The Heaton File

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

Life Is Only A Vapor

After God created man and woman, He told them to be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth. By the grace of God, man has the power to create eternal life. The act of procreation is how life is given to a fleshly body as the Lord God creates a soul that will never cease to exist. On the one hand, life is found in the physical body, and on the other, the spirit of man that is eternal. Because of sin, the physical body will corrupt and die. God put the tree of life in Eden because man was created a mortal creature. When the Lord expelled Adam and Eve from Eden, they could no longer eat of the tree of life. Adam lived a very long life of 930 years, but he died. The lifespan of humanity has dramatically declined, so that some can live to 100, but few reach that age.

Methusaleh lived to be 969 years, but his life was nothing but a vapor. A child who lives but five years is a vapor. If a man lives to be in his nineties, his life is a vapor. Whether a person lives twenty, forty, sixty, or eighty years, the sum of life remains a vapor. Life is fleeting at best and without substance. Water vapor comes from the solid mass of water, but it dissipates quickly into nothing. The hard part of life is to think the tangible parts of this world are real when, in fact, all of life is but a vapor. It appears for a little while, and then it is gone. There is no substance to any part of life. It can be taken at any time. Life can shrink to days and hours. Death is the sickle born of sin that takes lives early because all of life is a mist that comes in and disappears as quickly.

Two views of life are necessary for understanding the frailty of what is perceived as real when, in fact, it is not. The first view of life is that all men stand in the valley of life as nothing more than mists floating on the ground. The old must die, and the young can die. There are no exceptions when death comes. Young children die. Middle-aged men die. The old will die. Death is not something to be ignored because all men face the same destiny. There is nothing man can do to change the appointment with death. A woman in Japan is 123 years old, but her life is a vapor that will end soon. The second view of life is personal. Everyone must know their life is but a vapor. Death comes suddenly. Other people die, but one day it will become personal because life will end. Between the date of birth and the date of death is a small dash that represents the totality of a man’s life. How small compared to what life is perceived to be.

James reminds his readers that making plans is good for the soul, but those plans must be tempered by the knowledge that one day all life’s plans will end. Tomorrow is a secret that no man knows. Who knows whether one will live another day, week, month, or year? Disease destroys the body, tragedies happen, and life winds down in natural order. Making plans is good for the soul as long as the remembrance of how short life is becomes the foundation of those plans. No one knows what will happen tomorrow. Life is a vapor that can end at any moment. All of the things of life become nothing more than a vapor that appears for a little time (life) and then vanishes away (death). Instead, the child of God lives to prepare for that great day of change when the mortal puts on immortality, when death is swallowed up in victory, and life in this world becomes glory in the world to come.

It does not matter how old a person is. Life is a vapor. It is cut short. Death is real. Nothing will change the transitory nature of life. Wisdom gained in old age is how short life is and how precious each day becomes, to be treasured for what God has given. Today is the day of joy. Hold family close. Do the will of the Lord today. Share love with others. Prepare for eternity. Life is a vapor. Eternity never ends.

And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. “These are the things in the tabernacle of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.” (Numbers 4:15)

Why Did Uzzah Die?

God’s word is full of promise and warning. Sin came into the world because Adam and Eve thought they could trifle with God’s word. The mistake of human wisdom is to look upon the words of God as suggestions rather than commandments. Noah was told to build an ark to a specific design and specification. Any deviation from the divinely revealed word would have been a disaster to Noah and his family. Noah did everything God commanded and lived. Moses told Pharaoh what God was going to do, and every word came true. On the night of the death of the firstborn, God instructed the Hebrews on what they must do to be saved, and they obeyed every word.

At Mount Sinai, God gave the law to the Hebrews through Moses, His prophet. The Law of Moses was complete, thorough, and unambiguous. Nadab and Abihu ignored the word of the Lord and paid for their rebellion with their deaths. Moses was prohibited from entering the promised land because he failed to give God glory when the Lord demanded it. God’s word was not respected. In giving the Law, the Lord gave specific instructions for the creation of the place of worship. The Tabernacle would serve as the place of worship for many generations. During the forty years of wilderness wanderings, the people of Israel moved from place to place, carrying with them the Tabernacle and all the articles, including the Ark of the Covenant.

The Ark of the Covenant was housed in the Most Holy of Holies when the Tabernacle was settled in a place prescribed by God. No one was allowed to enter the Most Holy of Holies except the High Priest, and he was allowed only once a year. Whenever it was time for the nation to move to another location, the priests and Levites would pack up the Tabernacle and carry it there. The Lord gave very specific instructions for the care of the Ark of the Covenant. Men would have to pack up the Ark and move it from place to place, but great care was required to carry out the word of the Lord. The sons of Kohath were chosen to care for and move the Ark of the Covenant. God was very specific about how to move the place where He met with the people of Israel.

When the time came to move, the sons of Kohath would take down the covering veil and cover the Ark of the Covenant (Testimony) with it. Then they were to put on it a covering of badger skins and, over that, a cloth entirely of blue; and to insert its poles. The Ark was ready for travel. When it came time to move the Ark, no one was allowed to touch it. The sons of Kohath would pick up the Ark of the Covenant by its poles and carry it before the congregation as instructed by the Lord. No one was allowed to touch the Ark of the Covenant. This law remained in place for the duration of the time the Ark of the Covenant existed.

During the final days of the Judges, the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines and returned after seven months. On the return of the Ark, it was placed at the house of Abinadab in Kirjath Jearim, where it remained until the reign of David. David desired to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem. The Ark was brought on a new cart instead of the manner prescribed by the Lord in the Law. Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets. When they came to the house of Abinadab, which was on a hill, the oxen stumbled and Uzza put out his hand to hold the Ark. God struck Uzza dead. He had put his hand upon the Ark of the Covenant, and God struck him dead immediately.

Uzzah may have had good intentions, but the Lord clearly stated in the Law of Moses that no one was to touch the Ark. The sons of Kohath were not to touch the Ark of God. Uzzah disobeyed the requirements of the Lord God when he ignored the penalty for touching the Ark. He paid for his mistake with his life. God demonstrated to David and the nation of Israel the sanctity of His word. The word of God is truth. There is no other truth. Tampering with the word of God will bring destruction. Ignoring the word of God will bring death. The word of the Lord is settled in Heaven, where no man has the authority to change it. Since the days when the church was first established in Jerusalem, men have tried to pervert, change, modify, and recreate the word of God. Many books establish the doctrines of men who seek to change the nature of the church, including the plan of salvation.

God demonstrated to David the penalty for trying to change God’s word. This same penalty will be exacted upon all those who ignore the law of God. There is no other way to God but Jesus Christ. Paul wrote that there was only one church, one faith, and one Lord. All the ideas of men are nothing before the word of God. Every book of human wisdom will perish, but the word of the Lord will endure forever. His word remains true. God’s word rules.

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. (John 14:22-24)

The True Nature Of The Kingdom

In the final hours of Jesus’ life, He used the time to encourage and admonish the remaining disciples. Shortly before leaving the upper room, Jesus tells the remaining eleven not to be troubled at the events that would transpire. Jesus was fulfilling His Father’s will. The eleven did not understand how important Jesus’ sacrifice would be. They still viewed the work of Jesus as an earthly mission to restore the kingdom to Israel. Jesus was leaving for a place they could not imagine. Thomas wanted to know where Jesus was going. The Lord replied that He was the way, the truth, and the life, signifying that the path to the Father was a spiritual journey. Philip wanted Jesus to reveal the Father more fully. Jesus promises to send another Helper, the Holy Spirit.

The disciples could not see the spiritual kingdom Jesus was going to establish, as their carnal eyes could only see the physical. Jesus said He would manifest Himself to the world, but the world would no longer see Him. The disciples would see Him but not the world. Judas (not Iscariot; identified as Thaddeus) was puzzled how Jesus would establish an earthly kingdom and the world would not see it. He wondered how it was possible Jesus would manifest Himself to the eleven and not to the world. It was here that Jesus explained the nature of the kingdom. God never intended for Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom or restore the kingdom to Israel. The nation of Israel would never be the people of God. Jesus was showing the eleven the nature of the kingdom of Christ for those who loved and obeyed the word of God. Those who do not keep the word of God do not love God.

The indwelling of the Divine is found in the hearts of those who seek the will of the Father and follow His commandments. God loves those who keep His word. He will come to them, and the Divine will make their home in the hearts of the obedient. Peace comes from obedience. The nature of the kingdom is not about the carnal. Jesus taught that worship must be in spirit and truth. The commandments of the Lord are necessary to worship in the proper spirit. Jesus was telling His disciples that the nature of His kingdom is devotion given to loving God above all else. Those who refuse to follow His will do not love Him. Love for God is not merely an emotional feeling of recognition. Obedience shows the will of the heart serving the will of the Lord.

Jesus left the upper room with the eleven and went to Gethsemane. Judas Iscariot brought the mob to arrest Jesus, and the next day Jesus was crucified. The death of Jesus shows the love of God and the love of His Son to obey His will. His pattern of suffering is one for all who want to be part of the kingdom of God. Love requires sacrifice. Obedience is love. Loving God is keeping His commandments. That is the nature of His kingdom.

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. (Philippians 3:3-7)

Things That Mean Nothing

The apostle Paul was one of the most gifted, educated, and blessed men among the nation of Israel. Known as Saul of Tarsus, he was a young man with all the privileges of his day. Although a Jew, he was a Roman citizen by birth. There can be little doubt that the family of Paul was well off, allowing for the means to send their son to Jerusalem to be taught by Gamaliel, a member of the Jewish High Court (Sanhedrin), a teacher of the law held in high regard by the Jewish nation, and a man of authority. Paul was brought up and educated under Gamaliel, carefully trained in Jewish law and custom. He became very zealous to defend the law against the followers of Christ who declared a new law.

The pedigree of Paul was impeccable. He was born a Jew as circumcised on the eighth day according to the Law of Moses. The tribe of Benjamin was small but powerful, known for its elite warriors, who boasted 700 left-handed slingers, each capable of hurling a rock and hitting a target within a hair’s breadth without missing. King Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. Benjamin was the only tribe that stood with Judah when the kingdom was divided after the death of Solomon. Paul called himself a “Hebrew of the Hebrews.” He enjoyed every advantage that could be derived from being a Hebrew. His lineal descent was superior to most. His parents were both Hebrews with no admixture of Gentile blood. There were no proselytes in his genealogy.

Concerning the law, Paul was initiated into the Pharisees, a powerful and influential Jewish sect. The Pharisees were distinguished among the Jewish sects for their rigid adherence to the letter of the law. The zeal of being a passionate Jewish scholar led Paul to persecute the church of Christ with all the authority of the Jewish nation and permission of the Romans. He wanted to destroy every disciple of Christ, persecuting them to foreign cities, throwing men and women into prison, inflicting torture on the Christians, and casting his vote for their deaths. Paul believed himself blameless for what he did against the church. That changed on the road to Damascus when the Lord came to him face to face. Three days later, Saul of Tarsus became one of the greatest evangelists for the cause of Christ when he obeyed the gospel.

As Paul reflected upon his sterling pedigree, he viewed it all with disdain. The Jewish world looked upon this pedigree with envious eyes, for any Jewish man would want to attain the accolades, power, wealth, and authority that come with such privilege. To Paul, it was dung. What things were gained for him, he counted as a loss for Christ. Achieving success in the world would not give him success in eternity. He gladly turned his back on the trappings of the world that so many sought for and worked their whole lives to attain. Paul gave all those things up to be a follower of Christ. He lost his wealth, power, and authority to become a humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The world attracts the heart to seek fame and fortune to find happiness. Men will dedicate themselves to their jobs with a passion to succeed and become successful in the business world. Money and the desire for worldly pleasures are what many families focus on. Parents drive their children to find happiness in the world’s accomplishments. Entertainment is the mantra of many. Life is lived to the fullest to the neglect of God. Everyone who seeks the mammon of the world will find at death the reality that mammon is empty. There is nothing to take to the grave. Paul had everything a man would want to be considered a success, but he called it dung, garbage, refuse, and something thrown to the dogs. He lived for a crown bearing his name. Gaining the world means nothing. Finding eternal life is everything.

Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. (Titus 2:9-10)

The Christian Slave

Slavery has been around since the beginning of time. Armies would not only conquer lands but also take the people into slavery for their own purposes. Slave markets were common. The Law of Moses forbade the ill treatment of slaves, protecting them from being oppressed and abused. If a man hits his male or female slave in the eye and the eye is blinded, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. And if a man knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth. Slaves had the right to rest on the Sabbath and to attend national festivals. Families that were heavily in debt could be taken as slaves to repay the money owed. The Law prescribed seven years before release.

Slavery under the Romans was very different from Jewish law. The Roman Empire’s economy was largely built on the backs of its slaves. There were fewer protections for slaves under Roman law that would allow the cruel treatment of the bondservant. The New Testament accepted slavery as a way of life, seeking to temper the consequences by showing the grace of God through the lives of godly slaves. The book of Philemon is a testimony to a Christian master taking back his servant, who, in his absence, had obeyed the gospel of Christ. Paul admonishes Philemon to show the character of Christ toward his servant, Onesimus.

The instructions of the Holy Spirit to slaves who were bound in Christ were to be obedient and do their best to please their masters. God never wanted slaves who were children of God to become rebellious. He tells the slaves not to talk back to their master or to steal from them. Their character must be entirely trustworthy in everything they do. They must show goodness toward their masters to show how the gospel destroys the shackles of slavery. This applied to slaves bound to both good and harsh masters.

The apostle Peter would tell slaves to follow the example of Christ, who suffered, leaving an example of righteousness to serve the Lord God above all men. When Jesus was reviled, He did not revile in return. Slaves must do the same. Jesus suffered and was threatened, but He did not threaten in return (He could have called twelve legions of angels). Slaves must show the character of godliness even if beaten to show the glory of God. The Holy Spirit commanded masters to no longer be harsh toward their slaves and to give up the use of threats. God warns masters who abuse their servants that He will repay them in kind in judgment.

Slavery was a reality the New Testament church faced daily. The gospel of Christ could change that both for the master and the slave. What the world saw in the lives of Christian slaves and masters was the joy of grace that allowed men to live together in peace and harmony. While slavery is gone in most parts of the world, the spirit of relationships is the key to understanding how to get along with others. Everything must be to the glory of God. There is a correlation between the attitudes of those in the workforce and their showing, in business, the godliness of the word of God, doing their best, and showing themselves trustworthy and good. By the example of Christians living by the gospel, the world can see how the Word can change families, communities, and the country. Let the light of Christ shine in every part of life – whether slave or free.

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (Matthew 6:26-27)

Adding Cubits

Linear measurements were established using the proportions of the human body as guides, including the fingers, the palm, the forearm, and the distance from the tip of one middle finger to the other middle finger, with the arms extended. Four fingers equaled a palm, three palms equaled a span, two spans equaled a cubit, and four cubits equaled a fathom. The measure of a cubit was generally the length from the elbow to the end of the middle finger (sometimes only to the root of the hand at the wrist).

The cubit was a small unit, roughly 22 inches long. Jesus, the master teacher, uses a common story of everyday life to illustrate how short life is and how useless it becomes to worry about the affairs of life. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shows the disciples that laying up treasures on earth is an exercise in futility. Treasures of earth are destroyed by moths (garments), metal rusts, and thieves break in and steal. The heart must be singularly on the will of God, trusting the Lord to provide all things. Jesus emphasizes that no man can serve two masters. Trying to gain the riches of the world and the riches of eternal life cannot be done. Serving two masters is a life of conflict because it is impossible to serve God and mammon at the same time.

Life can bring its problems with caring for the family. Food must be gathered, provisions for nourishment must be made, and coverings must be provided to protect the family. All these things are necessary parts of life as man lives in a fallen world. When God punished Adam for transgressing the word of God, the Lord burdened humanity with the toil of life to provide for the family. Jesus is not suggesting that honest labor is a problem. Still, when the heart is so focused on providing the necessities of life, he forgets the necessities for eternal life, and he fails God, himself, and his family.

Becoming consumed with the worries of life is like trying to add even a small portion of life. Jesus taught that there was nothing a man could do to increase his stature even in the smallest degree. Paul declared to the Athenians that God has established the habitation of man. God created man to live on the earth, not the ocean. He can visit the ocean for a time, but is unable to sustain life without returning to his world. There is a lot of discussion about space travel, but humans cannot live in space as their home. The moon will never be a human colony. The point Jesus is making is that all the worry men put into life will not add one cubit or small measure to what God has created.

Nothing man can do will avert his appointment with death. Life is not about the world that is lived on earth. Eternal life is all that matters because that is all that will last. The birds of the air have no worries because they trust in the Lord and know He will care for them. They are not trying to add cubits to their lives. It is only man, made in the image of God, that deludes himself into thinking he can extend himself larger than what God has made him. A man can spend his life worrying about life and end up living a wasted life. There is no joy and no profitability to his worry. Stop trying to add cubits to something that will destroy the soul.

Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, You have blasphemed God and the king. Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die. So the men of his city, the elders and nobles who were inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them. (1 Kings 21:7-11)

Obeying God Or Man

Ahab, king of Israel, did more to provoke the anger of the Lord than any of the kings before them. He intensified his evil when he married the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, whose name was Jezebel. Ahab and Jezebel destroyed the moral fiber of God’s people in the northern tribes with their ruthless and wicked lives. The blame for the evil that God saw was not just on Ahab and Jezebel. The people of the land were also wicked. This is demonstrated in the story of an innocent man caught between the petty desires of a spoiled king and the monstrous actions of his evil wife.

Naboth was a good man who lived a quiet life in the city of Jezreel. He had a vineyard which was next to the palace of Ahab. The king asked Naboth if he would sell his vineyard, and Naboth replied that he could not sell the inheritance of his fathers. This upset Ahab, and he went to his house with the sullen spirit of a spoiled child, sulking because he did not get what he wanted. When Jezebel found out what Naboth had done, she wrote a letter to the elders and nobles who lived in the city with Naboth, telling them to proclaim a fast and place Naboth with high honor among the people. Then, the elders and nobles would bring in two worthless men to falsely accuse Naboth of blasphemy, resulting in him being taken out of the city and being stoned to death.

Everything went exactly as Jezebel planned. Naboth was accused of blasphemy and taken out of the city, where they stoned him to death. Ahab got his vineyard, but the wrath of God would condemn both Ahab and Jezebel for what they did. Not only were Ahab and Jezebel guilty before the Lord, but also the elders, nobles, and people of the city. They were told to commit a heinous crime against an innocent man. Jezebel’s decree was wicked, and the people should have refused to commit such a crime. Their fear of Jezebel was greater than their fear of God. This fear turned to divine wrath when they faced the Lord God.

Peter and John were arrested for preaching that Jesus was the Son of God. They were arrested and brought before the Jewish council and warned to speak to no man in the name of Jesus. Peter’s faith told the council that he and John would speak the word of the Lord, regardless of the consequences. Later, the council arrested the twelve apostles, warning them not to teach in the name of Jesus. Peter again tells the council they must obey God rather than men. Paul explained to the saints in Rome to obey the government, but this was measured by the word of God first. The early church struggled against the persecutions that challenged what the will of the Lord required, but they remained steadfast in obeying God rather than man.

The people of Jezreel were told to commit a heinous crime. They should have stood for truth and righteousness to reject what Jezebel demanded. Accusing an innocent man of blasphemy like Naboth was the greater sin. God brought judgment upon the people because they were not innocent of the guilt of Naboth’s murder. Faithful people of God will obey the laws of the land until those laws reject the word of the Lord. God must be first in all things. This applies in the workplace if the company demands that someone go against the word of the Lord. Obedience to the word of the Lord comes first in marriage, parenting, society, and interaction with government. Jesus taught throughout His ministry to seek first the rule of God in the heart, allowing nothing to compromise the word of God.

So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” (1 Samuel 1:9-11)

Giving Our Children To The Lord

Samuel was the last of the judges of Israel and one of the great prophets, considered as great as Moses. He anointed Saul as king when the people demanded a king to rule over them. When the Lord rejected Saul, Samuel anointed David as the next king. He was revered by the people, who would not offer a sacrifice without Samuel’s blessing. After the Lord rejected Saul, Samuel no longer counseled the king but became a spiritual father to David. His imprint on Israel lasted for many generations.

The birth of Samuel was a remarkable story of love, devotion, and consecration to the work of the Lord. Samuel’s parents were Elkanah and Hannah. The Lord had closed the womb of Hannah, but a second wife of Elkanah, Peninnah, had children. Because she had no children, Peninnah provoked Hannah every year the family went to the house of the Lord. On one occasion, Hannah came to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and Hannah begged God for a son. If the Lord would look upon the affliction of Hannah and give her a male child, she would give him to the Lord all the days of his life. Her prayer was answered, and Samuel was born soon thereafter. When Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him to Eli, the priest, and left him there to minister to the Lord before Eli.

Hannah kept her word to give her son to the Lord. Samuel would become one of the greatest judges of Israel and a spiritual leader of the people. God does not ask of anyone to give their sons to the Lord as Hannah did. There is a principle that is found in the request of Hannah that bears a distinctive mark of faith in how to raise up children to be followers of God. Hannah was willing to literally give her son to the priesthood to serve the Lord. The formative years of training before Samuel was left to serve the Lord were vital to the kind of man he would become. Every parent who plans to train their children should have the same faith as Hannah did in giving her son to the Lord. The work of every parent is to “give” their children to the Lord to serve Him.

Giving children to the Lord is hard work. It takes endless hours to begin, even before birth, to create a home centered on the word of God. Children learn by example. They need to see, in the home, the importance of the Bible in daily life. Prayer should be something children are taught to do with ease. Worshipping the Lord is never a question of where the family will be when the saints are assembled. A benevolent hand should be demonstrated to the children on how to care for those in need. Children who grow up to serve the Lord are taught to serve the Lord from the beginning of their lives.

Every child must be cultivated to love the Lord with all of their hearts, souls, minds, and bodies. Parents must instill in the hearts of their children the love of God. Hannah made a vow to give her son to the Lord, and she literally gave him to serve the Lord. Every parent should vow to do everything they can to commit their children’s hearts to know the Lord, serve the Lord, and help others know the Lord. The reality of parenting is that there is only one lifetime to teach children, and it must be done while their hearts are tender to the word of God. Hannah leaves a powerful example of a parent’s love for their children. Give your child to the Lord. Eternity depends on it.

An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes, when he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. He devises wickedness on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil. (Psalm 36:1-4)

The Character Of The Wicked

There is a distinct difference between those who desire to serve God and those who have no desire to serve the will of the Lord. Sin separates man and God, and what a man does with sin determines if he will be separated from God in eternity. Satan has always been successful in gaining the hearts of most of the world. His wiles and allurements captivate men to seek pleasure in life without fear of eternity. His lie continues to permeate the consciousness of the human soul. There is no death, and man can be like God. David understood the way of sin and how it captivates the soul, leading it to reject God.

Sin takes away the fear of God. The wicked do not fear God or accept the consequences of rebellion against the word of God. They believe they are their own gods, serving their own needs and glorying in their own power. When the fear of God leaves the soul of man, eternity turns to the darkness of condemnation. God created man. Man did not create God. When the heart of man turns away from the word of his Creator, he denies the power of God to punish him and flatters himself with the lie that he can save himself. The greatest sin a man can commit is to become his own god with blind conceit. They refuse to see how wicked they are. They call evil good and good evil. The word of God is rejected as myths, fairy tales, and outdated.

Sin is a cancer of the soul that eats away the heart of what God created to be good. God created man for His glory. Satan deceives the hearts of the wicked to convince them to follow his glory. His deception has led most of the world to the darkness of perdition. Man ceases to be wise before God and follows his own wisdom to destruction. There is no fear of God in his eyes, and he does not view evil for the eternal ruin that it is. Everything in life is for the glory of the flesh. They refuse to turn from evil, lying awake at night devising sinful plans for the enjoyment of the flesh. Sin has a powerful sway over the hearts of men.

David understood the power of sin from personal experience, but he did not allow it to destroy him. He was a man after God’s own heart who fought the wiles of the devil by following the will of the Lord. The tragedy of sin is that most people in the world live for themselves, having no desire to seek God or follow His will. Jesus said the righteous are few. There are only a few who see sin for what it is. David’s oracle concerning the transgression of the wicked is a reminder of the power of sin. It is very powerful and eternally damning. Without understanding its great power, sin will be allowed to destroy the soul. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, sin can be eradicated by God’s grace. Know the power of sin. Understand its consequences. Do not allow Satan to have his way. Live for Jesus.

Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. (John 19:32-35)

He Did Not Abandon Jesus

As Jesus knew His hour was approaching to face the suffering of the cross, He told His disciples repeatedly what would take place in Jerusalem, where the chief priests, scribes, and leaders would treat Him cruelly and kill Him. Peter, James, and John were present on the mountain when Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, talking about His death. When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, He took Peter, James, and John to stay with Him. Judas brought a detachment of troops to arrest Jesus, and when they bound Him with chains, all the disciples forsook Jesus and fled.

Jesus told His disciples they would abandon Him. Like sheep before a shepherd who has been struck, the eleven apostles fled in fear. But soon afterward, two of them, Peter and John, took courage and followed the mob to the house of the high priest. John was well known to the high priest and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. Peter stood at the door outside, but at the word of John was allowed to come into the courtyard. John never left Jesus’ side. Peter denied the Lord three times and went out weeping bitterly. Only John remains.

After the ill treatment by the religious leaders and Roman soldiers and scourging, the Romans led Jesus to Golgotha to be crucified. John was there with Jesus. He watched as they threw Jesus to the ground and nailed Him to the cross. John witnessed the agony in the face of Jesus as the soldiers lifted the Son of God to the cross and nailed His feet. Standing before Jesus were John, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and a group of women. Soldiers bargained for the final remnants of Jesus’ clothing.

Jesus languished for hours on the cross as John and Mary watched Him die. In the final moments of life, Jesus saw His mother and John, whom He loved, standing by and said to her, “Woman, behold your son!” He then turned to the only disciple who did not abandon Him and asked him to care for Mary, His mother. John agreed and took her to his own home. Jesus died. John and Mary watched the life go out of Jesus. As prophesied by Simeon when Joseph and Mary presented the baby Jesus to the Temple, a sword pierced deeply within the heart of Mary as she watched her beloved son die.

Three men were crucified that day. They suffered alike in the horrors of crucifixion. The man in the middle died, but finding the two robbers alive, the soldiers broke their legs to hasten death. When the soldier came to Jesus, he confirmed Jesus as dead by driving a sword in His side, piercing the heart. Jesus was dead. John watched the soldier pierce Jesus’ side. The beloved apostle wrote his gospel to tell the story of Jesus’ life and death. His gospel is an eyewitness account of the veracity of the story of Jesus Christ, who on the third day rose from the dead. John’s gospel confirms beyond a doubt what happened to Jesus, as he witnessed all that was done to the Son of God. And he saw Jesus on the third day, risen from the grave.

Everything that happened to Jesus fulfilled prophecy, but it also established a chain of evidence written down by a close disciple of Jesus proving the divine story. Many things in the life of Jesus are not recorded, but John affirms his gospel is given to prove that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Reading the testimony of John confirms the faith of those who accept and believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of the Most High God. There can be no doubt. The evidence is overwhelming. John did not forsake Jesus. What he saw and witnessed is a testimony to the grace and love of God through Jesus Christ. It took courage for John not to forsake his Lord. No greater faith can be shown than never to deny or forsake the Lord Christ.