine that occurred a few years ago. I was endeavoring to find a particular building located near a lake and I began following some people I thought were going to the same gathering of brethren where I was supposed to be making a speech, and that they would be able to lead me safely to my destination. I was wrong. After traveling some distance on a dirt road, we came to a dead end. The car in front of me stopped and the driver got out and came to my side of the car and started to ask if I knew where the building we both were looking for was located. I answered quickly that I did not know and that I had been following them, thinking that they knew the directions. Eventually, we all arrived at our desired destination. In religious matters, we must not assume that others know the way of salvation. This would include preachers, parents, loved ones and friends. There is the probability that a blind leader could cause you to be lost (Matthew 15:14). Just because a certain way seems right does not insure that it is a safe path to travel (Proverbs 14:12). The sad fact is that the majority of people

It was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his famous petition containing ninety theses to the door of the Catholic Church building in Whittenburg, Germany. This action is looked upon by many as the beginning of the great Protestant Reformation. Of course, there were other men like John Huss and John Wycliffe who helped to lay the foundation for the outstanding work of Martin Luther. Luther was a monk in the Catholic Church who desired to reform some of the corrupt practices of his religious affiliation. There is no real evidence to suggest that he ever desired to leave the Catholic Church. His primary objective was to point out doctrinal and moral corruptions and to reform such. Luther contended for the supremacy of the Word of God over the writings of mortal man. We owe this man and others of his day a great deal of gratitude for the contributions they made in pointing out the weaknesses of the apostate church and encouraging a greater respect for biblical authority. There was a contemporary of Luther by the name of Ulrich Zwingli from Zurich, Switzerland. He was the lesser in influence of the two men. Perhaps the personality, his location and the position of Luther contributed to this fact. There existed two differing attitudes in determining doctrinal matters in these two men. Luther possessed the attitude that all that was not expressly forbidden in the Holy Scriptures could be retained in the church. Zwingli held the view that all was

All Bible students are acquainted with the familiar story of God leading Israel out of Egyptian bondage using Moses, his servant, as their great leader. There is also the acceptance of how God divided the waters of the Red Sea, permitting Israel to cross on dry ground and reaching the other side safely. There was great rejoicing at that time. Songs were sung in praise to Jehovah for his deliverance. In contrast, God caused the waters to come together and drown and destroy the army of Pharaoh (Exodus 14 & 15).  I recall seeing the movie, “The Ten Commandments”, with my family many years ago and was amazed at the special effects as I watched the parting of the Red Sea. The real thing was, without doubt, more spectacular than the movie version. God made a seemingly impossible feat a reality. When God determines to do something, there is nothing too hard for Him to accomplish. However, when men have a part in his plans, matters can be more difficult than the miraculous that God can perform with his power. Did you ever consider that it was more difficult for God to get Egypt out of Israel than it was to get Israel out of Egypt? It was but a short time after the crossing of the Red Sea that the children of Israel began to murmur and complain, stating that matters were much better back in Egypt for them. At least they had the “flesh-pot” and plenty of bread

“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22, NKJV). One of the first truths that small children learn about God is that he is good. A prayer of thanksgiving offered by boys and girls is: “God is great, God is good; let us thank him for our food…” The Bible speaks often of the goodness of God. “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5). “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:5). “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 118:29). It was said of the seed of Abraham, God’s chosen people, in ages past: “Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart” (Psalm 73:1). Yes, God blessed Israel abundantly as long as the people were faithful to him. Likewise, God’s goodness and mercy have been manifested toward all men in the giving of Jesus to die for the sins of mankind (Romans 5:8; John 3:16,17). James declared in his epistle, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). In order to enjoy the blessings of a spiritual nature in Christ, man has to

While visiting with a fine Christian couple that lived in a community several miles from my home, they began a conversation about the problems existing in their son’s marriage. As I listened, it was easy to detect the deep sadness that filled the hearts of these parents. The father mentioned that he had been concerned for some time since he thought that his son and daughter-in-law had not been trying to improve their relationship. He said, “Love that is not cultivated will soon die.” I could not forget that statement from a Christian father who was a farmer by profession. This expression is filled with many pertinent points regarding the necessity of permitting love to mature. In oriental countries, the custom has been, in times past, for the parents to select their children’s future mates. It seems that the couple enters marriage with a nominal amount of love, but with the passing of the years, that affection is cultivated and matures. Whereas, so many of our young folk get married in the heat of passion and their love subsides in a few years. The divorce rate is proof that there is a wholesale failure of so many marriages in this country. There is a need to cultivate marital love. Webster defines the word cultivate as follows: “1. To prepare and use soil, land, etc., for growing crops; till. 2. To break up the surface soil around (plants) in order to destroy weeds, prevent crusting, and preserve moisture … to improve