The Heaton File

Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. (Hebrews 6:17-19c)

God Cannot Lie

If there is a singular difference between God and man, it is that man cannot help but lie, and God cannot lie. These are absolutes. In the nature of sin, telling a lie is the mechanism that fuels the sin. If a man tells one lie in his life, he has been convicted of the whole law, showing that all men bear the burden of sin through lying. Half-truths are lies as much as shades of lies, like a white lie. Smudging the truth is lying. Repackaging a half-truth is nothing more than a lie. Men find many ways to get around the truth, and lying is the most convenient. Circumstances can cause a man to lie, whether intentionally or not. The business world is ripe with the language of untruth. To say the least, lying is one of the most serious maladies of sin. And everyone sins.

God does not lie. He is all truth. It is impossible for God to lie because it is contrary to His nature. For man, it is his nature to lie, but that is not possible with a Holy God. Everything the Lord has declared is truth. He can change His mind, but He cannot lie. Every word is truth – absolute. There is no shadow nor turning to the word of God. If the Lord says something, it is absolute truth. When the Lord makes a promise, it will come to pass. If the Lord said He would bring blessings, those blessings would come. When the Lord warned of His wrath against ungodliness, His longsuffering gave men the opportunity to repent until the day His mercy ended. Then whatever God promised would come true regarding punishment did come true. God does not lie.

For most in the world, these words mean nothing. The comfort of knowing God does not lie cannot be understood by those who will not accept God as Lord. They reject His word, rebel against His grace, and disregard all the love and mercy extended to them by God. Their attitudes will not change the word of God. As in the days of Noah, the world will be busy about life and the carnal pursuits of the flesh, and then the judgment day of God will come. The world will learn that all that God warned about eternal destruction will come true. There will be no mercy at the judgment bar of God for the wicked. They have filled their lives with the lies of the evil one, and they will spend eternity in the fires of hell. But one thing they will know in eternal darkness – God does not lie.

Anchors are used to stabilize a ship. When an anchor is securely fastened to a solid object, the ship will not move. Knowing that God does not lie is an anchor of the soul because the heart of man knows without fail that all of God’s promises are true. Everything God has promised is true. Through the promises of God, the soul of man learns the joy of forgiveness, the pardon of sin. God does not promise to wash away the sins and then refuse. When a man repents and is baptized into water, God will wash away his sins because God does not lie. Man will struggle with sin, but God promised to forgive the righteous who walk in the light and have fellowship with Jesus Christ. Why is there no condemnation for those who are in Christ? Because God cannot lie. He did not lie.

When a man finds the joy of knowing that God cannot lie, he can live more fully in the promise of eternal life. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised before the world began. The promise of eternal life was established before creation. His word has been true since the beginning of time for all the faithful who know that God cannot lie. This becomes the anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Believe it. God has never lied. He cannot lie. What He promised will come to pass. Praise God.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Looking To Jesus Requires Looking

Jewish Christians struggled to maintain their faith in Jesus Christ. Facing much persecution, many had given up their faith in Christ and returned to the old law. As the writer encourages the saints, he reminds them to look at the stories of faith they were so familiar with and recognize the diligence it took to remain faithful. Satan, like a roaring lion, seeks to destroy faith. What the saints needed to remember was to keep their focus on Jesus Christ, looking to Jesus as the source of their faith. His example sets the model for enduring hardships, facing persecutions, and keeping faithful to the will of God.

Running a race requires focus. When a runner begins the race, his mind is on the course that will lead him to victory at the end. If his mind wanders to other places and he loses his focus, he will have difficulty completing the course. Running the race for Christ demands that the focus always be upon Him. Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, means the soul must look at Jesus. So often, because of the many distractions of life, the focus is lost, and the mind is not focused on Jesus. Faith comes from hearing the word of God, not by sitting in a church building. A healthy prayer life is born from the seeds of time spent talking to God. Serving the Lord means to always having a focus on the glory of God.

Looking to Jesus is where the faith to endure life’s hardships finds its greatest prize. The world can be dark and cruel. Because of the consequences of sin, disease, death, and heartache, faith can be tested. Looking to Jesus is seeing how His love and grace can light the path, smooth the rugged peaks, and give hope in a world of hopelessness. Keeping the story of Jesus always before the mind is where a deeper love for God is harvested. Spending time in the word of God reveals the goodness and severity of God. The scriptures show the struggles of ancient saints who overcame and gained the victory. Allowing the word of God to dwell in the mind is the focus needed to look to Jesus.

An active prayer life lights the fire of hope, enabling us to discern the image of Christ. God never revealed the human image of His Son to the world because the image of Christ comes through the eye of faith. Imaging Christ comes from the word and prayer. Jesus spent long hours in prayer, helping Him see the image of His Father clearly so He could do His will. When the world saw Jesus, they could only see the Father. Looking to Jesus reflects the Father’s glory. When the saints of God fill their lives with Jesus, the world will see the reflection of the Father in them. The world will recognize that the heart of the Christian is always looking to Jesus. Look to Jesus. See the Father. Look.

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17-18)

The Jot And The Tittle

Jesus established the authority of scripture to show that He was the Son of God. He argued with the Jewish leaders that He was the Son of God with authority through His miracles. Jesus established His authority through the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. The Old Testament is about Jesus Christ, as each passage speaks of Him. When He came to earth, His mission was not to destroy the Law but, through sinless perfection, to fulfill the Law. Scripture affirms Jesus as the Son of God. Every word of God is established in Heaven. Jesus taught the Jewish leaders that scripture could not be broken, meaning it could not be undone, unloosed, or ignored for its divine authority.

To further illustrate the authority of scripture, Jesus said that until the final day of the destruction of both heaven and earth, even the smallest detail of God’s law will not disappear until its purpose is achieved. Jesus said not one jot or one tittle will pass from the law. A ‘jot’ is the Hebrew letter ‘yod,’ the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The ‘tittle’ is the projection of a letter which distinguishes it from another letter (a serif). Nothing in the word of God will pass away, no matter how small the word or stroke of a pen. The modern version is the dotting of an ‘i’ or the crossing of a ‘t.’ Professor R. Laird Harris writes, “Jesus says very positively that this Book is perfect to the smallest detail. It is not merely verbal inspiration that He teaches here, but the inspiration of the very letters.” (Inspiration and Canonicity of the Bible)

The Bible is the mind of God revealed to man. Contained within its pages is everything a man needs to know about what he must do to be saved. Every scripture is written with a purpose and the design to storm the will of man into obedience. The grace of God fills each page with God’s dealings with sinful man. God never left man without the word. No man can stand before the Lord and suggest he was unaware of the truth. The scriptures (orally/written) were given to men from the beginning. Cain and Abel understood the command to sacrifice. Noah moved with fear because of the word of the Lord. Jesus shows in the jot and tittle of scripture that every word is valuable, important, life-changing, and divinely inspired for a purpose.

The smallest number of details is necessary in the scheme of God’s word. There is nothing in the Bible that can be ignored or removed. Ignoring or rejecting one jot or tittle is doing so at the peril of eternal life. Adding to the word of God will bring the wrath of God. Taking away from the word of God will bring the judgment of the Lord. It is a frightful thing to read a passage from God’s word and refuse to obey. The hardened heart can refuse to accept the will of the Lord, but it does not change the word of the Lord. What is declared by the Lord remains the same.

Arguing that the Bible does not teach something does not suggest that the Bible does not teach it. If God said that one must be baptized for the remission of sins, what is man that he can challenge or change what is plainly written in the word? Is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God? The Bible is the declaration of the Sonship of Jesus. Refusing to believe will only show the ignorance of the one who is condemning themselves. Who will be able to stand before God and argue that God was wrong about salvation when the Bible (every jot and tittle) declared what a man must do to be saved? God will only reply, “Not one jot or one tittle will pass away.”

The Bible is the word of God. All authority comes from Jesus Christ, who is the subject, foundation, personage, and revelation of everything between Genesis 1:1 and the closing pages of Revelation 22:21. Ferrell Jenkins concludes, “The Bible presents a high view of itself, of its own inspiration and authority. Jesus thought of Scripture as something that could be broken, and Paul taught that all Scripture has its origin with God. Our view of Scripture should be no different.” Not one jot. There will be no missing letters. Every tittle will be accounted for. Obedience is to obey to the smallest degree.

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

The Joy Of Reconciliation

When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they brought about the fall of man, which was almost irreconcilable. Satan succeeded in driving a wedge between God and man because the evil one knew the righteousness of God would not permit the Holy God to dwell with rebellion. At the moment of the greatest tragedy of human history, a promise was made to restore the covenant between God and man. It would take many generations of human failure before the promise is fulfilled. From the day Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, the darkness of sin covered the world. Sin inundated the world. There were only eight righteous souls who were saved from the flood. The Law of Moses was given to the Hebrews as a covenant to preserve the Seed of promise.

Through the Law, God provided the means to bring atonement to His people, Israel. The Gentiles were a law to themselves and failed to honor God. Moses gave the Law to the Hebrews, who struggled to remain faithful to the word. From the crossing of the Red Sea, the rebellion at Sinai and Kadesh-Barnea, and forty years of wandering, the people of God rebelled, murmured, and complained. During the period of the conquest and judges, sin left the nation in a cycle of faithfulness, rebellion, punishment, and deliverance. Israel would have three kings to unite the people before the nation entered its downfall and captivity. When Jesus came, the world was dominated by the iron might of the Romans and the hypocrisy of the Jews.

God’s people could not see God’s Son. Jesus came into the world to unite Jew and Gentile with God’s grace. The Jews brought Jesus to the Romans demanding His death, and the Romans obliged. Jesus died. What happened on the first day of the week was the fulfillment of God’s long-standing promise to restore what was lost in the Garden of Eden. Satan bruised the heel of Jesus by the cross, but Jesus bruised the head of Satan in the resurrection. What the Gentiles could not do as a law to themselves, and what the Jews, who were keepers of the Law, could not do, Jesus accomplished in reconciling all men to the favor of God. The resurrection of Jesus was God bringing man back into His fellowship.

Humanity has been restored to God’s divine favor through the resurrection of Jesus. God reconciled His creation to Himself through Jesus Christ. The ministry of reconciliation was established on the day of Pentecost when the apostles of Jesus taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to a perverse and crooked generation. Three thousand souls were reconciled to God when they were baptized for the remission of sins. Peter told the crowd to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. God would not impute sin against those who obeyed the gospel. The Lord God would remove sin as far as the east is from the west. Reconciliation would be repeated time and again as the first disciples were added to the church daily.

The greatest desire of God is to reconcile all men to Himself. He is not willing that any should perish. His plea is for men to repent, but the decision rests upon the heart of man. The ministry of reconciliation is made known to the whole world, but few will accept its blessing. Most people reject the word of reconciliation for human wisdom and false religion. It is tragic and sad that everything man needs to draw close to God has been given through Jesus Christ, and the world continues to reject and crucify the King of kings as a fraud. The greatest joy in life is to know that one is reconciled, brought back, and drawn near to the presence of God. Reconciliation is given through Jesus Christ, but it is a choice. Forgiveness can only be merited if the heart is willing to follow the word of reconciliation.

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:16-17)

The New Creation

There is no greater joy for a man than to know that he has been recreated in the image of God for His glory. In the beginning of time, God desired to create man in His own image. When Christ came to earth, His goal was to show man how to create the image of God in his heart. Under the Law of Moses, the blood of bulls and goats was offered to redeem man. The blood of Jesus is the more perfect sacrifice that through His blood sin is washed away, and man becomes a new creation, created in the image of God. A change takes place through the waters of baptism, but there is a need for a change to take place in the mind of the newly born child of God.

Obedience to the gospel is the process of putting away the old things. God, through His grace, removes all the sins of the previous life as far as the east is from the west. Through the love of God, man is redeemed to walk in the light of Christ. While sins are washed away in baptism, the Lord recreates man into His image to recreate him in a walk of faith. If anyone is in Christ Jesus, he must continually grow to put away the old life of sin. Renewing the heart with the word of God recreates a heart in Christ. Growing in Christ is a daily exercise in making each day a new creation in Christ. Attitudes become new. Action comes from a new spirit. Everything about life is measured by the newness of the heart to shine Christ in a dark world.

Christians are new people. They do not live as they did before. God has done His part, but every heart must begin the metamorphosis of walking in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, and thinking about spiritual things each day. A new creation demands a new creation. Jesus died to bring men to a new way, a new truth, and a new life. Change is the joy of learning how to walk in the light. There is a danger that once obedience is completed, no more action is taken to strengthen the soul. Becoming a new creation demands that the heart become new, that the mind dwell on the newness of the spiritual hope in Christ, and that actions change in the life of the child of God.

Jesus told the mountain crowd that His disciples would become lights in the world. That light comes from those who have recreated themselves from the darkness of the world to shine the light of their love for God to a dark and perverse generation. When a Christian looks like the world, talks like the world, and lives like the world, there is no new creation. Nothing has changed in their lives. The only thing that happened was that they obeyed the gospel and then continued living in the old ways, with the old ways of thinking. Those who are in Christ have transformed themselves into the image of God as new creations. They have reinvented themselves in the image of God, becoming better sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and citizens of the world. The world takes notice of a new creation.

Change is hard. It takes time and effort. Sometimes it is painful. The metamorphosis of a butterfly involves many painful changes as a caterpillar becomes a beautiful creature of God. It recreates itself according to the divine pattern. In Christ, changes can be hard and painful. Relationships may change. Attitudes must be corrected. Life changes require time and effort. The goal is to be recreated in the image of Christ. When people look at a butterfly, they do not see the caterpillar because a new creation has occurred. So, a change must take place in the heart of the Christian so that the world will never see the old life. What they see is only the new life, the new creation. Find joy in the new creation. Change the heart. Recreate the mind in Christ. Show the world the beauty of God’s grace.

Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”  (John 8:28-29)

Jesus Pleased His Father

When Jesus came to earth, the divine plan to save humanity from the wrath of God was fully revealed. Before time began, the Father set in order the scheme of redemption to be fulfilled in His Son, who took on human form and experienced all the facets of humanity. Jesus would be born of a virgin, grow physically as all other men, face the temptations of the flesh, and begin an arduous ministry lasting nearly three years. To complete the divine plan of redemption, God would allow His creation to torture and kill His Son. After three days, the Father would raise His Son from the dead and secure judgment on Satan and present the gift of grace to a dark world. Everyone would be given the choice to accept the promise of God to forgive them of sins through the waters of baptism.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus affirmed that everything He did was not His will but the will of the Father. Jesus spoke openly with His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem, where He would suffer great things. He would be condemned to death and delivered to the Gentiles, where the Son of God would be mocked, scourged, spat upon, and killed. His sacrifice was to please the Father because it was the Father’s will. He did nothing of Himself. Every step Jesus took, every word He spoke, and every action He took (or did not take) was according to the word of His Father.

When Jesus died on the cross, it was the message to the world that He was the Son of Man. The world will see that all Jesus did was for the glory of the Father. Jesus was taught by His Father what to do. He was directed by the will of God to sacrifice Himself on the cross. Jesus cried out on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” but God had not forsaken His Son. The Father did not leave Jesus alone because Jesus was doing His Father’s will. Jesus’ death on the cross was an act of obedience measured by the Son’s love for the Father. The Son of God had one purpose in mind for His life: to please the Father.

Jesus dying on the cross was not about the Son of God. The cross of Jesus was the cross of the Father. When the world killed the Son of God, they carried out the will of God so that through the blood of Jesus, the world could find redemption. God sent His Son to carry out His will. The world rejected the Son of God and murdered Him on the cross. Three crosses bore men that day, and only the man in the middle was pleasing His Father. Jesus died to please His Father. The suffering of Jesus was endured to please the Father. When Jesus emptied Himself, He filled the world with the glory of the Father.

Everyone who follows Jesus seeks to please the heavenly Father. Life is not about the glory of men but what can be accomplished for the glory of God. There are no accolades of human merit for those who remain faithful to the love of God. Faithful men and women do not serve the Lord for personal gain or infamy. Everything a person does who serves the Lord God is bound by the singular principle of how life can shine to the glory of God. Each particle of life is measured to please the Father. Jesus lived to please His Father. The disciple can do no less than to live each day to please God. Make each day count so the world can see the glory of God and the Father can say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me. (Philippians 2:25-30)

Epaphroditus

The apostle Paul did not take on the work of spreading the gospel alone. He had many disciples who surrounded him to encourage him and assist in his work. Travel during the days of Rome allowed the spread of the church throughout the world with great ease. Paul’s missionary journeys were built on an excellent road system and on travel across the Mediterranean Sea. The ease of travel allowed churches like the Philippian church to send messengers and helpers to assist the busy apostle of Christ. One such messenger was a man called Epaphroditus. Nothing is known of this disciple except in the endearing letter to the saints at Philippi.

The church at Philippi selected Epaphroditus to carry an offering to help meet Paul’s needs during his first Roman imprisonment. Luke concludes his history of the church with Paul under house arrest but able to receive visitors. The church at Philippi was especially keen to help Paul, as he thanks them for their kind support when he was in Thessalonica, where the church sent aid to him. Now imprisoned in Rome, they sent Epaphroditus nearly 1200 miles to bring Paul some aid.

Some time after arriving in Rome, Epaphroditus became very sick, almost to the point of death. God had mercy on him, and the servant of the Lord regained his strength. When the brethren heard of the illness of Epaphroditus, they became alarmed and concerned for his life. News traveled very slowly, so it took some time to learn of his illness and then to hear he had recovered. When Epaphroditus regained his strength, Paul immediately sent him back to the brethren so they would worry no longer about their fellow brother and laborer. Paul encourages the Philippian saints to recognize the sacrifice Epaphroditus made in coming to Rome and then returning those many miles to his home.

All that is known of Epaphroditus comes from the commendations of Paul. It is a rich litany of noble traits that set Epaphroditus apart from others. Paul considered him in the bonds of Christian fellowship and called him “my brother.” This was not a light term but an endearing bond of affection for someone who, like Paul, shared the dangers and challenges of preaching the gospel. Epaphroditus was a fellow worker of Paul, and that was no small task, considering the kind of work Paul did. Paul calls his brother a fellow soldier, recognizing the battles they fought together against the wiles of the devil and the persecution of those who refused to believe Jesus was the Christ. As a spiritual band of brothers, Paul stood shoulder to shoulder with Epaphroditus to fight the good fight.

Epaphroditus was a faithful worker for the church in Philippi. He made the long journey to carry the gift from the church to Paul. His love for the brethren at Philippi was clear in his concern when he realized their worry over him being sick. The bond between Epaphroditus and the church at Philippi was very strong. He was to be held in esteem in the image of Christ for his faithfulness and courage to do the work of a servant of God.

The church needs people like Epaphroditus to carry on the work regardless of the trials. He was willing to make a 1,200-mile journey overland to carry out the work of the church. The church had work, and he volunteered. There was a close relationship between the man and the brethren. He was highly esteemed in the church for his faith. There was never any doubt about his allegiance. The church at Philippi could count on Epaphroditus to carry out fully the work of taking a gift to Paul. When the church has this kind of men and women and young people to count on, growth is immediate.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

A Time Of Meditation

The scriptures are given to direct the heart and mind to the will of the Father. When Moses received the law from God, he wrote the words down as a record for the people to read. Through the written word, Israel knew what God wanted of them. It also served as a reminder of His will and the relationship the Lord had with Israel. Everything expected of the people was outlined in the Book of the Law. Not only did God give the written word to inform His people, but the Lord also desired that His people focus their thoughts daily on His word. He wanted them to concentrate on the meaning of His word, His will, and His love for them.

Reading the word of God is not enough. God wants His people to think about what they read. C. Simmons explains that meditation is the “Nurse of thought and thought the food of meditation.” Meditation is the practice of contemplation or reflection as a mental exercise to delve deeper into the meaning of divine truth. When Joshua began his leadership of God’s people, the Lord instructed him to meditate upon divine truth day and night. Meditation would help solidify faith in the heart and light the path of righteousness and truth. To fully know the word of God, the mind must spend time dwelling upon what God said, how He said it, and why.

The psalms are filled with admonitions to meditate upon the word of God. When David was in the wilderness of Judah, he would meditate on how God had helped, protected, delivered, and blessed him. David’s constant thoughts were on the glory of God. Meditation helped David against anger. He spent time reflecting on the days of old and on all the works of God. The creation caused David to see the hand of God as he mused on the Lord’s incredible glory.

Meditation is the central theme of the author of Psalm 119. He points out the value of meditating on the precepts, commandments, statutes, and the word of God. Through meditation, the heart will see the ways of God and learn how much God loves the world. Meditation helps to create a love for God. Daily prayer fortifies the meditative spirit to dwell deeply within the mind of God. Paul reminded the saints at Philippi to meditate on things that were true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and anything praiseworthy. The Christian is a thinking person. God has given His complete revelation for everyone to read, understand, and obey. He also wants the minds of His children to think about Him every day.

Meditation is the exercise of the mind, which is fortified with the mind of Christ. Mental exercise nourishes the soul by helping it think about things that are righteous and true. The reason meditation on God’s word is important is that Satan wants the heart to meditate on the things of this world. There is a war going on between the flesh and the spirit. The devil desires for men to ponder the pleasures of the flesh to keep the heart from learning the will of God. Thinking about the pleasures of the flesh will lead to death. God wants His people to think about Him, and He promised eternal life to those who meditate on His word. Daily meditation will prepare the soul for eternity. Above all things, meditate on the word of God day and night, to observe and do according to all that is written. For then the way will be prosperous, and there will be good success.

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. (Hebrews 11:33-37)

Faith Of Our Fathers

A very familiar song by Frederick W. Faber, written in 1849, has a hidden challenge that few notice when singing. Faber was a Roman Catholic priest who honored the English Catholics who faced imprisonment, torture, and death at the hands of Henry VIII and Elizabeth 1. Many died who held their religious convictions to be “true to thee till death.” The hymn includes the exhortation to a benevolent spirit toward all men, whether friend or foe. It reflects on the generations of those who suffered for what they believed.

The challenge of the song illustrates how those who were chained in prisons dark were free in heart, and that it would be a sweet experience for the descendants to die like them. This is a stark reality easily sung and seldom recognized for the hopeful spirit of suffering in the manner of those who were thrown into dark prisons, tortured, and killed. Since the fall of man, the righteous have suffered at the hands of the unrighteous. Abel was killed by his brother because his sacrifice obtained a witness that he was righteous. Throughout the history of the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people, how often they killed the prophets whom they disliked and disagreed with.

Persecution always follows those who seek truth and righteousness. Jesus was killed by His own people for envy, Stephen was stoned to death, and the twelve apostles were beaten for preaching Jesus. Paul was in prison often, whipped times without number, and faced death repeatedly. Five times, the Jewish leaders gave him thirty-nine lashes. Three times he was beaten with rods and once was left for dead after being stoned. On three of his trips, he was shipwrecked, including spending a whole night and a day adrift at sea. The faith of our fathers takes on a whole different level of understanding.

Courage is easy when the sun is bright, and the wind is fair. For most saints, life may have its challenges, but few experience the deeper waters that will press hard against the soul. It is difficult to know if it would be a sweet thing to, like those in times past, to be tortured or persecuted for a measure of faith. For many Christians, a slight headache can keep them from worship services. Being told to read the Bible and to pray is just asking too much. Letting those in the world see a Christian example pushes the bounds of decency. It is easier to dress like the world than to dress with holiness and godliness. Following the world makes life so much nicer than having to endure ridicule or laughter from people who don’t follow the teachings of Jesus.

It is nice to sing about the faith of our fathers, as long as no one has to live like the life of our fathers. To think it would be a sweet thing to suffer like them is, quite frankly, absurd. It’s one thing to be a Christian, but it should not be taken so seriously that life becomes different from the world. At least that is the thinking of those who have not committed themselves to the cause of Jesus Christ. It is impossible to live a godly life and not suffer persecution at some level. The child of God either lives like the world or lives for Christ. Jesus said it is impossible to serve God and mammon. Faith of our fathers, living still. Does your heart beat high with joy living differently from the world?

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:40)

An Hour That You Do Not Expect

Human nature is against surprises. Springing something on the unsuspecting can be fun or disturbing. Life is filled with unexpected events that change the course of the world. An earthquake devastates a region with sudden upheavals that take the lives of the unsuspecting. Tornadoes rip through a region, bringing destruction without warning. Health concerns happen immediately with grave consequences. Young and old are struck down in a moment with no warning. There is yet to come an event that comes without announcement. The coming of the Lord will be as a thief in the night who does not alert the victim to his coming. In the quiet of a normal night, a thief will descend upon his victim to catch him unawares.

The language of a thief in the night is the language of the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught that He would return for final judgment. Paul and Peter wrote about Jesus’ return with His holy angels as a real event. One certain characteristic of the coming of Christ will be the unannounced and sudden appearing of the judgment of God upon all mankind. Human nature is uncomfortable believing in something that can come without warning. Many refuse to believe Jesus is coming back for judgment. As the Son of God, Jesus declares the will of the Father in warning of His return. It has been more than two thousand years since the promise of His return, which lulls the hearts of men into lethargy, leading them to believe that Jesus could not return today.  

There is no reason for anyone to be caught unprepared when the Lord returns. Everyone will be surprised because Jesus will come at an hour no one expects. In the days of Noah, the world was eating, drinking, and enjoying the carnal pleasures of life as if it would go on forever. The fact that men lived for hundreds of years lulled them into a false sense of security, leading them to believe the world could never come to an end. It did. While they were eating, it started raining. In the middle of their pleasures, the fountains of the deep broke open. They did not believe Noah’s testimony, who warned them of the coming judgment. The flood came at an hour they did not expect, and it was too late when they realized the truth. So it will be when the Lord returns.

The world is so busy running the race of the fleshly desires, it does not realize the coming day of the Lord. No one can predict when the Lord will return. Jesus told His disciples that He did not know. What He did know was that when the Father said it was time, it would be an instant, in the twinkling of the eye, and the heavens and earth would be destroyed. Those who live in Christ will be surprised but prepared. For those who are not in Christ, they will be surprised and horrified. They will also realize it will be too late. There will be nothing they can do because they were unprepared for the unexpected return of the Lord.

Jesus told His disciples to be ready. That same message is for the world to hear today that provisions have been made through the blood of Jesus Christ to ready the faithful for the unannounced return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The day will come as a surprise. Those who have obeyed the gospel of Christ will admire the coming of the Lord and His glory. The majority of the eight or more billion souls on earth will be terrified and fearful as they stand before God, failing to prepare for His coming. He is coming back. Be surprised but be prepared.