Sparks Tribune Articles: 2005

What The Bible Says About: Your Last Worst Moment

            A couple of weeks ago a former governor of Connecticut pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing honest service, or some such. It appears he was/is being charged with misusing his office for personal gain. The Associated Press indicated that the governor told reporters, “Obviously mistakes have been made throughout the last few years, and I accept responsibility for those.” This acceptance of responsibility for wrong doing was followed by a plea of, “But I also ask the people of this state to appreciate and understand what we have tried to do over the past 25 years in public service” (Ibid.).

            It’s always interesting the way we word things when we get caught with our fingers in the cookie jar. We use phrases such as “mistakes” or “I accept responsibility for those,” after we get caught, and understand that it cannot be covered up. Webster’s, defines “mistake” as, “to blunder in the choice of,” “to misunderstand the meaning or intention of,” “to make a wrong judgment of the character or ability of,” “to identify wrongly: confuse with another.” This type of “mistake” is referred to in the scriptures as “unwittingly.” Simply, the individual did not know what they were doing, or the error involved in what they were doing. In reference to rulers, the law required, “When a ruler sinneth, and doeth unwittingly any one of all the things which Jehovah his God hath commanded not to be done, and is guilty; ²³if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, be made known to him, he shall bring for his oblation…” (Leviticus 4:22). In contrast to the commission of a sin “unwittingly,” God said, “But the soul that doeth aught with a high hand…, the same blasphemeth Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of Jehovah, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him” (Numbers 15:30-31). Law, as well as society, measures penalty, in some regard, based upon the transgressor’s knowledge during the commission of the act. And to “accept responsibility for” something, after all avenues of covering it up have failed, sounds noble but is, in most cases, an endeavor to present ourselves in a better light. It’s not my intention to make a judgment in regard to the guilt or innocence of the violator. My intention is to shine some light on the thought processes of man, in regard to sin. When an individual is incarcerated for crimes committed, they are not accepting responsibility: they are being forced to suffer the consequences of their actions: big difference! The ex-governor also asked “the people of the state to appreciate and understand what we have tried to do over the past 25 years in public service.” No one wants to be branded with being no good at all. Sure, we say, “I did this or that, but I’m not a bad person.” Even in one notorious crime of the year, and appeal was apparently made to a jury that was considering the death penalty, that the individual convicted of the crime was fun-loving, innocent, compassionate, and all sorts of descriptive terms that revealed his good characteristics. In addition, the media and the police department were accused of twisting and turning things to portray the defendant as a devil. The maxim, “there are no guilty people in prison” is true, as far as the guilty and their families are concerned. There are probably very few that escape the reality of trials, a family member being charged with a crime, even if it’s on some court TV show. The fact is, there’s not one of us that hasn’t violated the law in some fashion: whether we get caught or not. The fact is, we’re not real good people. We have our good sides and our bad. We want to be remembered for what we do well (as in the case of the ex-governor), and we do not want to be remembered by what we did badly. With both of these factors in mind, let’s see what the scriptures tell us about the reality of sin, and how God and man view it. In reference to the nation of Israel, God said, “When the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth therein; in his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die… Return ye, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherein ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord Jehovah: wherefore turn yourselves, and live.” (Ezekiel 18:26-32). Once an individual has been “caught,” any avenues to turn so as not to die are exhausted. God would have us to turn from our iniquities before they get to that point. In essence, penitence shall be rewarded. On the other hand, “when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.” (Ezekiel 18:24). Man is indeed remembered for his last bad decision, deed, action or sin. Out of all the good that king David did, from the slaying of Goliath of Gath, to God’s statement concerning him, “a man after my heart, who shall do all my will” (Acts 13:22), David is equally, if not more so, remembered for taking another man’s wife and ultimately having him put to death. The only way to avoid such is to “accept the responsibility” and turn from transgression. Otherwise, we stand in danger of “enduring the consequences” resulting from the sin.

What The Bible Says About: A Godly Home

            “If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?” (Psalms 11:3). Foundations consist of those things that give support. Houses are placed upon foundations to give them strength and stability. Relationships must have a good foundation in order to meet hard times. It matters not what the topic is: if the matter under discussion is worthy, it must be built upon something solid for it to last. When thinking about our society, our homes, our government, what can the righteous do if the foundations are destroyed? When you move into a new home, you assume the foundation is secure. You begin with a preconceived idea that the foundation that supports the house will always remain the same, and take little thought to the fact that shifts in the earth can change the stability of the foundation. What would you do, if the foundations be destroyed? Now, let’s apply that question to the home.

            When God created man, He said, “It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him a help meet for him…And Jehovah God…made he a woman, and brought her unto the man…Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:18, 22, 24). Marriage was God’s answer to the question of man’s loneliness. The marriage relationship was second only to man’s relationship to God, and the home was the first institution God established between mankind. This relationship was included in the statement, “And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

            The perfection God saw with the husband/wife relationship was tainted by the work of Satan. When Eve yielded to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, and subsequently Adam did also, the devastation of sin began to affect every relationship of man. Every sin of man is a result of selfishness: Eve “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise” (Genesis 3:6). It was because of what Eve wanted that ultimately resulted in all the heartache, death, and spiritual separation that exist in the world today. In regard to the marriage relationship, the scriptures reveal a potential for problems: Paul warned husbands to “love you wives, and be not bitter against them” (Colossians 3:19). This indicates a potential for bitterness: a tendency to treat the wife in an inappropriate manner. Peter warned husbands to “dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). When these factors are not adhered to, then problems arise in the marriage. The reasons marriages fail cannot be limited to one factor: there are usually an array of reasons. A lack of communication; incompatibility in social and religious convictions; wrong expectations; a lack of commitment or a conflict in spiritual goals and values. When all of these factors are taken into consideration, selfishness will raise its ugly head and destroy what could have otherwise been “very good.”

            What can we do to achieve a godly home? Respect and fulfill our God-given role in the marriage relationship: “Wives be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord…in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it.” (Ephesians 5:22, 24-25). When confronted with problems and difficulties, utilize God’s word to know which way to turn: “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

            God created the man and the woman. He knows what we need and has given us laws to govern our lives. When we stay within the boundaries prescribed, apply the scriptures in a proper manner, and build upon God’s foundation, then we will have a home that is a haven of rest and peace.

What would you do if the biblical foundation of a God-authorized marriage was destroyed? What would you do if the godly foundation was destroyed and what remained were unions spawned by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life? “If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?”

What The Bible Says About: Influence

            What type of influence are you having on society? Influence is defined as: “the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command…the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways” (Webster’s). Statements such as “he/she is a good influence” or “he/she is a bad influence” or others, indicated the ability of one person to influence the attitude or conduct of someone else, even without direct contact. Adults and children alike are influenced by the media, whether it be in written or visual format.

            The term “influence” is not utilized in the scriptures. It is, however, a well established principle. Of Solomon, king of Israel, God said, “I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee” (1 Kings 3:12). Even though Solomon was the possessor of such great wisdom, “his wives turned away his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:4). The power of influence is very strong.

            Influence is seen in two avenues: The outside influence that others have upon us, and the influence we have on others. In either capacity, we can readily see that no man is an island; what we do has an effect upon the outcome of our lives: our influence is either for good, or for evil. You’ve heard the rationale of “as long as it doesn’t affect others, we should be able to do what we please.” The error in that premise is that there is nothing we do that does not affect others; either by “apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command, or the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways” (Ibid.).

            Influence is not inherently good or evil. But influence that does not lend itself to the physical and spiritual good of mankind is destructive. Evil influence can destroy individuals, homes, and nations. The apostle Paul wrote, “Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). When Solomon was instructing his son, he said, “My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not. If they say, Come with us (companionship, ret), Let us lay wait for blood…walk not thou in the way of them; Refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood” (Proverbs 1:10-11, 15-16). Individuals want, so very much, to be accepted by their peers. They know certain conduct is wrong, illegal, or immoral. Yet, they do not want to be rejected by their friends, thus, they are influenced to do evil. An individual would be hard pressed to find one person that has not been influenced by others to do something they did not later regret.

            The other influence exerted in life is that which we have on others. That’s one influence we have control over. When Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40). When man is motivated by the principle to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Ibid.), there will be a conscious effort to be aware of actions. The apostle Paul told Timothy, “be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Should not that be the desire of all men? Think about the influence we have upon the people close to us: Husbands and wives influence each other every day. Parents influence their children to either good or evil. It has been said that actions speak louder than words. It’s not what parents tell their children, as much as it is what the children see in their parents. Have you ever met a parent that wanted their child to reach maturity, only to be incarcerated for violating the law? Yet, parents will often show a disregard for authority in their own lives, and the children learn the lesson well. Parents that say, “you shouldn’t do that,” yet, they do the very thing they tell their children not to do. By what influence do you think the children will be affected, the verbal admonition, or the physical action of the parents?

            Regardless of a separatist attitude that we may support, the fact is, we are all in this together. We will either be a good influence on those around us, or we will allow those around us to corrupt the good morals we desire to achieve. It’s true that there are wicked people in the world, determined to do their very best to destroy others; but as a rule, most people do not consciously set out to destroy, they are just unaware of the influence they exert.

            Mankind can be an influence for righteousness, when following righteousness. And in that vein, the only righteousness that will accomplish good is the righteousness of God: God’s standard of good (Romans 10:2-3). What type of influence are you having on your family, friends and nation?

What The Bible Says About: The Causes Of Falling Away

            Numerous scriptures indicate that the child of God can fall from grace and be eternally separated from God: Jesus indicated such in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23), and the parable of the talents, (Matthew 25:14-30). The apostle Paul warned the Christians of Galatia of the danger, (Galatians 5:1-4), and Peter warned brethren, when he said, “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:20-22). Such being the case, what conditions arise in the Christian’s life that leads to drifting and falling away?

            Materialism: The Lord said, “Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:15-21). Materialism is a result of a worldly attitude. We can often get so wrapped up in day-to-day living that we are willing to sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the immediate. The lusts of the flesh want to be satisfied and we acquiesce. When that happens, the material things become more important, and we drift away from God.

            Evil Companionship: The apostle Paul was plain when he said that avoiding the fornicators, covetous and extortioners of this world would require going “out of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10) to do so. Therefore, the godly must be aware of the environment they are in. Paul said, “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Paul wrote this warning to Christians. Dealing with, and being in the world, is a necessary part of life, but becoming companions with them is a totally different matter. Paul warned, “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

            Marital problems: The husband/wife relationship is the first physical institution established by God. Throughout the scriptures there is mention of problems that existed between men and women as they endeavored to serve God and fulfill their various duties. When Job was being tried, his wife counseled him, “Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? Renounce God, and die.” To this, Job responded, “Thou speaketh as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:9-10). God warned husbands that their conduct toward their wives will affect their condition in the sight of God. Peter said, “Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of Life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). When a husband and wife do not share a unity in religious matters, difficulties arise. Many a young man and woman have thought to change their spouse’s mind in regard to religious beliefs. In some cases it actually works, but not in most. Concerning the nations of Canaan, Jehovah told Israel, “Ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods” (1 Kings 11:2). The danger was so great, it is said, “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him… nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin” (Nehemiah 13:26). This should be a solemn warning that marital problems can result in falling from grace.

            Numerous reasons can be attributed to the falling away of many. The responsibility of the godly is to be aware of the avenues Satan will utilize to draw them back to perdition (Hebrews 10:39), and resist it.

What The Bible Says About: Spiritual Stability

            The freedoms we enjoy in the nation are great. We’re allowed to come and go as we please, worship whom, what, why, when and where as we please without the fear of the government. Freedom as we understand it isn’t free. Lives were sacrificed in order to defeat the oppressors who would put others in bondage. Freedom also involves the accepting of responsibility: individuals talk about their right to do this or that, but seldom vocalize their responsibility to society. The freedoms we possess secularly and religiously are often abused to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life.

            In the secular realm we often mistake freedom for the ability to do as we please: speaking evil of our government officials, or violating the boundaries defined by law as if it’s no big deal. This concept is often seen in the religious world as well. There is a misconception in the religious world that a child of God cannot sin in such a way as to lose their salvation. The idea that an individual who is saved cannot “fall from grace” is all too prevalent.

            Though there are numerous religious organizations, there are but two concepts that separate them all: doctrine and practice (what we believe and what we do). The doctrine of “once saved, always saved” stands in direct contradiction to the inspired word of God. The apostle Paul issued a warning to Christians, when he said, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12), as well as, “Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace” (Galatians 5:4). There are numerous scriptures that deal with the danger facing the child of God, to give credibility to a concept of “once saved, always saved.”

            Christianity requires that the child of God maintains a condition of spiritual stability. Spiritual stability can only be maintained as it relates to the inspired word of God. The fleshly minded man says, “I don’t see anything wrong with it;” “It seems good to me;” or “It doesn’t say I can’t.” Mankind comes up with all sorts of reasons for doing as we please. Paul instructed the young evangelist, Timothy, and said, “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This passage not only affirms that the scriptures contain God’s plan for man, but also that the scriptures contain “every good work” that God intends for man to do. When doctrines are established, or works are introduced that God did not authorize, the child of God falls from grace. The history of the children of Israel speaks volumes in this area. When the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, “took each of them his censer, and put fire therein and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah” (Leviticus 10:1-2). What Nadab and Abihu did was introduce something into the worship that God had not authorized. There was no discussion of the matter, there were no excuses that would have sufficed: the fact is, when they “offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them” they failed to sanctify God before the people. As a result of this event, Moses said to Aaron, “This is it that Jehovah spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified” (Leviticus 10:3). When the children of God fail to adhere to the scriptures, and introduce works that God has not commanded they fail to sanctify, they fail to glorify God. When they do so there is a death, a separation that takes place, they “fall from grace” as assuredly as Nadab and Abihu. Jehovah told Israel, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Jehovah your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2). Jehovah also told Israel, “What thing soever I command you, that shall ye observe to do: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (Deuteronomy 12:32). The same God that warned Israel not to diminish, nor add to what had been delivered, also said, “I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book”(Revelation 22:18-19). When John wrote this letter, he was writing it to Christians. These Christians were warned that “God shall take away his part from the tree of life.” It’s obvious that you can’t take from someone what they never possessed: The child of God can sin, so as to be lost. The danger is not imaginary: maintaining spiritual stability is a duty to which every child of God must attain.

What The Bible Says About: Spiritual Growth

A well baby check up is a common practice in our society. Parents like to know that their new arrival is in top shape and growing according to schedule. Parents recognize the need to keep up with their child’s progress in life: mentally, physically, socially and spiritually. This physical truth is also a spiritual one. The scriptures tell us that spiritual growth is to be taken seriously. The apostle Peter addressed this issue in a number of scriptures. He said, “as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation” (1 Peter 2:2); as well as, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Just as growth is essential in life, so is spiritual growth.

            As physical requirements are essential to physical growth, we understand that certain requirements are essential to spiritual growth. These requirements involve basic principles. Before life, a birth must of necessity take place, this is axiomatic. When Jesus spoke with Nicodemus, he said, “Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Once this new birth has taken place the child of God must keep itself from sin. Satan’s tools consist of “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life” (1 John 2:16). The flesh seeks to be gratified, the eyes see and covet, and the desire to be someone special has resulted in the fall of many. In order to keep ourselves pure we must develop an attitude of self denial: proper spiritual priorities must be established. Jesus said, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?” (Matthew 16:24-26). The apostle Paul said, “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12). Denying oneself will keep the child of God free from sin. Just as disease will destroy the physical body, so also will sin destroy the spiritual: James said, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death” (James 1:12-15). Another facet of spiritual growth involves a balanced diet, of spiritual food. Jesus said, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:6): the spiritual man needs spiritual food. But food alone is insufficient to the obtaining of proper growth: man also needs exercise. The Hebrew writer said, “But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). Another prerequisite of growth is a healthy environment. Paul warned Christians that “Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). If the child of God does not endeavor to control their environment, they are in danger of corruption. All of these factors are necessary to the achieving of spiritual growth. All of which, takes time. The Hebrew writer rebuked his reader, when he said, “For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you” (Hebrews 5:12). Physical and spiritual growth requires diligence.

            How does an individual know if they are spiritually healthy? What type of questions do we need to ask ourselves to determine our spiritual health? Here are just a few: “Belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17), Have you grown in the knowledge of God’s word? “That we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14), Do you behave as an adult, or as a child? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23), Are you producing godly fruit?

            Spiritual growth will not happen by accident, nor is it something that happens overnight. Spiritual growth requires diligence and perseverance, and it requires action. How’s your health maintenance check?

What The Bible Says About: After Death, What Then?

            The living are curious about what happens after death. Each of us have had loved ones who have died, and know that we, too, will soon follow. Many speculate concerning what happens after death, but such speculation is vain since there is no physical evidence to support speculations. Such being the case, man’s only means of understanding is contained in the divinely revealed message of the scriptures.

            The term death denotes a separation. Physical death is a separation of the body and the spirit (James 2:26). Spiritual death is a separation of fellowship between man and God. When God commanded Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He said, “for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17). The day Adam and Eve transgressed the law of God, they died. There was a separation that took place, and “Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden” (Genesis 3:23).

            The scriptures describe four possible conditions that exist after the death of the physical body. Two of these conditions deal with what immediately awaits an individual, after death, and the other two deal with post-judgment (we will direct our attention first to the condition of the spirit immediately following death). When Jesus dealt with the issue he spoke of two men: Lazarus and the rich man. Jesus said, “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:22-23). The term Hades is described as “"the region of departed spirits of the lost" (but including the blessed dead in periods preceding the ascension of Christ)” (W.E. Vines Expository Dict.), or “that which is out of sight, a Greek word used to denote the state or place of the dead” (Easton’s Bible Dict.). So, simply put, Hades is the abode of disembodied spirits awaiting the resurrection of the dead. Two conditions exist in the Hadean realm: Paradise, or Abraham’s bosom, and Tartarus, or Torments. Of these two conditions, Abraham told the rich man, “between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us” (Luke 16:26). Of this realm, Jesus revealed that all those who abide therein will be brought before God, in judgment: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).

            The “lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8), corresponds to a third condition, that occurs to some after death. This condition is described by the Greek term Gehenna. The word itself comes from a Hebrew term denoting the “Valley of Hinnom.” The Valley of Hinnom was a place of worship to the pagan god Moloch. King Josiah had destroyed the worship, broken down the altars, and placed the remains of the dead upon them. As a result Gehenna became a dumping ground, a place that received the refuse of Jerusalem. In order to dispose of the refuse, fire burned continual: sulphur was also used to further accomplish the disposal of the refuse. Jesus described this condition, saying “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:43-48). The final condition is referred to by the apostle Peter, when he said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). This is the place of “the abode of God and of the hosts of angels” (International Standard Bible Ency.). This is the abode awaiting those who “wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Are you ready for that day?

What The Bible Says About: The Plan of Salvation

            “Plan of Salvation?”! God had a plan to save mankind from the consequences of sin? Yes, He did. The religious world is as much divided on God’s plan of salvation as it is on any religious question. Such being the case, it would behoove anyone to make inquiry into the word of God relative to this important subject.

            It is the writer’s belief that religious division is the result of man’s tampering with the divine. Believing that the Bible, a collection of books containing the writings of the prophets, is the inerrant word of God, it follows that what it reveals is true. And, what the Bible reveals is that “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible affirms that it is “the” source in furnishing “completely” the man of God. Therefore, in determining God’s plan to save man, it must have a scriptural basis in order to be “good.” So, what does the Bible have to say about God’s plan of salvation?

            A general principle in life is to investigate the success of any given action, based upon the success “stories” of those involved. The same principle can be utilized in determining God’s plan to save mankind. In order to find out what that plan consisted of, we simply need only to look at how individuals in the beginning of the gospel were added to the kingdom of God. One such success story involved the Romans. The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans and related to them how the “gospel” of Christ is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16-17), indicating that it was and is through the gospel message that the lost can be reconciled to the Father through the sacrifice of Christ. What this gospel message contained is revealed in the Roman letter. The Roman letter tells us five basic principles of the gospel: 1) That faith, (believing that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him, Hebrews 11:1,6) comes from the hearing of the word of God, (Romans 10:17). Thus, no one can come to God without the hearing of the gospel message. 2) That those who hear the message must believe what they hear. The scriptures say, “if thou shalt…believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). Jesus also affirmed the necessity of belief, when he said, “for except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). One of the basic necessities of salvation is the ability to hear a message and believe it. 3) Those who believe the message must respond to it. It is possible for someone to hear the message, believe it, and yet not respond appropriately to it, i.e., “Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (John 12:42). A belief in anything that is lacking an appropriate response is vain. This is not only self-evident, but was also stated by the apostle Paul, when he said, “because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord…thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). 4) Salvation also requires repentance. Repentance is a turning away from one thing, and turning to another. Paul stated the importance of repentance, when he said, “knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” (Romans 2:4). The repentance of the Romans was expressed by the apostle Paul, when he said, “But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18). 5) Paul also identified that all of the Romans (who had fulfilled the first four requirements) “were baptized into Christ Jesus”; they were “baptized into his death” (Romans 6:3). Paul further says, those who “become united with him in the likeness of his death…shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:5). Paul affirmed that when an individual is baptized into Christ they “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). This “putting on” Christ makes them “sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:26). Every conversion in the book of Acts involved these necessary elements. In each case you will find these elements either alluded to or specifically mentioned (in every case you will find the statement or necessary inference that baptism came before salvation was granted).

            Following man’s revised plan of (God’s) salvation will not provide what God has promised, because man’s revised plan is different from what those in the first century did to receive the blessings and promises of God. Today, man will say, “receive Jesus as your personal saviour and say the sinner’s prayer, and you will be saved.” One of the problems with man’s plan is that you will not find that plan expressed anywhere in the Bible: there is no “sinner’s prayer” in all of the scriptures.

            Where will you place your faith? Is your faith in God’s plan, or in man’s distortion of God’s plan. Paul said, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema” (Galatians 1:8).

What The Bible Says About: The Church

                        What’s the first thing you think of when some one says something about religion and “the church”? To some, it’s “organized religion.” I don’t know how many people have said to me, “I believe in God, I just don’t believe in organized religion.” The fact of the matter is, God organized religion. So, a person who believes in God, but doesn’t believe in organized religion, doesn’t believe God. There’s a difference in believing in God and believing what God says. The remainder of this article will attempt to open the scriptures that we can know what God says about the organization (organism) called “the church.” When the apostle Paul revealed that “God hath set some in the church” (1 Corinthians 12:28), it can only be concluded that the church has to be organized for God to “set some” in it. So, what do the scriptures have to say?

            The term church refers to a “called out body” (from the Greek EKKLESIA). The church is not a building where people meet: it consists of people that may meet in a building, or anywhere else for that matter, because of the relationship they sustain to one another through Christ. The church consists of people whom the Father has delivered “out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love” (Colossians 1:13).

            There are all types of names utilized to describe the various churches in our society, generic and specific. The church in the New Testament was referred to as “church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2), “the church” in some specific city (Revelation 2:1), or the “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16). All of these terms are descriptive of ownership, i.e., the church that belongs to Christ. In addition, the church was also known as Christ’s body (Ephesians 1:22-23).

            The church is also a part of the eternal purpose of God. Some teach that the church was an afterthought because the Jews rejected Christ. The scriptures tell us, however, that “to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:10-11). When God created the heavens and the earth, He did so with such great planning that everything operates with mathematical precision. The same God created the plan of salvation “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). Everything God created He did for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). God did not leave the church in such a condition that it required man to improve on God’s workmanship.

            There’s a great deal of talk about being nondenominational. Individuals claim that the church of which they are a part is nondenominational. However, “denomination” is defined as “a religious organization uniting local congregations in a single legal and administrative body” (Webster’s). If a local church is united to a “single legal and administrative body” with other local congregations, then it is a denomination. The New Testament churches were independent, self-governing units. Thus, they had what may be called “local autonomy.” Each church was to consist of “saints…bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1).

            Many attempt to undermine the need and purpose for the church. The scriptures, however, reveal that the church is essential: There is no salvation outside of Christ (Acts 4:10-12), and the church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 5:23). Redemption and forgiveness of sin is only found in the kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13-14), and the term church is used synonymously with the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:18-19). In addition, all spiritual blessings found “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3), and only those who are in his church, the kingdom, will be delivered up “to God, even the Father” (1 Corinthians 15:24).

            God did not leave the church unorganized. Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Would man be so bold as to accuse God of failing to provide the necessary organization for that which He built? The apostle Paul told Timothy, “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

            Since God has equipped the man of God, so that he may “know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), would it not behoove a worshipper of God to make sure the church of which he/she is a part is worshipping God “in spirit, and truth” (John 4:24)?

What The Bible Says About: Jesus Christ

            What do you believe concerning Jesus Christ? Who was he? From where did he come? What are our obligations to him? All of these questions must be answered before we can truly say we have faith in anything he promised or has done on our behalf.

            As we look about us, we cannot ignore the various religions that exit. Some follow different men entirely: Abraham, Moses, Mohammad, or Buddah. Others follow after other’s who profess to follow Jesus, but have their own revelations: Ellen G. White, Mary Baker Eddy, Joseph Smith, or Charles Russell. So, like it or not, we are brought to the reality that the investigating of claims, religiously, is a necessary part of our service to God. Jesus said, “Take heed that no man lead you astray. For many shall come in my name saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray” (Matthew 24:4-5). This concept was also stated by the apostle Peter, when he said, “But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1). As a result of these admonitions, we can well understand the admonition of the apostle John, when he said, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

            Believing that God is, and is the Creator of all things; believing that the Bible is the word of God, and believing that Satan, through his devises has caused mankind to sin, it is imperative that we understand who Jesus of Nazareth is, and what he has provided.

            Three primary positions are taken concerning Jesus: 1) He was and is the Son of God. 2) He was a good man, a prophet, possessing human but no divine qualities. 3) He was an imposter, a man intent on deceiving the hearts of the thousands. There have been many books written that contain the speculations of man concerning Jesus. What we want to do is direct our attention to what the Bible has to say about Jesus of Nazareth.

            Two passages identify Jesus as the “Son of God” (Matthew 2:13-17; Matthew 17:1-8). This proposition was also affirmed by the apostle John, when he said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3, 14). The Bible thus affirms that Jesus of Nazareth existed before all things were made, and that all things that were made, were made through him. The Bible also affirms that “no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven” (John 3:13). These passages affirm that Jesus sustains a special relationship to the Father that none other sustains. In addition to the witness of God, concerning who Jesus was: the miracles of Jesus also sustain this truth: “Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:1-2). The miracles of Jesus were magnificent, instantaneous, and visible to those who witnessed them. Jesus calmed the sea (Matthew 8:23-27); healed the sick (Matthew 4:23-24), and even raised the dead (John 11:38-44). In opposition, modern day “healers” heal illnesses that cannot be seen. Or, as one individual gave evidence to his ability to heal, he said he went to visit a friend that had a heart attack. The doctors had done all they could, he prayed over his friend, and in thirty days his friend walked out of the hospital. The miracles Jesus performed had no convalescing period: “And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and ministered unto him” (Matthew 8:14-15). Countless examples can be given that substantiate that Jesus was/is the Son of God. But, the crowning event was when Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). This should cause us to direct our attention to him as the source of eternal life. When an individual rejects Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, they do so in spite of the evidence, not due to a lack of it. What will you do with Jesus?

What The Bible Says About: Satan and Sin

            If you believe in God, and you believe the Bible is the word of God, then what the Bible says about Satan and sin will help prepare you to deal with sin. The Bible that reveals God, and tells us about Satan and his attempts to wage war against the people of God, is the only means through which Jehovah has chosen to reveal what sin is, and how to overcome it. As we consider the subjects of Satan and Sin, let us keep our conclusions within the bounds of God’s revelation, and not any previous conceived ideas we may have been taught or developed on our own.

            The scriptures describe Satan in numerous ways: Satan is referred to as Belial, i.e., worthlessness or hopelessness. When Jesus was tempted (Matthew 4:3), Satan was referred to as the devil, i.e., an accuser, slanderer: the enemy of God and man. Most people presume Satan is a fallen angel, however, God does not reveal the exact nature of his origin, but does warn us of his characteristics and desire to destroy the works of God. Having such information will help us understand our struggles and teach us how to overcome them.

            When dealing with the subject of Satan and Sin it is imperative that we understand what sin is and how Satan uses it to tempt us. Sin is “literally, a missing of the mark” (W.E. Vines). Missing the mark can been seen in a symbol of an archer. When the arrow strikes on either side of the bull’s eye, it’s a missing of the mark. As opposed to society’s attempt to make the mark (bulls eye) bigger, God is the one that establishes the mark and determines if we hit or miss. Sin can be the result of “omission or commission, in thought and feeling, or in speech and action” (Thayer’s). We either don’t do what we’re supposed to do, or do what we shouldn’t. The Bible defines sin as: a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4); all unrighteousness (1 John 5:17); failing to do good (James 4:17); conceived lust (James 1:15) and that which violates the conscience (Romans 14:23). Satan uses his devices to tempt man through three avenues (1 John 2:15-16): The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. When Satan tempted Eve, she saw the fruit was good for food, it was pleasant to the eyes, and it was desired to make one wise. When Satan tempted Jesus he also appealed to the lust of the flesh, “command that these stones become bread,” the pride of life, “If thou art the Son of God,” and the lust of the eyes, “All these things will I give thee” (Matthew 4:1-9). These same ploys are utilized today to get men and women to turn away from God, and serve Satan.

            The characteristics of Satan are exposed in God’s word. The scriptures tell us that Satan can quote scripture, appeals to human wisdom, takes advantage of man’s weaknesses, desires the souls of man, and does anything in his power to draw people away from God to worship and serve him.

            The consequences of sin are physically devastating. When we look to the scriptures we see how sin resulted in the death of the son of David and Bathsheba. The sin of Herod, when he took his brother Philips wife, resulted in the murder of John the Baptist, and ultimately the sin of Judas Iscariot, after he had betrayed Jesus, resulted in him committing suicide. As devastating as sin is physically, the far more significant devastation is spiritual. Sin separates man from his Creator. The scriptures tell us, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Death is a separation. Physically: “the body apart from the spirit is dead” (James 2:26). Spiritually, “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).

            God is concerned about His creation. So concerned, that his Son “became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), and suffered death on our behalf that we might be reconciled to God through him (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). God also tells us that “in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Satan would have us believe that any religion is fine, or that good moral living will suffice. God however requires two things: that we know him, and obey him. Paul referred to “the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

            The next time you think about sin, remember that it was sin that caused the death of Jesus: our sins. It is sin that causes broken homes, crime, and war. And remember that Satan is the father of it all. Whom do you want to call Father?

What The Bible Says About: The Bible

            As rational beings, mankind has the ability to collect information, and then arrive at a conclusion concerning the subject under consideration. There are times when we take the time to collect all the facts so our decisions will have the smallest error margin as possible. Other times, snap decisions are made because the matter under discussion seems to be of little importance. In reference to man’s spiritual well-being, even a small margin of error can be devastating. When we look at the world about us, it is evident from the things that are made that there was an intelligent designer responsible for the universe and its continued operation. The question is, did this intelligent designer ever communicate with its creation? The subject of this article will deal with the book commonly known as the Bible, consider its claims, can it be understood, and what evidence is there that it is what it claims to be.

            Four prominent positions are held concerning the Bible: 1) The Bible is no more than a compilation of writings by various men, and should only be viewed as a work of literature. 2) The Bible contains some good philosophical concepts and people may choose to live by the values espoused, depending upon the needs of their lifestyle. 3) The Bible is essentially the word of God, but God gives each person the right to interpret it according to his/her own views and circumstances. Therefore, it doesn’t say the same thing to each person. 4) The Bible is the inerrant word, originally inspired of God and must be properly studied, understood, and applied. This article will investigate the evidence in support of the number four proposition.

            The claim is that the scriptures are “God breathed” or “inspired” and consequently did not originate with their human authors (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The term “revelation” is defined as “to disclose, divulge, make known” (Oxford English Dictionary). Revelation is defined as “a laying bare, making naked; in the New Testament, a disclosure of truth, instruction concerning divine things before unknown, especially those relating to the Christian salvation…” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). The process of revelation, then, is making known something that was previously unknown. The Bible is a revelation from the Creator to the created, and bridges the gap between human and divine wisdom. It is evident that man cannot know the nature and will of God by viewing the things of nature, though the things of nature speak loudly concerning the existence of God. But for man to know God, his will, his character, and his plan for man, it was necessary that God communicate with man in some fashion: the Bible is a written revelation of that communication. Many feel they know God by intuition. They feel that they have some inner light that instructs, and guides them through life. The Bible, however, says, “O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23), and “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). These two passages express a well-known fact that man cannot know God by his own wisdom. If he could, the world wouldn’t be filled with so much religious confusion. Man needs a standard that will identify and answer the spiritual needs after which all societies seek. The Bible claims to be that answer. But what evidence is there that the Bible is what it claims to be?

            Three facts concerning the Bible are sufficient to support the claims of the Bible: 1) Its Unity: The Bible contains sixty-six books written by some forty men over a period of 1600 years. These men came from different backgrounds, different languages, lived in different places and had different levels of education; yet, their writings are harmonious, which speaks of a singular source. 2) The prophecies contained in the Bible: A prophecy, by its very nature, is the revealing of predictions not based on available facts. The very nature of prophecy requires a divine source. The prophecies of the Old Testament, completed about 400 years before Christ, are fulfilled in the most specific detail, concerning Christ, and recorded in the New Testament. 3) Archaeological proof is further evidence to the inspiration of the Bible. The discoveries of science continue to substantiate the truths of the Bible. In our not too distant past it was believed that all flesh was the same. With the invention of the electron microscope in 1931, science confirmed that there are four different types of flesh: fish, bird, beast and man. What science proved in 1931 had been previously revealed some 1900 years prior by the apostle Paul, when he said, “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes” (1 Corinthians 15:39). Further evidence that a divine mind was responsible for the words delivered.

            The Bible has withstood the assaults of the skeptic for thousands of years. It is a revelation from God to man that reveals the purpose and plan of God for us, as His creation. Would it not behoove us to listen?

What The Bible Says About: The Existence of God

            One of the most discussed questions of each generation relates to the existence of God. If man denies the existence of God, the difficulties, and consequences are great. If  man’s existence is a result of some unexplained and supposed explosion of dead matter, the “Big Bang” theory, then man is no more than an animal. If no more than an animal, then no man, nor group of men have the right to impose laws to control the moral conduct of others. In the animal world, it is not a sin (transgression of the law) for a monkey to steal or a lion to kill their own kind. If man is a product of a Creator who that established laws to govern man, then man is accountable for his actions.

            In this article, we want to consider the evidence of God’s existence. The Bible does not argue the existence of God: it simply states that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The Bible does tell us, however, that “the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse” (Romans 1:20). To an atheist, one who denies the existence of God and seeks to prove that God does not exist, or an agnostic who will simply admit “I do not know if God exists,” the Bible is not regarded as suitable evidence to support God’s existence. So,  we will look at external evidence, evidence outside of the Bible: evidence in the visible universe that declares God’s existence.

            The fact that the universe exists is self-evident and needs no proof. But we understand that nothing plus nothing equals nothing, i.e., something cannot come from nothing: therefore something has always existed. Even the atheist does not deny this fact. So the question is, “Since something has always existed, what was that something, or someone?” Was it fragments from some dead matter that by some spontaneous generation and evolutionary process resulted in the development of plants, birds, fish, beasts and man? Or is the origin of life the result of an intelligent being? It is readily admitted that nothing comes from nothing. It should also be clearly seen that intelligence does not come from non-intelligence. When we consider the universe it is readily seen that a tree is not greater than the craftsman that shapes it in to a piece of furniture. Yet, that’s what the evolutionist would have us believe. If dead matter produced man, who has intelligence, then it produced something greater than itself. If you were admiring a watch, and asked, “Where did it come from?”, how would you respond if you were told, “There was an explosion in a hardware store and when the dust settled, there was the watch?” That’s what the atheist would have us believe. Nowhere in the universe does dead matter create or evolve into intelligent life. Nowhere in the universe does dead matter become anything else, unless it is acted upon by intelligence. Our minds may find it difficult to comprehend the complexity of the universe, but no one can rationally fail to see design and order in the universe. The mathematical precision of the heavenly bodies, the rising and setting of the sun and the moon are so precise that scientists can foretell an eclipse of the sun years in advance. How can an individual look at the human body and not see design and purpose? The human eye is an optical instrument far more intricate and functional than the finest telescope. Now, who is willing to say that a telescope is the product of design and planning, but say that the eye is a product of chance?  The atheist would have us believe that all scientists believe in evolution. The fact is, evolution is an unproven theory.

            It interests me why creation cannot be taught along side evolution in schools. What are the atheists afraid of? It doesn’t matter if you’re an atheist or a creationist, what you believe is a matter of faith (we were not there when things began). The atheist would have you believe there is a missing link that would bring the theory together. The fact is, there’s a chain missing, not just a link. Dr. Austin Clark, biologist of the Smithsonian Institution has been quoted as saying, “Man is not an ape and in spite of the similarity between them, there is not the slightest evidence that man is descended from an ape…there are no such things as missing links. Missing links are misinterpretations” (What Shall I Believe, Brent Willey).

            External evidence, evidence outside of the Bible declares the existence and handiwork of an intelligent being. What it doesn’t tell us is what to call this intelligent being, its laws, or its characteristics. In our next article we plan to investigate some questions concerning the Bible and how it should be viewed.

What The Bible Says About: Spiritual Growth

            Here’s the scenario: You bring a child into the world; you nurture, nourish and love the child with all of your heart. Yet, the child fails to grow in an acceptable manner. What do you do? The natural response is to seek medical assistance. You call the doctor, make the appointment, arrive on time, have the examination, follow through with the necessary tests, and then, from the result obtained, the doctor prescribes certain actions necessary to put the child on a path of recovery. The same is true with spiritual growth. There must be an examination to determine what actions need to be taken in order to achieve spiritual health.

            The first thing we must do is recognize we need help. A child does not know they aren’t growing in a healthy manner. And many people fail to realize they are not growing spiritually. Our society has defined religion as a social club, or entertainment venue. Our society weighs their “spirituality” by how an event makes them feel. If they come away from a religious event feeling good, then it was a spiritual experience, uplifting and edifying. Our spiritual condition should be accompanied with a sense of pleasure, but feeling good about something does not make it correct, in the eyes of God. Sin comes into our lives through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life (1 John 2:16). Such being the case, what “feels good” is not a safe indicator of spiritual growth. Our children do not know the dangers of junk food to their physical and mental development. All they know is they like it. The apostle Paul said, concerning those of his nation, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:2-3). Righteousness is a standard. When man rejects God’s standard it is replaced with man’s standard. So, an individual can have abundant zeal and not be acceptable to God. They may feel good about what they are doing, but it’s defined as “self-righteousness.” The introduction of “rock groups” into the spiritual realm gives the audience a feeling of euphoria. This euphoria is often viewed as a spiritual experience. But that same euphoria is experienced by an audience who goes to most any concert. So, what people find is usually what they are looking for, as opposed to what they need. There is no doubt they have a zeal for God, but it’s not according to knowledge. It’s simply a satisfying of the fleshly desires.

            Spiritual growth can only be obtained by adhering to the word of God. As children, we do not know we are spiritually ill. Our society keeps feeding itself with the pseudo religious junk food and continues to destroy any hopes of being spiritually sound in doctrine and conduct.

            The apostle Peter said, concerning the need for growth, “as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation,” (1 Peter 2:2), and “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Both passages identify the source and nature of proper spiritual food. Paul also spoke concerning the need for growth, when he said, “And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:11-16). How did Paul say we grow? “speaking truth in love.”

            How is your spiritual health? Is it well because you say it’s well, or because you know it’s well through knowledge? Jesus said, “If ye abide in my word, then are you truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). Are you free? Are you spiritually healthy?

What The Bible Says About: The Conflict Between Truth and Error.

            Friction and strife are always amazing. People expect other people to follow their line of reasoning and path in life. In the New Testament, Paul said, “Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:22). Both schools of philosophy demanded that others follow their line of reasoning. Today, segments of our society are continually fighting for the survival of their philosophy, and willing to force others to follow it. The recent vote of a Texas school board to add an elective Bible class to its high school curriculum has created quite the stir with the ACLU, “saying its materials promote religion” (Associated Press). On the other hand, the ACLU is representing a Wiccan because she was “excluded from a list of religious leaders allowed to pray at Board of Supervisors meetings,” saying, “A bedrock principle of American religious freedom is that government will in no way, shape or form show preference for one religion over another” (AP, Simpson vs. Chesterfield County). Is that not exactly what is being done when opposition is raised concerning a study of the Bible in school? School curriculum includes Greek Mythology. Was not, and is not, Greek Mythology a religious study? Science classes teach the theory of evolution, as if it is a proven fact. They start with a theory and end up with a religion, i.e., “A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.” Religion is taught in school, and supported openly. In one report, a school in Byron, CA, required students “to attend an intensive, three-week course on Islam; a course in which students are mandated to learn the tenets of Islam, study the important figures of the faith, wear a robe, adopt a Muslim name and stage their own Jihad” (Allan Dobras, article “Islam in California public schools). “When Mrs. Lemings [7^th grade teacher] reportedly asked the principal of Intermediate-Excelsior School of Byron, Nancy Castro, if she could teach Christianity in the manner that Islam is taught and for the same length of time, Lemings was advised it would have to be after hours as a Christian club — and voluntary. Castro informed her that to do otherwise would be a violation of the separation of church and state.” Restricting “religious studies” is selective: the Judaeo-Christian culture cannot be taught, or even mentioned, but other faith based religions are not only taught, but required.

            Personally, I don’t believe the public schools are equipped to teach religion of any kind, except historically. Universities teach from the Bible under classes labeled “Western Civilizations” and it is a required course. But even under such a label, it is difficult for a teacher to refrain from injecting their faith into the curriculum. No matter what the society or the government may attempt to do, there will always be bickering about religion. Don’t get me wrong: In reference to man’s reconciliation to God, I believe that “in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), and that name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Yet, recorded history (secular as well as divine) tells us that the forcing of religious beliefs, either for or against, will not stand. Religious devotion comes from the heart, not from the legislation of man. The Law of Moses hinged on two points: “The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31). God gave man freewill, and that is something that God will not, and man cannot, force. Joshua told the children of Israel, “if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah” (Joshua 24:15). I appreciate the fact that parents do not want their children indoctrinated with idolatry and have a responsibility to protect them from it. However, Christianity has nothing to fear from idolatry or perversions from the truth. The truth will always be the truth, and those that have a love for the truth will not be separated from it. No man, group, organization or government can stop the spread of religion, good or bad. Jesus said, “Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it (Matthew 7:13-14). He didn’t say force them to enter in. When the apostles of Jesus Christ taught the gospel, they didn’t call for government intervention to prohibit idolatrous practices. It was the idolaters that did so. The reason the ACLU and like organizations oppose Christianity is because it exposes the immoral, and godless lifestyles they have chosen. Anti-religious organizations have duped the American public into believing the constitution actually calls for the “separation of church and state.” The problem our society has is not constitutional, it’s moral. When Noah built the ark at God’s direction, “he condemned the world” (Hebrews 11:7). When Jesus of Nazareth exposed the error of the religious leaders of His day, he didn’t appeal to the government for relief. Those in error did because their beliefs were not strong enough to stand on their own. When Jesus of Nazareth exposed the error of the religious leaders of His day, he didn’t appeal to the government for their death. Those in error cried for the death of Jesus, because they couldn’t silence the truth of his message. Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord…If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household” (Matthew 10:24-25). You cannot force people to follow your path in life, nor can they force you to follow them. They may try to find fault in your life, undermine your faith, or cry to the government for your death, but they will not be able to stop the truth.

What The Bible Says About: Preaching The Word

            What man knows and what man doesn’t know, very seldom agree. Centuries of history reveal man’s effort to know God. A casual investigation reveals that mankind has attempted to know God, find God or worship God, on his own with no success. The scriptures tell us, “For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God” (1 Corinthians 1:21). In order for man to come to the knowledge of God, “it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). The “foolishness of preaching” consisted of the things preached. The thing preached, that was foolishness to the mind of the Greeks, was the death of Jesus Christ. The problem the Jews and the Greeks had, and which still exists today, is that mankind seeks to find God according to man’s wisdom instead of the wisdom of God.

            God’s method of revealing himself to mankind is not through exceptional moments of inspiration. Some seem to be waiting on God to do something with them that exceeds the natural course of life: they are waiting for some esoteric moment. If that’s what you’re waiting on, you best have packed a lunch. When individuals say, “When God decides to use me, I’ll be ready,” they have missed the whole point of the gospel message. God does not utilize extraordinary moments to create a fertile heart. He utilizes a fertile heart to create extraordinary moments. In the parable of the sower, Jesus said, “Hear then ye the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side. And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth. And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:18-23). Once the word has been planted into a good and honest heart, then the appropriate fruit will be brought forth. The planting of the seed is accomplished through preaching. Jesus said, “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). It was in fulfillment of that command that the apostles preached to Jews from every nation under heaven the gospel of Jesus Christ, and every conversion of man has followed that example ever since. We find where God brought the preacher and the message together: When Philip was sent to deliver the gospel to the Ethiopian, “Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:35-38). When Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus and Jesus manifested himself to Saul, “Lord said…Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do” (Acts 22:10). Consequently, Saul went to Damascus, Ananias came to him and told him what to do: “and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:13-16).

            The importance of preaching can also been seen in Paul’s charge to Timothy: “preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Timothy was told to be “urgent in season, out of season,” whether he felt like preaching, or whether his hearer felt like hearing. If man waits until the he is ready, or his hearers are ready, nothing will get done. Some people are useless in the spiritual realm, though they have great knowledge. Are you waiting for the right moment? Take heed to the words of the apostle Paul: “behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

What The Bible Says About: High Places In Life

            The Bible is a marvelous book. It has one author, God, but penned by over forty men, centuries apart. Therefore, the Bible has a common subject with a diversity of style. Not only is it interesting to read, it contains a wisdom not known by or through any other writing or writer. Among the many topics contained in the scriptures, the history of the Hebrew kings is fascinating. The scriptures reveal their good, as well as their bad, decisions in a way that can help us avoid the same problems we have, though we are in a lesser light.

            The Hebrew kings can be viewed from different standpoints: 1) the kings of the united kingdom, i.e., Saul, David and Solomon. 2) The kings of the divided kingdom of Judah and Israel. Of these two, only one had kings that followed a specific lineage, i.e., from David to Coniah. Among these kings was Asa: a great-grandson of Solomon. In a recap of his reign, the scriptures say, “the heart of Asa was perfect all his days” (2 Chronicles 15:17).

            Though the heart of Asa was perfect all his days, he nonetheless failed to completely remove from his kingdom the idols adopted by the nation. The scriptures tell us that, “the high places were not taken away out of Israel” (2 Chronicles 15:17). The term “high places” had reference to the erection of altars and shrines in the mountains & hills. Israel was not unfamiliar with the use of high places in reference to Jehovah. Mount Sinai was the mount of God and the temple of Solomon was built on Mount Zion. The “high places” that Asa failed to remove had reference to those places where altars and/or shrines had been erected for the purpose of idolatrous worship.

            Asa’s attitude toward idolatry was exhibited when “Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and made dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron” (2 Chronicles 15:16). Nevertheless, “the high places were not taken away out of Israel.” Why would Asa fail to fully remove idolatry from the land as well?

            Idolatry is anything that comes between man and worshipping God in spirit and in truth. Jesus once said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). When Judah had been taken into captivity, Ezekiel said, “The word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face” (Ezekiel 14:2-3). An individual can take “their idols into their heart” without having a shrine or image of the idol they worship. But the absence of a tangible image does not mean an idol is not present, in the heart. Even though Asa removed idolatry from his immediate proximity, he did not remove it from other areas that were within his control.

            Maybe you think everything in your spiritual walk is as it needs to be. You have removed idolatry from your close proximity, and your heart is perfect, as was Asa’s. But could it be said that you have failed to remove the high places? You allow the practice of idolatry to continue, when you have within your ability the power to remove it. When the apostle John penned the book of Revelation, he said, concerning the church in Pergamum, “I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner. Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches” (Revelation 2:13-17). Though the church had good things said about it, there were still areas that needed to be corrected.

            High places can exist and thrive when we fail to pay attention to our own salvation. The apostle Paul said to the church in Philippi, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Look around you. Is there, within your realm, high places, i.e., idolatry that you have the ability to eradicate? If so, what would God say concerning you?

What The Bible Says About: The Amazement of Unbelief

            You’ve heard the phrase, “What part of NO don’t you understand?”: a simple word that many just fail to appreciate. You get a sales call and you tell the salesperson, “no,” and although the difference in a good salesperson and a bad one is the ability to sell the product after the customer has said no, you’re still of a mind to ask the person, “What part of no don’t you understand?” It’s a matter of bewilderment that an individual will continue to do what they do, in spite of the evidence to the contrary. The same is true with unbelief. The Psalmist once observed the wicked and said, “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, There is no fear of God before his eyes.” (Psalms 36:1).

The conduct of certain people bring a sense of bewilderment to the mind of those who are more tuned into the reality of punishment. The scriptures tell us that “we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:8-10). Law has been established to rein in those who would abuse their fellowman, but refrain from doing so because of the consequences. The apostle Peter wrote, “Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well” (1 Peter 2:13-14). The apostle Paul echoed the same sentiment when he said, “Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake” (Romans 13:1-5). What keeps some people from abusing others for advantage sake is the fact that they understand the authorities will punish them. If law was removed, then “might would make right,” and the “survival of the fittest” would prevail. Such being the case, lawlessness causes bewilderment among those who recognize the principle that punishment will be applied to the lawless. The Psalmist was also aware of this principle and bewildered by the wickedness of men when he said, “Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon Jehovah?” (Psalms 14:4).

The Psalmist brings to light the failure of men to consider the consequence of lawlessness. It’s true that an individual may go through life, oppress the poor, live well and never suffer punishment from man. This does not, however, mean that accountability will not be rendered. When the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, he said, “Some men’s sins are evident, going before unto judgment; and some men also they follow after” (1 Timothy 5:24). The Psalmist dealt with the latter. Having said, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalms 14:1), the Psalmist is amazed that an individual can oppress the poor, practice immorality and filthiness, and give no thought to the fact that God will bring them into judgment for what they do.

Man often lives as if we believe, “There is no God.” We go about our lives doing abominable works as if there will not be a day of reckoning. When we do so, we are professing that we believe “There is no God.” This type of unbelief is not one that verbally says, “There is no God,” but an unbelief that expresses itself in deeds. An individual can profess with the mouth a belief in God, but in works behave in such a fashion that the outward expressions of the mouth are inconsistent with the reality exhibited in life. If a man has the knowledge that God is “keeping watch upon the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3), that “for all these things God will bring thee into judgment” (Ecclesiastes 11:9), and “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31), and continues to do evil, he is as the fool who has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

 Now, here’s the question: “How does God view you?” Is your life consistent with the professions of your lips, or do you, by your conduct profess “There is no God”? If the latter condition is descriptive of your life, what hope will you have in the day of judgment?

What The Bible Says About: Praying For Help In Times Of Affliction

            Affliction = “depression, that is, misery.” Have you ever been depressed or miserable because of some injustice you’ve suffered? You ask the question, “If I’m doing what’s right, why am I being afflicted for it?” We’re told little cutesy phrases like, “If life gives you a lemon, make lemonade,” but such does not remove the reality of the affliction. When affliction comes, it’s difficult to be optimistic. The mind begins to search for answers, only to become more confused: if what is being done is righteous; if the actions pursued are truly what needs to be done, then why does affliction come? There just doesn’t seem to be any justice, any equity. What should we do when such overwhelms us and depression and misery flood our lives?

            The greatest king to sit upon the throne of Israel was David. King David was a man, of whom God said, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who shall do all my will” (Acts 13:22). Though David was such a man, there were times when the afflictions of life would weigh upon him. When such times came, his refuge, his hope, his only means of security was Jehovah, the God of Israel. The writings of the book of Psalms set forth many petitions for God to rectify unjust circumstances. The Psalmist was free with his thoughts of wonder and questions about the equity of life. One such Psalm is found in the thirteenth division of the book. David said, “How long, O Jehovah? wilt  thou forget me for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?” Have you ever felt like God had abandoned you? Have you ever wondered why God has not rendered vengeance upon those who oppose his will? Do such thoughts make you question your faith? We live in a “right now society”. If there’s something we want, or want done, there is little to stop us. Thus, we lack patience when adversity comes. Though it is not new to our society, it is definitely alive and well in it. Patience is something we all want, but fail to appreciate the development of it. Almost two thousand years ago, the Hebrew Christians were told, “For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36), a patience that is only realized when one’s faith is being proved (James 1:3). When our faith is being proved, it will cause us to call upon the only source that can help us: God. That’s what David did. His cry was not one that displayed a lack of faith, but one that called upon God to act, because David’s faith resided in God. David was just a man, and responded like one on many occasions. He would “take counsel in” his own soul (Psalms 13:2). He would attempt to resolve his difficulties in his own way, only to find that only God could, and would, ultimately resolve them. His motivation was based upon the sorrow in his heart, a sorrow of having his enemies prevailing over him. The shame of his enemies being able to say, “I have prevailed against him” (Psalms 13:4), or that his adversaries would rejoice if he was moved, was more than his heart could bear. So, his petition was delivered unto God for a resolution to his misery. In many cases, it takes time for us to ultimately do what should have been done in the first place: turn to God in prayer. Adversities of life overwhelm us, and we attempt to fix them by our own means. Though David’s adversaries were in the flesh, the god of this world motivated them. Satan seeks to destroy. The scriptures reveal that “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). David said he had a sorrow in his heart all the day. David knew that if he were moved from his own steadfastness his adversaries would rejoice. The same is true with our struggles against the wiles of the devil. Trials and adversities prove our faith. They can make us strong, or destroy us. They can cause us to be steadfast, or they can cause us to be moved from our steadfastness. Though David seemed to question the Lord, in regard to why the adversary was allowed to be exalted over him, he did not lose his faith. As David summed up his Psalm, he said, “I have trusted in thy loving-kindness.” That was what he had done in the past; “My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation” is what he was doing in the present; and “I will sing unto Jehovah” is what he would do in the future (Psalms 13:5). All of this he was able to do in faith, “Because he hath dealt bountifully with me” (Psalms 13:6). All that Jehovah had done with David was evidence that God would uphold David, and cause him to be exalted over his enemy. The same is true with us today. For what saith the scriptures? “If God is for us, who is against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-39). If we keep this in mind then we can rest easy, even in the midst of adversity, knowing that God will triumph and evil will not have dominion over us.

What The Bible Says About: Fasting

            The gospel of Jesus Christ is indeed the greatest story ever told: a revelation of the Creator’s work in providing mankind with the ability to be reconciled to God, after mankind was cut off from fellowship with God due to sin. The fact that God has granted unto us repentance unto life (Acts 11:18), the right to spiritual life based upon our repentance and subsequent change in life, should bring every individual to the point of gratitude and praise unto God, for the gift he bestowed upon us in Christ.

            When we read the marvelous story of the working of God to save mankind, we find many topics that deal with man’s response to various temporal and religious questions that help us understand why we do what we do, in many cases. In some area of life we find where temporal practices became religious, and some religious practices became temporal. One question that arose during the days of Jesus related to the subject of fasting. The scriptures say, “And John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting: and they come and say unto him, Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?” (Mark 2:18). Fasting is defined as, “to abstain from food.” What religious significance is there to the act of abstaining from food, that the failure to do so would have struck the religious parties of the day as odd?

            The scriptures tell us many things about the practice of fasting. In some cases fasting was purely the result of temporal matter, while in other cases, it was for religious purposes. After the children of Israel had been delivered from Egypt and came to dwell in the land of Canaan, Jehovah alone was their king. The people were required to go to a divinely appointed place three times a year and offer sacrifices unto Jehovah. On one such occasion there was a man named Elkanah who had a wife named Hannah. Hannah was barren. Elkanah had another wife that provoked Hanna because God had shut up her womb. As a result of this rivalry Hannah “wept, and did not eat” (1 Samuel 1:7). “Elkanah her husband said unto her, Hannah, why weepest thou? And why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved?” (1 Samuel 1:8). We can see from this narration that Hannah “did not eat” due to grief. Grief can be either temporal or religious. The temporal aspects of fasting are seen with king Ahab. Ahab had attempted to purchase a vineyard from a man named Naboth. Naboth refused to sell. As a result, “Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken unto him; for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread” (1 Kings 21:4). Ahab put on a big pout. His “fasting” was due to temporal displeasure and bore not resemblance to the religious. In the religious realm, King David had a child that was dying. As the child lay dying, “David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth” (2 Samuel 12:16). After the child had expired, “David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of Jehovah, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat” (2 Samuel 12:20). About this, David said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knoweth whether Jehovah will not be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast?” (2 Samuel 12:22-23). David’s fasting was in connection with his appeal to God. When Isaiah the prophet rebuked Israel for their impiety and formalism, he said, “ye fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high” (Isaiah 58:4). When David fasted he did so in an effort to make his “voice to be heard on high.” His act of physical affliction was intended to make his petition effectual and receive pity from God. Fasting may ensue from a spirit of sorrow, resulting from a loss or an affliction of the soul resulting from sin. The scriptures tell us that “godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10), sorrow that comes from a regret of having wronged God. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:3-4). When an individual recognizes their nothingness (poor) before God, they will mourn for the sins they have committed, and receive comfort from God. Fasting must be done for the right reason and in the right manner for it to be effectual. That understanding can only come from the scriptures. If fasting is a part of your life, make sure it is done according to the will of God.

What The Bible Says About: Children

            Have you ever noticed how children change things? One day you’re heading down one path and then a child enters the equation. When that happens, it changes the whole structure of life. It does not matter if it’s the first child or if it’s the third; it matters not if it’s the first grandchild, or the sixth, etc. Every child will change your life in some fashion. When your life is changed, it changes the relationships you have, which change other relationships, and so the cycle goes.

            From the early beginning of man’s existence, children have been in the equation: God told Adam, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 1:28). The first two sons of Adam and Eve affected the whole of creation: Cain, by removing from the world a man of faith, and leaving a profane man; Able, by being an example to all who live by faith. Another son of Adam affected the whole world because it was through him that Noah was born, and the world was spared because he found favor with God. Shem, one of Noah’s sons, affected the whole world because it was through him that Abraham came into the world, found favor with God and became the father of the nation of Israel, blessing the whole world through his lineage by the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Whether small or great, every child has an affect upon the direction the world takes. Every child in our society that reaches maturity, that votes or doesn’t vote, leaves an impact upon society by the exercise of their free will. The words revealed by the Holy Spirit, saying, “For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself” (Romans 14:7) are easily seen in society.  Some five thousand times the scriptures refer to children in some capacity. The importance of children is readily seen when we stop to remember that we are all somebody’s child. A wise man once said, “Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers (Proverbs 17:6). To see your children’s children is the glory of old age, and a long sustained lineage is a glory to children. How many times have you talked about your children, or your children’s children? How many times have you attempted to trace your lineage and see how far back you can trace it, and gloried, or would have gloried in finding out from where you came?

            With any child there is one of two ways they can go: “and he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him” (Proverbs 23:24), or  “a child left to himself causeth shame to his mother” (Proverbs 29:15). The majority of parents see a potential of good in their children; they have hopes their children will reach maturity, be productive members of society and make them proud, i.e., bring them glory. There is a natural affection that draws even the worst families together, a bond that is seldom broke. The wise man once said, “Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate” (Psalms 127:3-5).

            With great reward comes great responsibility. Parents are charged with an enormous responsibility regarding their children. The apostle Paul said, “fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). With the responsibility to nurture one’s child comes the responsibility to do it properly. Fathers are not to provoke their children to wrath, but to exercise their authority to rule in a manner that will not generate anger. Now, there is no doubt that children get angry at their parents, but that anger should not be justifiable. If the commands of the father are unreasonable, or severe, the child will become discouraged. God commanded the children to “obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3). Fathers need to give their children the opportunity to do so, and not discourage them due to unreasonable, or severe requirements. The wise man once said, “A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him” (Proverbs 20:7).

            The cycle of life comes to us all: we live and then we die. What society becomes will be determined by the character of the children that are presently under the care of their parents. We want good things for our society. We want to live in peace and prosper. We simply want to be happy. Developing a society conducive to these wants begins in the home. The Lord blesses us with children. Should we not return to the Lord that which is his, and train them to be responsible, godly, righteous adults?

What The Bible Says About: The Righteous and the Wicked

            Righteousness is doing what is right-wise, and wickedness is a part of life. No one is exempt from experiencing it, and no one is exempt from practicing it sometime in life. The Law of Moses hinged on two commandments: “The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31). Loving God is not exhibited, nor realized by an emotional “feel good”, but through obedience. Jesus said, “If ye love me, ye will keep my command-ments” (John 14:15), and “If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word whi